feat: Remove delta encoding and simplify example modes.

Author: ronibhakta1

README.md

@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ ZON treats the format as a first-class language:
 - 🎯 **JSON Data Model**: Encodes the same objects, arrays, and primitives as JSON with deterministic, lossless round-trips
 - 📐 **Minimal Syntax**: Explicit headers (`@(N)` for count, column list) eliminate ambiguity for LLMs
 - 🌊 **Streaming Support** (New): Process gigabytes of data with `ZonStreamEncoder`/`Decoder` – **Unique to ZON**
-- 📉 **Delta Encoding** (New): Sequential numbers are delta-encoded (`:delta`) for maximum compression – **Unique to ZON**
+
 - 🧠 **LLM Optimization** (New): Context-aware encoding (`encodeLLM`) reorders fields for optimal tokenization – **Unique to ZON**
 - 🌳 **Deep Nesting**: Handles complex nested structures efficiently (91% compression on 50-level deep objects)
 - 🌐 **Browser & Edge Ready**: Verified support for Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge, and Browsers
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ true,carol@example.com,3,"Carol White",editor
 
 ### 2. Compact Mode
 
-Maximum compression using tables, delta encoding, and abbreviations (`T`/`F` for booleans).
+Maximum compression using tables and abbreviations (`T`/`F` for booleans).
 
 ```typescript
 const result = encodeAdaptive(data, { mode: 'compact' });
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ company{departments{engineering{employees[{id:1,name:Alice}]},sales{employees[{i
 **Why flat is better:**
 1. **Tables work**: Uniform data → table format → massive token savings
 2. **Compression wins**: Repeated keys eliminated via column headers
-3. **Delta encoding**: Sequential IDs compressed (1, +1, +1 vs 1, 2, 3)
+3. **Dictionary compression**: Repeated strings stored once
 4. **LLM friendly**: Tabular data is easier for AI to parse and understand
 
 ### Mode Selection Guide
@@ -1199,12 +1199,12 @@ Comprehensive guides for every aspect of ZON:
 - **[Syntax Cheatsheet](./docs/syntax-cheatsheet.md)** - Quick reference guide
   - All ZON syntax at a glance
   - Primitives, objects, arrays, tables
-  - Special features (delta, dictionary, metadata)
+  - Special features (dictionary, metadata)
 
 ### 🚀 Feature Guides
 
 - **[Advanced Features](./docs/advanced-features.md)** - Optimization techniques
-  - Delta Encoding for sequential data
+
   - Dictionary Compression for repeated values
   - Type Coercion for LLM outputs
   - LLM-Aware Field Ordering

SPEC.md

@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ Pattern: `^[a-zA-Z0-9_\-\.]+$`
 **Examples:**
 ```zonf
 name:Alice
+full_name:Alice Smith
 user_id:u123
 version:v1.1.0
 api-key:sk_test_key
@@ -415,7 +416,7 @@ Quote strings if they:
 1. **Contain structural chars:** `,`, `:`, `[`, `]`, `{`, `}`, `"`
 2. **Match literal keywords:** `T`, `F`, `true`, `false`, `null`, `none`, `nil`
 3. **Look like PURE numbers:** `123`, `3.14`, `1e6` (Complex patterns like `192.168.1.1` or `v1.1.0` do NOT need quoting)
-4. **Have whitespace:** Leading/trailing spaces, internal spaces (MUST quote to preserve)
+4. **Have whitespace:** Leading/trailing spaces (MUST quote to preserve). Internal spaces are allowed in unquoted strings.
 5. **Are empty:** `""` (MUST quote to distinguish from `null`)
 6. **Contain escapes:** Newlines, tabs, quotes (MUST quote to prevent structure breakage)
 
@@ -586,28 +587,6 @@ users:@(3):id,name
 ```json
 {"id": 2, "name": "Bob", "role": "admin", "score": 98}
 ```
-
-### 10.5 Delta Encoding (v1.1.0)
- 
- Sequential numeric columns can be delta-encoded to save tokens.
- 
- **Header Syntax:** `key:@(N):col1,col2:delta`
- 
- ```zonf
- timeseries:@(3):ts:delta,val
- 1000,10
- +60,12
- +60,15
- ```
- 
- **Decodes to:**
- ```json
- [
-   {"ts": 1000, "val": 10},
-   {"ts": 1060, "val": 12},
-   {"ts": 1120, "val": 15}
- ]
- ```
 
  ### 10.6 Hierarchical Sparse Encoding (v1.1.0)
 
@@ -1073,7 +1052,7 @@ users:@(1):id,name
 ### Appendix C: Changelog
 
 **v1.1.0 (2025-12-01)**
- - Delta Encoding (`:delta`)
+ - Sparse Tables (`key:value` in rows)
  - Hierarchical Sparse Encoding (deep flattening)
  - Metadata Optimization (grouped objects)
  - Type Coercion (opt-in)

debug_decoder.ts

@@ -9,108 +9,14 @@ ZON includes advanced compression and optimization features that dramatically re
 
