gistfile1.txt

  // First thing to note is that fields may be missing, and we need to provide a default. 
  // It would be nice to avoid intermediary null-check steps in this case.
  // See also: https://github.com/jayway/JsonPath
  
  "registry": {
    "class": "io.apiman.gateway.engine.es.ESRegistry",
    "config": {
      "client.type": "jest",
      "client.cluster-name": "elasticsearch_msavy",
      "client.host": "localhost",
      "client.port": "9201"
    }
  },
  
  // Pseudo-code; get item at path, else default. No intermediary null checking necessary.
  e.g. String clientType = apimanConfig("registry.config.client.type", String.class) || "transport";
  
  
  
  
  

Optional clientType = apimanConfig("registry.config.client.type", String.class).orElse("transport") perhaps?