This is a horrible idea

Summary: a JS developer wrote a spec for the package.json file, used in Node.js projects. It has many uses, including dependency management.

A developer who has worked on some Node.js package managers (npm, yarn, pnpm) is annoyed that the spec was written by an "outsider" without getting input from stakeholders. And, trying to enforce a rigid structure and behaviour on a configuration file that is interpreted in different ways by different tools.

I agree with thosakwe's comment. The "clearly defined structure" horse has bolted. I can only see this working by creating a new file with its own conventions, which will not be compatible with any existing tooling, which means it will not be adopted by the wider community.

While I don't necessarily think writing a spec for package.json is a "horrible idea," I definitely think it's far, far too late to even bothering starting one now.

package.json is in use in so many places, with so many different changes, that it's more or less pointless to bother enforcing rules anymore.