Robert, two tracks make sense to me.

I'd also suggest documenting that the user cannot enable
reflection-free-serializers, or provide a production ready check if
possible.
  quarkus.rest.jackson.optimization.enable-reflection-free-serializers=false

Yufei


On Fri, Jun 26, 2026 at 12:30 AM Robert Stupp <[email protected]> wrote:

> Thanks Yufei.
>
> I agree that keeping
>
>
> quarkus.rest.jackson.optimization.enable-reflection-free-serializers=false
>
> is a reasonable workaround for the Quarkus 3.37 upgrade.
>
> I do not think we should treat that as the Quarkus 4 / Jackson 3 readiness
> answer, though.
> That flag disables one generated Quarkus REST JSON path in the current
> Quarkus 3.x line.
> It does not make Iceberg's Jackson 2 serializers, parser APIs, or
> ObjectMapper integration usable with a Jackson 3 runtime path.
>
> That is the distinction I wanted to make with the reflection-free
> serializer example.
> It is not the same issue as Jackson 3, nor is it proof of a Jackson 3 bug.
> It is evidence that Polaris' REST correctness depends on the exact
> Quarkus/Jackson integration path and on preserving Iceberg's
> registered ObjectMapper module behavior.
>
> So I think there are still two separate tracks:
>
> 1. For Polaris-owned JSON usage, keep migrating isolated code paths to
> Jackson 3
>    when the wire contract is covered by tests.
> 2. For Iceberg REST model handling, track it as dependency-constrained for
>    Polaris' eventual Quarkus 4 readiness.
>
> I agree that the Iceberg-side migration timeline is an Iceberg project
> decision.
> From the Polaris side, I do not think we should leave that as an implicit
> unknown.
> We should record it as a readiness blocker/category, even if the action is
> only "needs upstream discussion" for now.
>
> For the reflection-free serializers specifically, I would not frame the
> desired future as "Polaris must use this optimization."
> The more important point is that ordinary REST model mapping should not
> depend on every downstream framework preserving one exact manually
> registered ObjectMapper path.
> Where Iceberg needs custom parser logic for versioning, compatibility,
> polymorphism, or parser context, that should stay explicit.
> But where REST request/response models are ordinary property mappings,
> making those models more self-describing would make framework-managed HTTP
> runtimes less fragile.
>
> Robert
>
> On Fri, Jun 26, 2026 at 2:38 AM Yufei Gu <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Hi Robert,
> >
> > Thanks for raising this thread. I shared Alex's concern about how
> Jackson 3
> > will work with Iceberg REST serializers that are still based on Jackson
> 2.
> >
> > I believe the reflection-free serializers are a separate issue since they
> > already exist in the current Quarkus release. We can simply keep that
> > optimization disabled:
> >
> >
> quarkus.rest.jackson.optimization.enable-reflection-free-serializers=false
> >
> >
> > Let me know if I missed anything.
> >
> > Waiting for Iceberg to migrate to Jackson 3 before moving Polaris to
> > Quarkus 4 makes sense to me. We should thoroughly test the HTTP request
> and
> > response paths once everything is in place, but that seems like a way to
> > move forward. The Iceberg Jackson 3 migration timeline is unknown to me,
> we
> > could get started now or we could just wait.
> >
> > Yufei
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Jun 25, 2026 at 1:30 AM Jean-Baptiste Onofré <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > I think it’s two related efforts:
> > > - first Jackson 3. Robert’s proposal looks good to me, especially
> > avoiding
> > > Quarkus 4 major upgrade.
> > > - json-b is interesting indeed, especially using Johnson. For instance
> > > Karaf-decanter can support both Jackson and Johnson thanks to json-b.
> > > However I think it’s another discussion.
