diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index a6b25daefda..79c9f2af4a2 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 source "https://rubygems.org"
 gem "logstash-core", "5.0.0.dev", :path => "./logstash-core"
 gem "logstash-core-event-java", "5.0.0.dev", :path => "./logstash-core-event-java"
-gem "logstash-core-plugin-api", "1.0.0", :path => "./logstash-core-plugin-api"
+gem "logstash-core-plugin-api", "2.0.0", :path => "./logstash-core-plugin-api"
 gem "file-dependencies", "0.1.6"
 gem "ci_reporter_rspec", "1.0.0", :group => :development
 gem "simplecov", :group => :development
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ gem "coveralls", :group => :development
 # 1.6 is the last supported version on jruby.
 gem "tins", "1.6", :group => :development
 gem "rspec", "~> 3.1.0", :group => :development
-gem "logstash-devutils", "~> 0.0.15", :group => :development
+gem "logstash-devutils", :group => :development
 gem "benchmark-ips", :group => :development
 gem "octokit", "3.8.0", :group => :build
-gem "stud", "~> 0.0.21", :group => :build
+gem "stud", "~> 0.0.22", :group => :build
 gem "fpm", "~> 1.3.3", :group => :build
 gem "rubyzip", "~> 1.1.7", :group => :build
 gem "gems", "~> 0.8.3", :group => :build
diff --git a/Gemfile.jruby-1.9.lock b/Gemfile.jruby-1.9.lock
index 7510eb2679d..709340a1965 100644
--- a/Gemfile.jruby-1.9.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.jruby-1.9.lock
@@ -1,3 +1,136 @@
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/elastic/logstash-devutils.git
+  revision: e9af3a24824a41d0f19b025ca359e0735e820251
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-devutils (0.0.19-java)
+      fivemat
+      gem_publisher
+      insist (= 1.0.0)
+      kramdown
+      minitar
+      rake
+      rspec (~> 3.1.0)
+      rspec-wait
+      stud (>= 0.0.20)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-codec-json.git
+  revision: 141d488f3a73706d5ae08dd41468fed285fbbdf9
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-codec-json (2.1.4)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-codec-json_lines.git
+  revision: f1a3fda4d1affaa6da4b037eec78ee5f10287eb8
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-codec-json_lines (2.1.3)
+      logstash-codec-line (>= 2.1.0)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-codec-line.git
+  revision: f912b6ca5137bef914ea0e605cb34520b0f172d4
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-codec-line (2.1.2)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-codec-plain.git
+  revision: 5c5424905d5e06d7f7adc888411057c8a5681194
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-codec-plain (2.0.4)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-filter-clone.git
+  revision: 4da247817809ff68a47557f022c8049536651564
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-filter-clone (2.0.6)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-filter-grok.git
+  revision: 284dc6614b0cac6770cda2c18a52f8405146f1eb
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-filter-grok (2.0.5)
+      jls-grok (~> 0.11.1)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+      logstash-patterns-core
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-filter-multiline.git
+  revision: fd1da31b7d1e0b44319c0f2865c767b36440583d
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-filter-multiline (2.0.5)
+      jls-grok (~> 0.11.0)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+      logstash-patterns-core
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-filter-mutate.git
+  revision: f9624cc0a05354c308b2d22a5895c737eceaa08b
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-filter-mutate (2.0.6)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-input-generator.git
+  revision: 2557a4e7da667d6e801cac47e27ff297b6ecc79a
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-input-generator (2.0.4)
+      logstash-codec-plain
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-input-stdin.git
+  revision: cca193c505f931500bd0f6be45afada2af0578ed
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-input-stdin (2.0.4)
+      concurrent-ruby
+      logstash-codec-line
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-input-tcp.git
+  revision: b6f2705d7fc226c08dd0905561ef9373d2801a58
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-input-tcp (3.0.5)
+      logstash-codec-json
+      logstash-codec-json_lines
+      logstash-codec-line
+      logstash-codec-plain
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-output-stdout.git
+  revision: c150cb4f560b047372e15887e8b6bf421af22fc9
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-output-stdout (2.0.6)
+      logstash-codec-line
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
+GIT
+  remote: git://github.com/logstash-plugins/logstash-patterns-core.git
+  revision: e039ba2d3db6a01b6501fe0cab8a82453c6dc45f
+  branch: feature/plugin-api-2_0
+  specs:
+    logstash-patterns-core (2.0.5)
+      logstash-core-plugin-api (~> 2.0)
+
 PATH
   remote: ./logstash-core
   specs:
@@ -10,8 +143,8 @@ PATH
       gems (~> 0.8.3)
       i18n (= 0.6.9)
       jrjackson (~> 0.3.7)
-      jruby-monitoring (~> 0.1)
-      jruby-openssl (= 0.9.13)
+      jruby-monitoring (~> 0.3.1)
+      jruby-openssl (= 0.9.16)
       logstash-core-event-java (~> 5.0.0.dev)
       minitar (~> 0.5.4)
       pry (~> 0.10.1)
@@ -32,7 +165,7 @@ PATH
 PATH
   remote: ./logstash-core-plugin-api
   specs:
-    logstash-core-plugin-api (1.0.0-java)
+    logstash-core-plugin-api (2.0.0-java)
       logstash-core (= 5.0.0.dev)
 
