https://github.com/ingydotnet/json-bash
source json.bash json='{"name":"Jason","friends":["Jimmy","Joe"]}' JSON.load "$json" joe=$(JSON.get /friends/1) JSON.put /friends/2 Jeff new_json=$(JSON.dump)
https://github.com/ingydotnet/json-bash
It's still not as trivial as javascript, but "tooth-pullingly difficult" is a little unfair.