> > >
> > > I would suggest to start with jackson3 upgrade now and investigate
> json-b
> > > api use as a follow up.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > JB
> > >
> > > Le jeu. 25 juin 2026 à 10:01, Romain Manni-Bucau <
> [email protected]>
> > a
> > > écrit :
> > >
> > > > (from the phone)
> > > >
> > > > Neat thing with jsonb as an api is you can décorateur it - even with
> > CDI
> > > > and abstract decorator or interceptors - and migrate class by class,
> > some
> > > > backed by jackson, other by whatever works
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Romain Manni-Bucau
> > > > @rmannibucau <https://x.com/rmannibucau> | .NET Blog
> > > > <https://dotnetbirdie.github.io/> | Blog <
> > https://rmannibucau.github.io/
> > > >
> > > > | Old
> > > > Blog <http://rmannibucau.wordpress.com> | Github
> > > > <https://github.com/rmannibucau> | LinkedIn
> > > > <https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmannibucau> | Book
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.packtpub.com/en-us/product/java-ee-8-high-performance-9781788473064
> > > > >
> > > > Javaccino founder (Java/.NET service - contact via linkedin)
> > > >
> > > > Le jeu. 25 juin 2026, 09:42, Robert Stupp <[email protected]> a écrit :
> > > >
> > > > > Hi Alex, Romain,
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks, both.
> > > > >
> > > > > Alex, yes, I think we should eventually have the corresponding
> > > discussion
> > > > > on the Iceberg side as well.
> > > > > I would just prefer to first make the Polaris impact clear here:
> > > > > which Jackson usage is Polaris-owned, which usage is only
> > > > test/distribution
> > > > > surface, and which usage is constrained by dependency APIs.
> > > > >
> > > > > On the Quarkus HTTP path: today Polaris registers Iceberg's REST
> > > > > serializers via the Quarkus ObjectMapper customizer:
> > > > >
> > > > >   RESTSerializers.registerAll(objectMapper)
> > > > >
> > > > > For the normal Quarkus REST Jackson path, I would expect Iceberg
> > types
> > > > such
> > > > > as ConfigResponse to go through that customized ObjectMapper path.
> > > > >
> > > > > The issue is that this is also the fragile part.
> > > > > With Quarkus REST's reflection-free serializer/deserializer
> > > optimization,
> > > > > Quarkus can use generated handling for request/response body types.
> > > > > We already saw that this is not equivalent for some Iceberg REST
> > > request
> > > > > types:
> > > > > create-namespace was one concrete case where the request body was
> not
> > > > > deserialized correctly.
> > > > >
> > > > > So I think there are two different milestones here:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1. Iceberg JSON support can run on Jackson 3.
> > > > > 2. Iceberg REST model types are self-describing enough that Quarkus
> > > > > generated
> > > > >    REST serializers/deserializers can handle them correctly without
> > > > relying
> > > > > on
> > > > >    externally registered ObjectMapper modules for the core wire
> > format.
> > > > >
> > > > > Those are related, but not the same.
> > > > >
> > > > > Romain, I agree that JSON-B/JSON-P is an interesting API-boundary
> > > > direction
> > > > > in general.
> > > > > But I do not think it is the practical near-term answer for this
> > issue.
> > > > > JSON-B helps when the runtime uses a JSON-B provider.
> > > > > JSON-P is lower-level JSON processing.
> > > > > Neither directly helps existing Iceberg code paths that use Jackson
> > > > > ObjectMapper/JsonMapper, nor consumers that rely on Iceberg's
> > > > Jackson-based
> > > > > REST parsers and serializers.
> > > > >
> > > > > For this specific problem, I think the cleaner long-term shape is
> > that
> > > > the
> > > > > Iceberg REST model types become Jackson-self-describing:
> > > > > mostly regular Jackson annotations for properties/builders/naming,
> > and
> > > > only
> > > > > custom serializers where the wire format actually cannot be
> > represented
> > > > > otherwise.
> > > > >
> > > > > That should also be compatible with a transition period.
> > > > > Many core Jackson annotations are still in
> > > > > `com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation` and work across Jackson 2/3.
> > > > > Where databind-specific annotations differ, the Jackson 2 and
> > Jackson 3
> > > > > annotations can be duplicated on the model types if needed.
> > > > >
> > > > > Polaris could work around this with local wrapper DTOs/adapters.
