The fact that we were introducing a conversion from the output of `nix
path-info` into the input of `builtins.fetchTree` was the deciding
factor. We want scripting outputs into inputs like that to be easy.
Since JSON strings and objects are trivially distinguishable, we still
have the option of introducing the JSON format as an alternative input
scheme in the future, should we want to. (The output format would still
be SRI in that case, presumably.)
Fix#14532.
As discussed on the call today:
1. We'll stick with `format = "base16"` and `hash = "<hash>"`, not do
`base16 = "<hash>"`, in order to be forward compatible with
supporting more versioning formats.
The motivation we discussed for someday *possibly* doing this is
making it easier to write very slap-dash lang2nix tools that create
(not consume) derivations with dynamic derivations.
2. We will remove support for non-base16 (and make that the default, not
base64) in `Hash`, so this is strictly forward contingency, *not*
yet something we support. (And also not something we have concrete
plans to start supporting.)
Also do a better JSON and testing for deep and shallow NAR listings.
As documented, this for file system objects themselves, since
`MemorySourceAccessor` is an implementation detail.
A few changes had cropped up with `_NIX_TEST_ACCEPT=1`:
1. Blake hashing test JSON had a different indentation
2. Store URI had improper non-quoted spaces
(1) was is just fixed, as we trust nlohmann JSON to parse JSON
correctly, regardless of whitespace.
For (2), the existing URL was made a read-only test, since we very much
wish to continue parsing such invalid URLs directly. And then the
original read/write test was updated to properly percent-encode the
space, as the normal form should be.
SHA-256 is Git's next hash algorithm. The world is still basically stuck
on SHA-1 with git, but shouldn't be. We can at least do our part to get
ready.
On the C++ implementation side, only a little bit of generalization was
needed, and that was fairly straight-forward. The tests (unit and
system) were actually bigger, and care was taken to make sure they were
all cover both algorithms equally.
