Updated Implementation Using System.Text.Json using System; using System.Text.Json; using System.Text.Json.Serialization; public abstract class MessageEnvelope<T> { // Properties remain immutable public string EventType { get; private init; } public string SourceService { get; private init; } public DateTime Timestamp { get; private init; } public Guid TraceId { get; private init; } public T Payload { get; private init; } // Private constructor for builder use only private MessageEnvelope() { } public static Builder CreateBuilder() => new Builder(); // Serialization to JSON public string ToJson() { var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true // Makes the output JSON easier to read }; return JsonSerializer.Serialize(this, options); } // Deserialization from JSON public static MessageEnvelope<T> FromJson(string json) { var options = new JsonSerializerOptions { PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true // Handles case differences in JSON properties }; return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<ConcreteMessageEnvelope>(json, options); } // Concrete implementation example for proper deserialization private class ConcreteMessageEnvelope : MessageEnvelope<T> { } public class Builder { private readonly MessageEnvelope<T> _envelope = new ConcreteMessageEnvelope(); public Builder WithEventType(string eventType) { _envelope.EventType = eventType; return this; } public Builder WithSourceService(string sourceService) { _envelope.SourceService = sourceService; return this; } public Builder WithPayload(T payload) { _envelope.Payload = payload; return this; } public Builder WithTimestamp(DateTime timestamp) { _envelope.Timestamp = timestamp; return this; } public Builder WithTraceId(Guid traceId) { _envelope.TraceId = traceId; return this; } public MessageEnvelope<T> Build() { _envelope.Timestamp = _envelope.Timestamp == default ? DateTime.UtcNow : _envelope.Timestamp; _envelope.TraceId = _envelope.TraceId == default ? Guid.NewGuid() : _envelope.TraceId; return _envelope; } } } Example Usage 1. Serialize a MessageEnvelope to JSON var envelope = MessageEnvelope<Reservation> .CreateBuilder() .WithEventType("ReservationExpiry") .WithSourceService("ReservationService") .WithPayload(new Reservation { ReservationId = "res-001", SlotId = "slot-123", ExpiryTime = DateTime.UtcNow }) .Build(); string serialized = envelope.ToJson(); Console.WriteLine($"Serialized Envelope:\n{serialized}"); 2. Deserialize a JSON String to MessageEnvelope string json = "{\"EventType\":\"ReservationExpiry\",\"SourceService\":\"ReservationService\",\"Timestamp\":\"2025-03-25T17:00:00Z\",\"TraceId\":\"8a1db2c2-ec3e-45f7-a3eb-bd9dfb351245\",\"Payload\":{\"ReservationId\":\"res-001\",\"SlotId\":\"slot-123\",\"ExpiryTime\":\"2025-03-25T17:00:00Z\"}}"; var deserializedEnvelope = MessageEnvelope<Reservation>.FromJson(json); Console.WriteLine($"Deserialized EventType: {deserializedEnvelope.EventType}"); Console.WriteLine($"Deserialized Reservation ID: {deserializedEnvelope.Payload.ReservationId}"); Benefits of Serialization Portability: You can transmit envelopes as JSON over APIs, message brokers, or store them in databases. Interoperability: Many systems can parse JSON, making serialized envelopes easy to integrate across platforms. Flexibility: Deserialization lets you reconstruct envelopes when receiving messages. Advantages of System.Text.Json Performance: Faster than Newtonsoft.Json, especially for large-scale applications. Built-in Support: No need for external dependencies; it’s natively part of .NET Core and .NET 5+. Configuration Options: Flexible JSON options like camel casing, case insensitivity, and indented formatting.