> > > > > Nessie has a model like that and it works with Quarkus 3.37 and
> > > > > reflection-free serializers.
> > > > > The difference is that Nessie owns that path end-to-end and can
> > handle
> > > > > those types directly.
> > > > > Polaris is much more tied to Iceberg's REST model types and
> services,
> > > so
> > > > > introducing a local shadow model here would be a bigger local
> > ownership
> > > > > decision.
> > > > >
> > > > > The drift argument is still real: if Polaris re-implements Iceberg
> > REST
> > > > > payload types locally, we have to keep that model aligned with
> > > Iceberg's
> > > > > REST API over time.
> > > > > That may be doable, but I would rather not make it the default
> answer
> > > if
> > > > > the Iceberg REST model types can become self-describing instead.
> > > > >
> > > > > So my current view is:
> > > > >
> > > > > - short term: keep migrating Polaris-owned JSON usage where it is
> > > > isolated
> > > > > and
> > > > >   testable
> > > > > - short term: track Iceberg REST model handling as
> > > dependency-constrained
> > > > > - longer term: discuss in Iceberg whether the REST model types can
> > move
> > > > > toward a
> > > > >   self-describing Jackson annotation model, so consumers do not
> need
> > > > > externally
> > > > >   registered manual serializers for basic REST request/response
> > > > > correctness.
> > > > >
> > > > > That would make a future Quarkus 4/Jackson 3 upgrade much less
> risky
> > > for
> > > > > Polaris.
> > > > >
> > > > > Robert
> > > > >
> > > > > On Wed, Jun 24, 2026 at 11:06 PM Romain Manni-Bucau <
> > > > [email protected]
> > > > > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Hi guys,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > maybe encouraging JSON-P+JSON-B as API then any vendor/impl can
> > pick
> > > > its
> > > > > > preferred vendor can be a neat choice for the future instead of
> > > relying
> > > > > > deeply on jackson?
> > > > > > quarkus already supports it and work in iceberg is not crazy -
> not
> > > > > speaking
> > > > > > of the community discussion not spark and friends integrations ;)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Romain Manni-Bucau
> > > > > > @rmannibucau <https://x.com/rmannibucau> | .NET Blog
> > > > > > <https://dotnetbirdie.github.io/> | Blog <
> > > > https://rmannibucau.github.io/
> > > > > >
> > > > > > | Old
> > > > > > Blog <http://rmannibucau.wordpress.com> | Github
> > > > > > <https://github.com/rmannibucau> | LinkedIn
> > > > > > <https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmannibucau> | Book
> > > > > > <
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.packtpub.com/en-us/product/java-ee-8-high-performance-9781788473064
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > Javaccino founder (Java/.NET service - contact via linkedin)
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Le mer. 24 juin 2026 à 18:03, Alexandre Dutra <[email protected]
> >
> > a
> > > > > écrit
> > > > > > :
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hi Robert,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Your approach looks good to me. If we can avoid the giant
> > Quarkus-4
> > > > PR
> > > > > > > and introduce the changes gradually, that's a very valuable
> > option.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I would like though to have a better understanding of the
> > situation
> > > > > > > regarding Iceberg REST serializers, which are still Jackson 2:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > - Should we engage with the Iceberg community and start a
> > migration
> > > > > > > discussion there as well?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > - How would the HTTP layer in Quarkus 4 serialize an Iceberg
> > type,
> > > > > > > e.g. ConfigResponse? Would it use Iceberg's
> > > ConfigResponseSerializer,
> > > > > > > or something else?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > Alex
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Wed, Jun 24, 2026 at 4:42 PM Robert Stupp <[email protected]>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Hi everyone,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I would like to start a discussion about Jackson 3 readiness
> > for
> > > > > > Polaris.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > This is not about upgrading Polaris to Quarkus 4 right now.
> > > > > > > > Polaris is still on Quarkus 3, and I do not think we should
> > turn
> > > > this
> > > > > > > into
> > > > > > > > a big platform-upgrade thread.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > But Quarkus 4 is expected to move to Jackson 3.
