I'm looking for articles, books, or research papers that explain how to design a file format from scratch. I'm especially interested in defining the binary layout and bit patterns, organizing metadata and data, keeping files compact, and applying optimization or compression techniques appropriately. I'd also appreciate guidance on when it makes sense to create a custom format instead of using an existing one.
1 Answer
A few useful topics to search for are binary serialization, data representation, endian formats, schema evolution, checksummed file formats, and digital preservation. The articles in the ‘Genesis of a File Format,’ ‘Shattering the Eyeglass,’ and ‘File Format Building Blocks: Primitives in Digital Preservation’ series are relevant introductions. Also review Apache Avro and Apache Parquet as examples of established formats; one may already meet your needs, depending on the data and access pattern.
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