DeserializationFeature.USE_LONG_FOR_INTS

[stickfigure]

Currently, when Jackson deserializes a number in an untyped context (eg Object), Jackson returns either Integer or Long depending on the size. This requires endless littering of boilerplate casts and conversions throughout code, for example:

Map<String, Object> map = mapper.readValue(payload, Map.class);
//long value = (Long)map.get("key");  // throws class cast exception
long value = ((Number)map.get("key")).longValue;  // gack

It would be fantastic if Jackson had an option to force all untyped numbers to Long instead of Integer. I propose DeserializationFeature.USE_LONG_FOR_INTS to be consistent with other features.

[cowtowncoder]

Sounds reasonable. In rare case of overflow (where BigInteger was needed), I assume it should throw an exception to indicate the problem.

[stickfigure]

That certainly sounds reasonable to me.