json_to_ltsv.bash

#!/usr/bin/env bash

set -eu -o pipefail

# given:
input=$(cat << JSON
{
  "a": 1,
  "b": { "c": 2 },
  "d": { "e": [3, 4] }
}
JSON
)

# when:
out=$(
  echo "$input" \
    | jq --raw-output 'leaf_paths as $path | "\($path | join(".")):\(getpath($path))"' \
    | sort \
    | paste --serial --delimiters "\t"
)

# then:
test "$out" = "$(echo -e "a:1\tb.c:2\td.e.0:3\td.e.1:4")"

jq --raw-output 'paths(scalars) as $path | "\($path | join(".")):\(getpath($path))"'