 GEM
@@ -42,7 +175,7 @@ GEM
     arr-pm (0.0.10)
       cabin (> 0)
     backports (3.6.8)
-    benchmark-ips (2.5.0)
+    benchmark-ips (2.6.1)
     builder (3.2.2)
     cabin (0.8.1)
     childprocess (0.5.9)
@@ -71,6 +204,7 @@ GEM
     file-dependencies (0.1.6)
       minitar
     filesize (0.0.4)
+    fivemat (1.3.2)
     flores (0.0.6)
     fpm (1.3.3)
       arr-pm (~> 0.0.9)
@@ -85,20 +219,13 @@ GEM
     i18n (0.6.9)
     insist (1.0.0)
     jar-dependencies (0.3.2)
-    jrjackson (0.3.8)
-    jruby-monitoring (0.3.0)
-    jruby-openssl (0.9.13-java)
+    jls-grok (0.11.2)
+      cabin (>= 0.6.0)
+    jrjackson (0.3.9-java)
+    jruby-monitoring (0.3.1)
+    jruby-openssl (0.9.16-java)
     json (1.8.3-java)
     kramdown (1.10.0)
-    logstash-devutils (0.0.18-java)
-      gem_publisher
-      insist (= 1.0.0)
-      kramdown
-      minitar
-      rake
-      rspec (~> 3.1.0)
-      rspec-wait
-      stud (>= 0.0.20)
     method_source (0.8.2)
     minitar (0.5.4)
     multipart-post (2.0.0)
@@ -173,14 +300,27 @@ DEPENDENCIES
   flores (~> 0.0.6)
   fpm (~> 1.3.3)
   gems (~> 0.8.3)
+  logstash-codec-json!
+  logstash-codec-json_lines!
+  logstash-codec-line!
+  logstash-codec-plain!
   logstash-core (= 5.0.0.dev)!
   logstash-core-event-java (= 5.0.0.dev)!
-  logstash-core-plugin-api (= 1.0.0)!
-  logstash-devutils (~> 0.0.15)
+  logstash-core-plugin-api (= 2.0.0)!
+  logstash-devutils!
+  logstash-filter-clone!
+  logstash-filter-grok!
+  logstash-filter-multiline!
+  logstash-filter-mutate!
+  logstash-input-generator!
+  logstash-input-stdin!
+  logstash-input-tcp!
+  logstash-output-stdout!
+  logstash-patterns-core!
   octokit (= 3.8.0)
   rack-test
   rspec (~> 3.1.0)
   rubyzip (~> 1.1.7)
   simplecov
-  stud (~> 0.0.21)
+  stud (~> 0.0.22)
   tins (= 1.6)
diff --git a/logstash-core-event-java/lib/logstash-core-event-java/logstash-core-event-java.jar b/logstash-core-event-java/lib/logstash-core-event-java/logstash-core-event-java.jar
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ec9ed306bc6
Binary files /dev/null and b/logstash-core-event-java/lib/logstash-core-event-java/logstash-core-event-java.jar differ
diff --git a/logstash-core-event-java/spec/event_spec.rb b/logstash-core-event-java/spec/event_spec.rb
index 03cbffa73c6..8ccae4f6cf9 100644
--- a/logstash-core-event-java/spec/event_spec.rb
+++ b/logstash-core-event-java/spec/event_spec.rb
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@
 