 ## Table of Contents
 
-- [Delta Encoding](#delta-encoding)
+
 - [Dictionary Compression](#dictionary-compression)
 - [Type Coercion](#type-coercion)
 - [LLM-Aware Field Ordering](#llm-aware-field-ordering)
 - [Hierarchical Sparse Encoding](#hierarchical-sparse-encoding)
 
 ---
 
-## Delta Encoding
-
-**Introduced:** v1.1.0  
-**Purpose:** Compress sequential numeric columns
-
-### How It Works
-
-Instead of storing absolute values, delta encoding stores the difference from the previous value:
-
-```
-# Without delta:
-ids:@(1000):id
-1,2,3,4,5,...,1000
-
-# With delta (`:delta` marker):
-ids:@(1000):id:delta
-1,+1,+1,+1,+1,...,+1
-```
-
-**Token Savings:** Up to 70% for sequential IDs or timestamps.
-
-### When To Use
-
-Delta encoding is automatically applied when ALL conditions are met:
-
-1. Column contains **only numbers**
-2. Column has **≥5 values**
-3. Values are **sequential** (small deltas)
-
-### Examples
-
-```typescript
-import { encode } from 'zon-format';
-
-// Sequential IDs
-const data = {
-  records: Array.from({ length: 1000 }, (_, i) => ({
-    id: i + 1,
-    name: `Record ${i}`
-  }))
-};
-
-const zon = encode(data);
-console.log(zon);
-/*
-records:@(1000):id:delta,name
-1,Record 0
-+1,Record 1
-+1,Record 2
-...
-*/
-```
-
-**Timestamps:**
-
-```typescript
-const logs = [
-  { timestamp: 1609459200, message: 'Started' },
-  { timestamp: 1609459260, message: 'Processing' }, // +60
-  { timestamp: 1609459320, message: 'Done' }        // +60
-];
-
-// Encoded as:
-// logs:@(3):message,timestamp:delta
-// Started,1609459200
-// Processing,+60
-// Done,+60
-```
-
-### Decoding
-
-Delta encoding is automatically reversed during decoding:
-
-```typescript
-import { decode } from 'zon-format';
-
-const zon = `
-records:@(3):id:delta,name
-1,Alice
-+1,Bob
-+1,Carol
-`;
-
-const data = decode(zon);
-console.log(data.records);
-// [
-//   { id: 1, name: 'Alice' },
-//   { id: 2, name: 'Bob' },
-//   { id: 3, name: 'Carol' }
-// ]
-```
-
----
-
 ## Dictionary Compression
 
 **Introduced:** v1.0.3  
@@ -400,7 +306,7 @@ const data = {
 
 ## Performance Tips
 
-1. **Delta encoding**: Best for time-series and sequential IDs
+1. **Dictionary compression**: Best for repetitive strings (enums, categories)
 2. **Dictionary compression**: Best for categorical data (status, roles, countries)
 3. **Type coercion**: Enable when dealing with LLM outputs
 4. **Field ordering**: Use for retrieval-heavy applications

docs/advanced-features.md

@@ -93,20 +93,17 @@ type UserV2 = {
 
 ## Adaptive Encoding Patterns
 
-### Automatic Mode Selection
-
-```typescript
-import { encodeAdaptive, recommendMode } from 'zon-format';
-
-// Get recommendation
-const rec = recommendMode(data);
-console.log(`Recommended: ${rec.mode} (${rec.confidence}% confident)`);
-console.log(`Reason: ${rec.reason}`);
-
-// Encode with auto mode
-const result = encodeAdaptive(data, { mode: 'auto' });
-console.log(`Used ${result.selectedMode} mode`);
-```
+### Mode Selection
+ 
+ ```typescript
+ import { encodeAdaptive } from 'zon-format';
+ 
+ // Encode with compact mode (default)
+ const compact = encodeAdaptive(data, { mode: 'compact' });
+ 
+ // Encode with readable mode for debugging
+ const readable = encodeAdaptive(data, { mode: 'readable' });
+ ```
 
 ### Use Case-Specific Modes
 

docs/production-architecture.md

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ console.log("\n");
 // ==========================================
 // 3. LLM-OPTIMIZED MODE - Balance clarity & tokens
 // ==========================================
-console.log("3. LLM-OPT IMIZED MODE (balance clarity & tokens):");
+console.log("3. LLM-OPTIMIZED MODE (balance clarity & tokens):");
 console.log("--------------------------------------------------");
 const llmResult = encodeAdaptive(sampleData, { mode: 'llm-optimized' });
 console.log(llmResult);

examples/encoding_modes_demo.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-active:true
+active:T
 description:null
 name:ZON Format
 score:98.5

examples/modes/01_simple_key_value_auto.zonf

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-active:T
+active:true
 description:null
 name:ZON Format
 score:98.5