Another option is to use Python, which is ubiquitous enough that it can be expected to be installed on virtually every machine
Not on macOS. You can do it easily by just invoking /usr/bin/python3, but you’ll get a (short and non-threatening) dialog to install the Xcode Command-Line Developer Tools. For macOS environments, JavaScript for Automation (i.e. JXA, i.e /usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript) is a better choice.
However, since Sequoia, jq is now installed by default on macOS.
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Not on macOS. You can do it easily by just invoking /usr/bin/python3, but you’ll get a (short and non-threatening) dialog to install the Xcode Command-Line Developer Tools. For macOS environments, JavaScript for Automation (i.e. JXA, i.e /usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript) is a better choice.
However, since Sequoia, jq is now installed by default on macOS.