flex buffer or flatBufferBuilder

[Simoncl]

Hi.

I had a quick question. In the reflection example in Test.cpp you do the following.

// Here we just create a buffer that contains a single string, but this

//could also be any complex set of tables and other values.

flatbuffers::FlatBufferBuilder stringfbb;

stringfbb.Finish(stringfbb.CreateString("hank"));

Why or when would I use 

flexbuffers::Builder fbb;

fbb.Int(13);

fbb.Finish();

If you can just build up a flat buffer like this  with the flatBufferBuilder why would I use the schema less version (flexbuffers)?

Could I not just use flatBufferBuilder without a schema like the above?

Cheers

Simon

[mikkelfj]

That FlatBuffer format does not store information about insertion order or type. It "knows" where to store things based on a schema.

Similar to having knives in the top kitchen drawer and utensils in the second drawer - no need to label the drawers.

You can also use JSON to create an initially loose format and later convert it to a FlatBuffer via a suitable schema for fast read access.

[Wouter van Oortmerssen]

Yes, FlatBuffers is not self-describing, so you cannot find out from just a buffer what the root is. FlexBuffers contain type information interleaved with the values.

Also, the root of a FlatBuffer has to be a table (to work with schemas and generated code). The example you quote is from a specialized test using reflection to add a string to an existing buffer, and not a general technique.

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