     it "should serialize deep hash from field reference assignments" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new({TIMESTAMP => "2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z"})
-      e["foo"] = "bar"
-      e["bar"] = 1
-      e["baz"] = 1.0
-      e["[fancy][pants][socks]"] = "shoes"
+      e.set("foo", "bar")
+      e.set("bar", 1)
+      e.set("baz", 1.0)
+      e.set("[fancy][pants][socks]", "shoes")
       expect(JSON.parse(e.to_json)).to eq(JSON.parse("{\"@timestamp\":\"2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z\",\"@version\":\"1\",\"foo\":\"bar\",\"bar\":1,\"baz\":1.0,\"fancy\":{\"pants\":{\"socks\":\"shoes\"}}}"))
     end
   end
@@ -37,79 +37,79 @@
   context "[]" do
     it "should get simple values" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new({"foo" => "bar", "bar" => 1, "baz" => 1.0, TIMESTAMP => "2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z"})
-      expect(e["foo"]).to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["[foo]"]).to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["bar"]).to eq(1)
-      expect(e["[bar]"]).to eq(1)
-      expect(e["baz"]).to eq(1.0)
-      expect(e["[baz]"]).to eq(1.0)
-      expect(e[TIMESTAMP].to_s).to eq("2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z")
-      expect(e["[#{TIMESTAMP}]"].to_s).to eq("2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z")
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.get("[foo]")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.get("bar")).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.get("[bar]")).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.get("baz")).to eq(1.0)
+      expect(e.get("[baz]")).to eq(1.0)
+      expect(e.get(TIMESTAMP).to_s).to eq("2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z")
+      expect(e.get("[#{TIMESTAMP}]").to_s).to eq("2015-05-28T23:02:05.350Z")
     end
 
     it "should get deep hash values" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new({"foo" => {"bar" => 1, "baz" => 1.0}})
-      expect(e["[foo][bar]"]).to eq(1)
-      expect(e["[foo][baz]"]).to eq(1.0)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][bar]")).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][baz]")).to eq(1.0)
     end
 
     it "should get deep array values" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new({"foo" => ["bar", 1, 1.0]})
-      expect(e["[foo][0]"]).to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["[foo][1]"]).to eq(1)
-      expect(e["[foo][2]"]).to eq(1.0)
-      expect(e["[foo][3]"]).to be_nil
+      expect(e.get("[foo][0]")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.get("[foo][1]")).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][2]")).to eq(1.0)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][3]")).to be_nil
     end
   end
 
   context "[]=" do
     it "should set simple values" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
-      expect(e["foo"] = "bar").to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.set("foo", "bar")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to eq("bar")
 
       e = LogStash::Event.new({"foo" => "test"})
-      expect(e["foo"] = "bar").to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.set("foo", "bar")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to eq("bar")
     end
 
     it "should set deep hash values" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
-      expect(e["[foo][bar]"] = "baz").to eq("baz")
-      expect(e["[foo][bar]"]).to eq("baz")
-      expect(e["[foo][baz]"]).to be_nil
+      expect(e.set("[foo][bar]", "baz")).to eq("baz")
+      expect(e.get("[foo][bar]")).to eq("baz")
+      expect(e.get("[foo][baz]")).to be_nil
     end
 
     it "should set deep array values" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
-      expect(e["[foo][0]"] = "bar").to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["[foo][0]"]).to eq("bar")
-      expect(e["[foo][1]"] = 1).to eq(1)
-      expect(e["[foo][1]"]).to eq(1)
-      expect(e["[foo][2]"] = 1.0 ).to eq(1.0)
-      expect(e["[foo][2]"]).to eq(1.0)
-      expect(e["[foo][3]"]).to be_nil
+      expect(e.set("[foo][0]", "bar")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.get("[foo][0]")).to eq("bar")
+      expect(e.set("[foo][1]", 1)).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][1]")).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.set("[foo][2]", 1.0)).to eq(1.0)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][2]")).to eq(1.0)
+      expect(e.get("[foo][3]")).to be_nil
     end
 
     it "should add key when setting nil value" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
-      e["[foo]"] = nil
+      e.set("[foo]", nil)
       expect(e.to_hash).to include("foo" => nil)
     end
 
     # BigDecinal is now natively converted by JRuby, see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/pull/4838
     it "should set BigDecimal" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
-      e["[foo]"] = BigDecimal.new(1)
-      expect(e["foo"]).to be_kind_of(BigDecimal)
-      expect(e["foo"]).to eq(BigDecimal.new(1))
+      e.set("[foo]", BigDecimal.new(1))
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to be_kind_of(BigDecimal)
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to eq(BigDecimal.new(1))
     end
 
     it "should set RubyBignum" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
-      e["[foo]"] = -9223372036854776000
-      expect(e["foo"]).to be_kind_of(Bignum)
-      expect(e["foo"]).to eq(-9223372036854776000)
+      e.set("[foo]", -9223372036854776000)
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to be_kind_of(Bignum)
+      expect(e.get("foo")).to eq(-9223372036854776000)
     end
   end
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
     it "getters should present a Ruby LogStash::Timestamp" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new()
       expect(e.timestamp.class).to eq(LogStash::Timestamp)
-      expect(e[TIMESTAMP].class).to eq(LogStash::Timestamp)
+      expect(e.get(TIMESTAMP).class).to eq(LogStash::Timestamp)
     end
 
     it "to_hash should inject a Ruby LogStash::Timestamp" do
@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@
     it "should set timestamp" do
       e = LogStash::Event.new
       now = Time.now
-      e["@timestamp"] = LogStash::Timestamp.at(now.to_i)
+      e.set("@timestamp", LogStash::Timestamp.at(now.to_i))
       expect(e.timestamp.to_i).to eq(now.to_i)
-      expect(e["@timestamp"].to_i).to eq(now.to_i)
+      expect(e.get("@timestamp").to_i).to eq(now.to_i)
     end
   end
 
