fix: prettify JSON output in --json mode

hmans · hmans · commit 3c0bd52b1f2a · 2025-12-27T22:37:24.000+01:00
- Apply pretty.Pretty() to --json output for indentation
- Only skip colorization, not formatting
- Update flag description to clarify behavior
- Remove unused prettyPrint helper function

Refs: beans-9w6d
diff --git a/.beans/beans-9w6d--prettify-json-output-in-json-mode.md b/.beans/beans-9w6d--prettify-json-output-in-json-mode.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+# beans-9w6d
+title: Prettify JSON output in --json mode
+status: completed
+type: bug
+created_at: 2025-12-27T21:36:52Z
+updated_at: 2025-12-27T21:36:52Z
+---
+
+The `beans query --json` output was compact/raw JSON, but it should still be prettified (indented) - just without colors. This makes the output more readable when piping to tools like `jq` or saving to files, while still being valid for machine parsing.
diff --git a/cmd/graphql.go b/cmd/graphql.go
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@ Examples:
 			return err
 		}
 
-		// Output
+		// Output (both modes are prettified, but --json skips color)
 		if queryJSON {
-			fmt.Println(string(result))
+			fmt.Println(string(pretty.Pretty(result)))
 		} else {
-			prettyPrint(result)
+			fmt.Println(string(pretty.Color(pretty.Pretty(result), nil)))
 		}
 
 		return nil
@@ -181,11 +181,6 @@ func formatGraphQLErrors(errs gqlerror.List) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("graphql errors:\n  %s", strings.Join(msgs, "\n  "))
 }
 
-// prettyPrint outputs the JSON with colors and indentation.
-func prettyPrint(data []byte) {
-	fmt.Println(string(pretty.Color(pretty.Pretty(data), nil)))
-}
-
 // printSchema outputs the GraphQL schema.
 func printSchema() error {
 	fmt.Print(GetGraphQLSchema())
@@ -207,7 +202,7 @@ func GetGraphQLSchema() string {
 }
 
 func init() {
-	graphqlCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&queryJSON, "json", false, "Output raw JSON (no formatting)")
+	graphqlCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&queryJSON, "json", false, "Output JSON without colors (for piping)")
 	graphqlCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&queryVariables, "variables", "v", "", "Query variables as JSON string")
 	graphqlCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&queryOperation, "operation", "o", "", "Operation name (for multi-operation documents)")
 	graphqlCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&querySchemaOnly, "schema", false, "Print the GraphQL schema and exit")
