Java serialization does not enforce type safety as strictly as some alternatives, potentially leading to runtime errors.

## Decision

We do not use Java serialization.
Instead, we use custom serialization where we explicitly describe how data objects should be serialized and deserialized.

For internal purposes, we use binary formats for their brevity.

        You can use [the template](https://github.com/gradle/gradle-issue-reproducer) with a Gradle GitHub action set up to showcase your problem.
        In the rare cases where this is infeasible, we will also accept a detailed set of instructions.
        You can also use [Gradle Project Replicator](https://github.com/android/project-replicator) to reproduce the structure of your project.
    validations:

        def newSnapshot = snapshot(version, referenceBuildTime + buildTime)
        expect:
        ******@****.***ReleasedVersions(newSnapshot, versions) == releasedVersions(newSnapshot, rc, [])

        where:
        version | buildTime
        '4.3'   | 1
        '4.4'   | -1
        '4.4'   | 1
    }

    def "older snapshots are not stored"() {

     *
     * Here we automatically accept the following cases:
     * - A setter `setX` of an upgraded property is removed
     * - A boolean `isX` of an upgraded property is removed
     * - A new getter `getX` is added, where the old getter is a boolean getter `isX` of an upgraded property
     * - A return type is changed for a getter `getX` of an upgraded property
     *