@@ -144,16 +144,16 @@
     it "should append" do
       event = LogStash::Event.new("message" => "hello world")
       event.append(LogStash::Event.new("message" => "another thing"))
-      expect(event["message"]).to eq(["hello world", "another thing"])
+      expect(event.get("message")).to eq(["hello world", "another thing"])
     end
   end
 
   context "tags" do
     it "should tag" do
       event = LogStash::Event.new("message" => "hello world")
-      expect(event["tags"]).to be_nil
-      event["tags"] = ["foo"]
-      expect(event["tags"]).to eq(["foo"])
+      expect(event.get("tags")).to be_nil
+      event.tag("foo")
+      expect(event.get("tags")).to eq(["foo"])
     end
   end
 
@@ -258,8 +258,8 @@ def self.warn(message)
       expect(LogStash::Event.from_json(source_json).size).to eq(1)
 
       event = LogStash::Event.from_json(source_json)[0]
-      expect(event["[foo]"]).to eq(1)
-      expect(event["[bar]"]).to eq("baz")
+      expect(event.get("[foo]")).to eq(1)
+      expect(event.get("[bar]")).to eq("baz")
     end
 
     it "should ignore blank strings" do
diff --git a/logstash-core-event-java/src/main/java/com/logstash/ext/JrubyEventExtLibrary.java b/logstash-core-event-java/src/main/java/com/logstash/ext/JrubyEventExtLibrary.java
index 1cb630d5a75..8cf5024f339 100644
--- a/logstash-core-event-java/src/main/java/com/logstash/ext/JrubyEventExtLibrary.java
+++ b/logstash-core-event-java/src/main/java/com/logstash/ext/JrubyEventExtLibrary.java
@@ -140,14 +140,14 @@ public IRubyObject ruby_initialize(ThreadContext context, IRubyObject[] args)
             return context.nil;
         }
 
-        @JRubyMethod(name = "[]", required = 1)
+        @JRubyMethod(name = "get", required = 1)
         public IRubyObject ruby_get_field(ThreadContext context, RubyString reference)
         {
             Object value = this.event.getField(reference.asJavaString());
             return Rubyfier.deep(context.runtime, value);
         }
 
-        @JRubyMethod(name = "[]=", required = 2)
+        @JRubyMethod(name = "set", required = 2)
         public IRubyObject ruby_set_field(ThreadContext context, RubyString reference, IRubyObject value)
         {
             String r = reference.asJavaString();
diff --git a/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/event.rb b/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/event.rb
index b1eb9d46cdb..7a9b7d133c9 100644
--- a/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/event.rb
+++ b/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/event.rb
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class DeprecatedMethod < StandardError; end
   VERSION_ONE = "1"
   TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG = "_timestampparsefailure"
   TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD = "_@timestamp"
+  TAGS = "tags".freeze
 
   METADATA = "@metadata".freeze
   METADATA_BRACKETS = "[#{METADATA}]".freeze
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ def timestamp=(val)
     @data[TIMESTAMP] = val
   end
 
-  def [](fieldref)
+  def get(fieldref)
     if fieldref.start_with?(METADATA_BRACKETS)
       @metadata_accessors.get(fieldref[METADATA_BRACKETS.length .. -1])
     elsif fieldref == METADATA
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ def [](fieldref)
     end
   end
 
-  def []=(fieldref, value)
+  def set(fieldref, value)
     if fieldref == TIMESTAMP && !value.is_a?(LogStash::Timestamp)
       raise TypeError, "The field '@timestamp' must be a (LogStash::Timestamp, not a #{value.class} (#{value})"
     end
@@ -201,8 +202,9 @@ def sprintf(format)
 
   def tag(value)
     # Generalize this method for more usability
-    self["tags"] ||= []
-    self["tags"] << value unless self["tags"].include?(value)
+    tags = @accessors.get(TAGS) || []
+    tags << value unless tags.include?(value)
+    @accessors.set(TAGS, tags)
   end
 
   def to_hash_with_metadata
@@ -269,9 +271,8 @@ def init_timestamp(o)
       logger.warn("Error parsing #{TIMESTAMP} string, setting current time to #{TIMESTAMP}, original in #{TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD} field", :value => o.inspect, :exception => e.message)
     end
 
-    @data["tags"] ||= []
-    @data["tags"] << TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG unless @data["tags"].include?(TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG)
-    @data[TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD] = o
+    tag(TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG)
+    @accessors.set(TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD, o)
 