> > > > > > > > The current public roadmap mentions Jackson 3 as part of
> > Quarkus
> > > 4,
> > > > > > with
> > > > > > > > Beta 1 tentatively around September 2026 and GA around
> November
> > > > 2026.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I think that matters for Polaris because Jackson is not only
> > used
> > > > in
> > > > > > > > isolated helper code.
> > > > > > > > Quarkus also owns important runtime paths for us, including
> > REST
> > > > > > > > request/response mapping.
> > > > > > > > Once we move to Quarkus 4, Jackson 3 is expected to be on
> that
> > > > path.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > We already have a smaller example showing why this is not
> just
> > a
> > > > > > > > theoretical dependency cleanup.
> > > > > > > > In the Quarkus 3.37 work, Polaris currently has to keep the
> > > Quarkus
> > > > > > REST
> > > > > > > > Jackson reflection-free serializer optimization disabled.
> > > > > > > > With that optimization enabled, the generated REST JSON path
> > does
> > > > not
> > > > > > > > behave the same as the customized ObjectMapper path for some
> > > > Iceberg
> > > > > > REST
> > > > > > > > request types.
> > > > > > > > One concrete symptom was namespace creation deserializing
> > > > > incorrectly.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > That is not a Jackson 3 bug by itself.
> > > > > > > > But it is a good reminder that the exact Quarkus/Jackson REST
> > > > > > integration
> > > > > > > > path matters for Polaris correctness.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I have started splitting out a few smaller Jackson 3
> > preparation
> > > > PRs
> > > > > > > > already.
> > > > > > > > The idea is to reduce the local migration surface where we
> can
> > do
> > > > > that
> > > > > > > > safely:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > - migrate small Polaris-internal serializers/deserializers
> > first;
> > > > > > > > - keep the JSON wire format stable and covered by tests;
> > > > > > > > - avoid mixing behavior changes into the migration;
> > > > > > > > - leave dependency-constrained areas on Jackson 2 until the
> > > > > dependency
> > > > > > > path
> > > > > > > > is clear.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I think this is lower risk than waiting until a future
> Quarkus
> > 4
> > > > > > upgrade
> > > > > > > PR
> > > > > > > > has to solve everything at once.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > There are still areas where Polaris depends on libraries that
> > > > expose
> > > > > or
> > > > > > > use
> > > > > > > > Jackson 2 JSON mapping APIs.
> > > > > > > > Iceberg is one important example, because Polaris relies on
> > > Iceberg
> > > > > > types
> > > > > > > > and REST-related model handling.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I do not think the Polaris dev list is the place to decide
> > > > Iceberg's
> > > > > > > > dependency policy.
> > > > > > > > But I do think Polaris should track this as a Quarkus 4
> > readiness
> > > > > > > > constraint, so we know which parts are Polaris-owned and
> which
> > > > parts
> > > > > > are
> > > > > > > > blocked on dependency APIs.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > My proposed direction is:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > 1. Treat Jackson 3 readiness as encouraged for new
> > > Polaris-internal
> > > > > > JSON
> > > > > > > > code.
> > > > > > > > 2. Accept focused PRs that migrate isolated Polaris code
> paths
> > to
> > > > > > > Jackson 3
> > > > > > > >    when tests show the JSON contract stays stable.
> > > > > > > > 3. Avoid introducing new Jackson 2 usage unless a dependency
> > API
> > > > > > requires
> > > > > > > > it.
> > > > > > > > 4. Track remaining Jackson 2 usage by category:
> Polaris-owned,
> > > > > > > >    dependency-constrained, test-only, and
> > > > distribution/license-only.
> > > > > > > > 5. Use that tracking to identify what must be resolved
> before a
> > > > > > Quarkus 4
> > > > > > > > upgrade
> > > > > > > >    becomes practical.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > This does not need to be a vote.
> > > > > > > > I am mostly looking for agreement on the direction and on how
> > we
> > > > want
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > track the remaining blockers.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Does this sound like the right approach?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Robert
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

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