[Bug]: The fromBalString function is not working properly for map expression

[TharmiganK]

Description

$ Subject

Steps to Reproduce

Run the below code:

import ballerina/io;

public function main() returns error? {
    map<string> _ = {name:"John", city:"London"};

    string mapExpString = string `{name: "John", city: "London"}`;
    anydata output = check mapExpString.fromBalString();
    // Expected map: {"name":"John", "city":"London"}
    io:println(output);
}

$ bal run sample.bal

Compiling source
        tharmigan/sample1:0.1.0

Running executable

{"am":"John","cit":"London"}

Affected Version(s)

Ballerina SwanLake 2201.7.x, 2201.8.x

OS, DB, other environment details and versions

No response

Related area

-> Runtime

Related issue(s) (optional)

No response

Suggested label(s) (optional)

No response

Suggested assignee(s) (optional)

No response

[MaryamZi]

While the output is incorrect here, I think the result should be an error here.

https://central.ballerina.io/ballerina/lang.value/latest#fromBalString

Parses and evaluates a subset of Ballerina expression syntax. The subset of Ballerina expression syntax supported is that produced by toBalString when applied to an anydata value.

The string for which this would work would have quotes in the keys.

import ballerina/io;

public function main() returns error? {
    string mapExpString = string `{"name": "John", "city": "London"}`;
    anydata output = check mapExpString.fromBalString();
    io:println(output); // {"name":"John",""city":"London"}
    io:println(output is map<anydata>); // true
}

import ballerina/io;

public function main() returns error? {
    map<string> mapValue = {name: "John", city: "London"};
    string mapValueToBalString = mapValue.toBalString();
    io:println(mapValueToBalString); // {"name":"John","city":"London"}

    anydata mapValueFromBalString = check mapValueToBalString.fromBalString();
    io:println(mapValueFromBalString is map<anydata>); // true
    io:println(mapValueFromBalString); // {"name":"John","city":"London"}
}

[github-actions]

This issue is NOT closed with a proper Reason/ label. Make sure to add proper reason label before closing. Please add or leave a comment with the proper reason label now.

      - Reason/EngineeringMistake - The issue occurred due to a mistake made in the past.
      - Reason/Regression - The issue has introduced a regression.
      - Reason/MultipleComponentInteraction - Issue occured due to interactions in multiple components.
      - Reason/Complex - Issue occurred due to complex scenario.
      - Reason/Invalid - Issue is invalid.
      - Reason/Other - None of the above cases.