     LogStash::Timestamp.now
   end
diff --git a/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/string_interpolation.rb b/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/string_interpolation.rb
index 13044e4c005..aaa54981165 100644
--- a/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/string_interpolation.rb
+++ b/logstash-core-event/lib/logstash/string_interpolation.rb
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def initialize(key)
     end
 
     def evaluate(event)
-      value = event[@key]
+      value = event.get(@key)
 
       case value
       when nil
diff --git a/logstash-core-event/spec/logstash/event_spec.rb b/logstash-core-event/spec/logstash/event_spec.rb
index 0389ffc6d25..8c6d60db291 100644
--- a/logstash-core-event/spec/logstash/event_spec.rb
+++ b/logstash-core-event/spec/logstash/event_spec.rb
@@ -8,68 +8,68 @@
   shared_examples "all event tests" do
     context "[]=" do
       it "should raise an exception if you attempt to set @timestamp to a value type other than a Time object" do
-        expect{subject["@timestamp"] = "crash!"}.to raise_error(TypeError)
+        expect{subject.set("@timestamp", "crash!")}.to raise_error(TypeError)
       end
 
       it "should assign simple fields" do
-        expect(subject["foo"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject["foo"] = "bar").to eq("bar")
-        expect(subject["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject.get("foo")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.set("foo", "bar")).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject.get("foo")).to eq("bar")
       end
 
       it "should overwrite simple fields" do
-        expect(subject["foo"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject["foo"] = "bar").to eq("bar")
-        expect(subject["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject.get("foo")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.set("foo", "bar")).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject.get("foo")).to eq("bar")
 
-        expect(subject["foo"] = "baz").to eq("baz")
-        expect(subject["foo"]).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.set("foo", "baz")).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("foo")).to eq("baz")
       end
 
       it "should assign deep fields" do
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"] = "baz").to eq("baz")
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"]).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][bar]")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.set("[foo][bar]", "baz")).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][bar]")).to eq("baz")
       end
 
       it "should overwrite deep fields" do
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"] = "baz").to eq("baz")
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"]).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][bar]")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.set("[foo][bar]", "baz")).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][bar]")).to eq("baz")
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"] = "zab").to eq("zab")
-        expect(subject["[foo][bar]"]).to eq("zab")
+        expect(subject.set("[foo][bar]", "zab")).to eq("zab")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][bar]")).to eq("zab")
       end
 
       it "allow to set the @metadata key to a hash" do
-        subject["@metadata"] = { "action" => "index" }
-        expect(subject["[@metadata][action]"]).to eq("index")
+        subject.set("@metadata", { "action" => "index" })
+        expect(subject.get("[@metadata][action]")).to eq("index")
       end
 
       it "should add key when setting nil value" do
-        subject["[baz]"] = nil
+        subject.set("[baz]", nil)
         expect(subject.to_hash).to include("baz" => nil)
       end
 
       it "should set nil element within existing array value" do
-        subject["[foo]"] = ["bar", "baz"]
+        subject.set("[foo]", ["bar", "baz"])
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][0]"] = nil).to eq(nil)
-        expect(subject["[foo]"]).to eq([nil, "baz"])
+        expect(subject.set("[foo][0]", nil)).to eq(nil)
+        expect(subject.get("[foo]")).to eq([nil, "baz"])
       end
 
       it "should set nil in first element within empty array" do
-        subject["[foo]"] = []
+        subject.set("[foo]", [])
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][0]"] = nil).to eq(nil)
-        expect(subject["[foo]"]).to eq([nil])
+        expect(subject.set("[foo][0]", nil)).to eq(nil)
+        expect(subject.get("[foo]")).to eq([nil])
       end
 
       it "should set nil in second element within empty array" do
-        subject["[foo]"] = []
+        subject.set("[foo]", [])
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][1]"] = nil).to eq(nil)
-        expect(subject["[foo]"]).to eq([nil, nil])
+        expect(subject.set("[foo][1]", nil)).to eq(nil)
+        expect(subject.get("[foo]")).to eq([nil, nil])
       end
     end
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
         event = LogStash::Event.new({ "reference" => data })
         LogStash::Util::Decorators.add_fields({"reference_test" => "%{reference}"}, event, "dummy-plugin")
         data.downcase!
-        expect(event["reference_test"]).not_to eq(data)
+        expect(event.get("reference_test")).not_to eq(data)
       end
 
       it "should not return a Fixnum reference" do
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
         event = LogStash::Event.new({ "reference" => data })
         LogStash::Util::Decorators.add_fields({"reference_test" => "%{reference}"}, event, "dummy-plugin")
         data += 41
-        expect(event["reference_test"]).to eq("1")
+        expect(event.get("reference_test")).to eq("1")
       end
 
