The State of JSON Schema: Building a Stronger, Smarter API Ecosystem

Welcome to the First JSON Schema Conference

At apidays Paris, something truly special took place: the first-ever JSON Schema Conference, a dedicated track that signals how far this once-niche standard has come. For many of us, this isn’t just another technical talk—it’s a milestone. I’m Benjamin Granados, Community Manager for JSON Schema, and in this talk, I’ll walk you through the state of the JSON Schema project: how the community has grown, where the spec stands, and where we’re going next.

Why JSON Schema Matters

Let’s begin with a powerful stat: 97% of API payloads are in JSON. JSON is everywhere—and where JSON goes, JSON Schema follows.

JSON Schema enables teams to build more reliably, move faster, and empower others by validating and documenting their JSON data structures. It underpins tooling in major ecosystems and helps reduce breakages across systems. Whether you know it or not, you’ve probably already used a tool or product that relies on JSON Schema—like Postman, GitHub, Microsoft, or Zapier.

A Brief History of the Specification

The JSON Schema spec was born in 2009 and has evolved steadily through waves of community leadership:

• 2009–2013: Led by original creator Kris Zyp and joined by Larry Garfield.

• 2013–2017: Enhanced by Francis Galiegue and Geraint Luff.

• 2017–2020: Revitalized through efforts by Austin Wright, Henry Andrews, and others.

• 2020–Today: Current development led by Greg Dennis and Jason Desrosiers, with major community involvement.

From Underdog to Ecosystem

Back in 2021, JSON Schema had:

• 7 TSC members (all maintainers)

• 355 contributors

• 6,000+ community members

• 48 implementations

• 4 sponsors

Fast forward to today, and the picture is very different.

Key Initiatives Driving Growth:

• Website Overhaul: We modernized the site to reflect the maturity and professionalism of the project.

• Schema Store: A fully data-driven directory of tools, libraries, and validators, making ecosystem visibility easier.

• Mentorship Programs: Through Google Summer of Code and Season of Docs, we onboarded 8 mentees and hired 3 technical writers.

• Case Studies: Collaborations with GitHub, Postman, Remote, and others helped showcase real-world adoption.

• Podcast Launch: “JSON Schema Production” features conversations with industry leaders using Schema.

• Conference Track & JSON Schema Doctors: Our first dedicated conference track and a network of experts offering community support.

Metrics That Matter

Thanks to these efforts:

• JSON Schema saw a spike in GitHub contributions and Slack activity.

• Sponsorship grew from 4 to 15+ organizations, including Airbnb, Postman, and AsyncAPI.

• A structured contribution ladder emerged: triage teams, community managers, ambassadors, and mentors now support maintainers.

• Over 100 mentee applications were received for Summer of Code, reflecting strong developer interest.

What’s Happening With the Spec?

Let’s talk roadmap.

The Stable Release (Coming 2025)

Our goal is to release a “stable” version that ensures compatibility across JSON Schema versions. But stability sometimes requires breaking changes—so this update will include those where necessary. Key improvements:

• Language Clarity: Enhanced readability and consistency across spec text.

• 25+ Merged PRs: Tackling long-standing issues and gaps.

• New Lifecycle Process: A formal spec development lifecycle (SDL), independent of IETF, is now in place.

Contributors like Greg Dennis, Jason Desrosiers, and Henry Andrews have been instrumental in driving this forward, despite some setbacks like contributor layoffs (myself included). While we’re now working as volunteers, our commitment remains unchanged.

What’s Next for JSON Schema?

We’ve opened a community discussion to shape our next two-year roadmap. Some early priorities:

• Finalize the stable release

• Expand open governance and new contributor roles

• Strengthen collaboration with standards like OpenAPI and AsyncAPI

• Secure long-term sustainability through an open-source foundation

• Host an online JSON Schema conference mid-year

• Attract more sponsors across Gold and Diamond tiers

Final Thoughts

The JSON Schema community has never been stronger, and we’re just getting started. From expanding the contributor base to modernizing the ecosystem, the past two years have laid the foundation for long-term impact. Join us as we shape the future—your ideas, feedback, and support can help make JSON Schema more powerful and accessible for everyone.