Windows Linux PowerShell Equivalents Text Processing

Windows `PowerShell ConvertTo-Json` equivalent in Linux

Builds JSON values or reshapes existing JSON data from the command line.

Windows PowerShell ConvertTo-Json

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Linux equivalents

Debian/Ubuntu same command

jq -n OBJECT

Fedora same command

jq -n OBJECT

Arch same command

jq -n OBJECT

Overview

What this command does

Builds JSON values or reshapes existing JSON data from the command line.

Migration tip: jq -n creates JSON without reading input. Use --arg to insert shell strings safely.

Practical tasks

Common use cases

Create or transform JSON

Builds JSON values or reshapes existing JSON data from the command line.

jq -n '{name:"Kris",active:true}'

Create a JSON object

jq -n --arg name "$USER" '{user:$name}'

Insert a shell variable safely

jq '{name:.name,id:.id}' input.json

Transform an existing object

Ready to run

Copyable Linux commands

Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.

jq -n '{name:"Kris",active:true}'

jq -n --arg name "$USER" '{user:$name}'

jq '{name:.name,id:.id}' input.json

Walkthrough

Examples with explanations

jq -n '{name:"Kris",active:true}' # create a JSON object
jq -n --arg name "$USER" '{user:$name}' # create JSON from a shell variable
jq '{name:.name,id:.id}' input.json # reshape existing JSON

Reference

Common options and variations

Command or option	Use
`jq -n '{name:"Kris",active:true}'`	Create a JSON object
`jq -n --arg name "$USER" '{user:$name}'`	Insert a shell variable safely
`jq '{name:.name,id:.id}' input.json`	Transform an existing object

Distro differences

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

This command is the same on Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux when the relevant tool is installed.

Distribution	Package manager / base	Equivalent command	Difference to notice
Debian/Ubuntu	same command	`jq -n OBJECT`	Same command on this distribution.
Fedora	same command	`jq -n OBJECT`	Same command on this distribution.
Arch	same command	`jq -n OBJECT`	Same command on this distribution.

Keep learning

What this command does

Common use cases

Create or transform JSON

jq -n '{name:"Kris",active:true}'

jq -n --arg name "$USER" '{user:$name}'

jq '{name:.name,id:.id}' input.json

Copyable Linux commands

Examples with explanations

Common options and variations

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

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