       it "should report a unix timestamp for %{+%s}" do
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
 
       it "should report fields with %{field} syntax" do
         expect(subject.sprintf("%{type}")).to eq("sprintf")
-        expect(subject.sprintf("%{message}")).to eq(subject["message"])
+        expect(subject.sprintf("%{message}")).to eq(subject.get("message"))
       end
 
       it "should print deep fields" do
@@ -153,35 +153,35 @@
       end
 
       it "should render nil array values as leading empty string" do
-        expect(subject["foo"] = [nil, "baz"]).to eq([nil, "baz"])
+        expect(subject.set("foo", [nil, "baz"])).to eq([nil, "baz"])
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][0]"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject["[foo][1]"]).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][0]")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][1]")).to eq("baz")
 
         expect(subject.sprintf("%{[foo]}")).to eq(",baz")
       end
 
       it "should render nil array values as middle empty string" do
-        expect(subject["foo"] = ["bar", nil, "baz"]).to eq(["bar", nil, "baz"])
+        expect(subject.set("foo", ["bar", nil, "baz"])).to eq(["bar", nil, "baz"])
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][0]"]).to eq("bar")
-        expect(subject["[foo][1]"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject["[foo][2]"]).to eq("baz")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][0]")).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][1]")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][2]")).to eq("baz")
 
         expect(subject.sprintf("%{[foo]}")).to eq("bar,,baz")
       end
 
      it "should render nil array values as trailing empty string" do
-        expect(subject["foo"] = ["bar", nil]).to eq(["bar", nil])
+        expect(subject.set("foo", ["bar", nil])).to eq(["bar", nil])
 
-        expect(subject["[foo][0]"]).to eq("bar")
-        expect(subject["[foo][1]"]).to be_nil
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][0]")).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject.get("[foo][1]")).to be_nil
 
         expect(subject.sprintf("%{[foo]}")).to eq("bar,")
      end
 
       it "should render deep arrays with nil value" do
-        subject["[foo]"] = [[12, nil], 56]
+        subject.set("[foo]", [[12, nil], 56])
         expect(subject.sprintf("%{[foo]}")).to eq("12,,56")
       end
 
@@ -198,18 +198,18 @@
 
     context "#[]" do
       it "should fetch data" do
-        expect(subject["type"]).to eq("sprintf")
+        expect(subject.get("type")).to eq("sprintf")
       end
       it "should fetch fields" do
-        expect(subject["a"]).to eq("b")
-        expect(subject['c']['d']).to eq("f")
+        expect(subject.get("a")).to eq("b")
+        expect(subject.get('c')['d']).to eq("f")
       end
       it "should fetch deep fields" do
-        expect(subject["[j][k1]"]).to eq("v")
-        expect(subject["[c][d]"]).to eq("f")
-        expect(subject['[f][g][h]']).to eq("i")
-        expect(subject['[j][k3][4]']).to eq("m")
-        expect(subject['[j][5]']).to eq(7)
+        expect(subject.get("[j][k1]")).to eq("v")
+        expect(subject.get("[c][d]")).to eq("f")
+        expect(subject.get('[f][g][h]')).to eq("i")
+        expect(subject.get('[j][k3][4]')).to eq("m")
+        expect(subject.get('[j][5]')).to eq(7)
 
       end
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@
         count = 1000000
         2.times do
           start = Time.now
-          count.times { subject["[j][k1]"] }
+          count.times { subject.get("[j][k1]") }
           duration = Time.now - start
           puts "event #[] rate: #{"%02.0f/sec" % (count / duration)}, elapsed: #{duration}s"
         end
@@ -263,11 +263,11 @@
         )
         subject.overwrite(new_event)
 
-        expect(subject["message"]).to eq("foo bar")
-        expect(subject["type"]).to eq("new")
+        expect(subject.get("message")).to eq("foo bar")
+        expect(subject.get("type")).to eq("new")
 
         ["tags", "source", "a", "c", "f", "j"].each do |field|
-          expect(subject[field]).to be_nil
+          expect(subject.get(field)).to be_nil
         end
       end
     end
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@
     context "#append" do
       it "should append strings to an array" do
         subject.append(LogStash::Event.new("message" => "another thing"))
-        expect(subject["message"]).to eq([ "hello world", "another thing" ])
+        expect(subject.get("message")).to eq([ "hello world", "another thing" ])
       end
 
       it "should concatenate tags" do
@@ -283,54 +283,54 @@
         # added to_a for when array is a Java Collection when produced from json input
         # TODO: we have to find a better way to handle this in tests. maybe override
         # rspec eq or == to do an explicit to_a when comparing arrays?
-        expect(subject["tags"].to_a).to eq([ "tag1", "tag2" ])
+        expect(subject.get("tags").to_a).to eq([ "tag1", "tag2" ])
       end
 
       context "when event field is nil" do
         it "should add single value as string" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => "append1"}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq("append1")
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq("append1")
         end
         it "should add multi values as array" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => [ "append1","append2" ]}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "append1","append2" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "append1","append2" ])
         end
       end
 
       context "when event field is a string" do
-        before { subject[ "field1" ] = "original1" }
+        before { subject.set("field1", "original1") }
 
         it "should append string to values, if different from current" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => "append1"}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "original1", "append1" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "original1", "append1" ])
         end
         it "should not change value, if appended value is equal current" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => "original1"}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq("original1")
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq("original1")
         end
         it "should concatenate values in an array" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => [ "append1" ]}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "original1", "append1" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "original1", "append1" ])
         end
         it "should join array, removing duplicates" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => [ "append1","original1" ]}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "original1", "append1" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "original1", "append1" ])
         end
       end
       context "when event field is an array" do
-        before { subject[ "field1" ] = [ "original1", "original2" ] }
+        before { subject.set("field1", [ "original1", "original2" ] )}
 
         it "should append string values to array, if not present in array" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => "append1"}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "original1", "original2", "append1" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "original1", "original2", "append1" ])
         end
         it "should not append string values, if the array already contains it" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => "original1"}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "original1", "original2" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "original1", "original2" ])
         end
         it "should join array, removing duplicates" do
           subject.append(LogStash::Event.new({"field1" => [ "append1","original1" ]}))
-          expect(subject[ "field1" ]).to eq([ "original1", "original2", "append1" ])
+          expect(subject.get("field1")).to eq([ "original1", "original2", "append1" ])
         end
       end
 
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@
 
       data = { "@timestamp" => "2013-12-21T07:25:06.605Z" }
       event = LogStash::Event.new(data)
-      expect(event["@timestamp"]).to be_a(LogStash::Timestamp)
+      expect(event.get("@timestamp")).to be_a(LogStash::Timestamp)
 
       duration = 0
       [warmup, count].each do |i|
@@ -411,13 +411,13 @@
       it "should tag for invalid value" do
         event = LogStash::Event.new("@timestamp" => "foo")
         expect(event.timestamp.to_i).to be_within(1).of Time.now.to_i
-        expect(event["tags"]).to eq([LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG])
-        expect(event[LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD]).to eq("foo")
+        expect(event.get("tags")).to eq([LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG])
+        expect(event.get(LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD)).to eq("foo")
 
         event = LogStash::Event.new("@timestamp" => 666)
         expect(event.timestamp.to_i).to be_within(1).of Time.now.to_i
-        expect(event["tags"]).to eq([LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG])
-        expect(event[LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD]).to eq(666)
+        expect(event.get("tags")).to eq([LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG])
+        expect(event.get(LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD)).to eq(666)
       end
 
       it "should warn for invalid value" do
@@ -432,8 +432,8 @@
       it "should tag for invalid string format" do
         event = LogStash::Event.new("@timestamp" => "foo")
         expect(event.timestamp.to_i).to be_within(1).of Time.now.to_i
-        expect(event["tags"]).to eq([LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG])
-        expect(event[LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD]).to eq("foo")
+        expect(event.get("tags")).to eq([LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_TAG])
+        expect(event.get(LogStash::Event::TIMESTAMP_FAILURE_FIELD)).to eq("foo")
       end
 
       it "should warn for invalid string format" do
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@
         end
 
         it "should still allow normal field access" do
-          expect(subject["hello"]).to eq("world")
+          expect(subject.get("hello")).to eq("world")
         end
       end
 
@@ -491,15 +491,15 @@
           expect(fieldref).to start_with("[@metadata]")
 
           # Set it.
-          subject[fieldref] = value
+          subject.set(fieldref, value)
         end
 
         it "should still allow normal field access" do
-          expect(subject["normal"]).to eq("normal")
+          expect(subject.get("normal")).to eq("normal")
         end
 
         it "should allow getting" do
-          expect(subject[fieldref]).to eq(value)
+          expect(subject.get(fieldref)).to eq(value)
         end
 
         it "should be hidden from .to_json" do
@@ -522,10 +522,10 @@
       context "with no metadata" do
         subject { LogStash::Event.new("foo" => "bar") }
         it "should have no metadata" do
-          expect(subject["@metadata"]).to be_empty
+          expect(subject.get("@metadata")).to be_empty
         end
         it "should still allow normal field access" do
-          expect(subject["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+          expect(subject.get("foo")).to eq("bar")
         end
 
         it "should not include the @metadata key" do
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@
     end
 
     it "return the string containing the timestamp, the host and the message" do
-      expect(event1.to_s).to eq("#{timestamp.to_iso8601} #{event1["host"]} #{event1["message"]}")
+      expect(event1.to_s).to eq("#{timestamp.to_iso8601} #{event1.get("host")} #{event1.get("message")}")
     end
   end
 
@@ -607,27 +607,27 @@
     let(:event) { LogStash::Event.new({ "message" => "foo" }) }
 
     it "should invalidate target caching" do
-      expect(event["[a][0]"]).to be_nil
+      expect(event.get("[a][0]")).to be_nil
 
-      expect(event["[a][0]"] = 42).to eq(42)
-      expect(event["[a][0]"]).to eq(42)
-      expect(event["[a]"]).to eq({"0" => 42})
+      expect(event.set("[a][0]", 42)).to eq(42)
+      expect(event.get("[a][0]")).to eq(42)
+      expect(event.get("[a]")).to eq({"0" => 42})
 
-      expect(event["[a]"] = [42, 24]).to eq([42, 24])
-      expect(event["[a]"]).to eq([42, 24])
+      expect(event.set("[a]", [42, 24])).to eq([42, 24])
+      expect(event.get("[a]")).to eq([42, 24])
 
-      expect(event["[a][0]"]).to eq(42)
+      expect(event.get("[a][0]")).to eq(42)
 
-      expect(event["[a]"] = [24, 42]).to eq([24, 42])
-      expect(event["[a][0]"]).to eq(24)
+      expect(event.set("[a]", [24, 42])).to eq([24, 42])
+      expect(event.get("[a][0]")).to eq(24)
 
-      expect(event["[a][0]"] = {"a "=> 99, "b" => 98}).to eq({"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})
-      expect(event["[a][0]"]).to eq({"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})
+      expect(event.set("[a][0]", {"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})).to eq({"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})
+      expect(event.get("[a][0]")).to eq({"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})
 
-      expect(event["[a]"]).to eq([{"a "=> 99, "b" => 98}, 42])
-      expect(event["[a][0]"]).to eq({"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})
-      expect(event["[a][1]"]).to eq(42)
-      expect(event["[a][0][b]"]).to eq(98)
+      expect(event.get("[a]")).to eq([{"a "=> 99, "b" => 98}, 42])
+      expect(event.get("[a][0]")).to eq({"a "=> 99, "b" => 98})
+      expect(event.get("[a][1]")).to eq(42)
+      expect(event.get("[a][0][b]")).to eq(98)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/logstash-core-plugin-api/lib/logstash-core-plugin-api/version.rb b/logstash-core-plugin-api/lib/logstash-core-plugin-api/version.rb
index e83d1586c2e..ced5939392b 100644
--- a/logstash-core-plugin-api/lib/logstash-core-plugin-api/version.rb
+++ b/logstash-core-plugin-api/lib/logstash-core-plugin-api/version.rb
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 # encoding: utf-8
-LOGSTASH_CORE_PLUGIN_API = "1.0.0"
+LOGSTASH_CORE_PLUGIN_API = "2.0.0"
diff --git a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/config/config_ast.rb b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/config/config_ast.rb
index 7a583d578df..96a7ee46a85 100644
--- a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/config/config_ast.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/config/config_ast.rb
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ def compile
   end
   class Selector < RValue
     def compile
-      return "event[#{text_value.inspect}]"
+      return "event.get(#{text_value.inspect})"
     end
   end
   class SelectorElement < Node; end
diff --git a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/filters/base.rb b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/filters/base.rb
index c666a225bf7..d97c2342d63 100644
--- a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/filters/base.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/filters/base.rb
@@ -187,12 +187,12 @@ def filter_matched(event)
     # this is important because a construct like event["tags"].delete(tag) will not work
     # in the current Java event implementation. see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/issues/4140
     @remove_tag.each do |tag|
-      tags = event["tags"]
+      tags = event.get("tags")
       break if tags.nil? || tags.empty?
       tag = event.sprintf(tag)
       @logger.debug? and @logger.debug("filters/#{self.class.name}: removing tag", :tag => tag)
       tags.delete(tag)
-      event["tags"] = tags
+      event.set("tags", tags)
     end
   end # def filter_matched
 
diff --git a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/inputs/base.rb b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/inputs/base.rb
index d02bbd567e5..cb7a25d720b 100644
--- a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/inputs/base.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/inputs/base.rb
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def stop?
   protected
   def decorate(event)
     # Only set 'type' if not already set. This is backwards-compatible behavior
-    event["type"] = @type if @type && !event.include?("type")
+    event.set("type", @type) if @type && !event.include?("type")
 
     LogStash::Util::Decorators.add_fields(@add_field,event,"inputs/#{self.class.name}")
     LogStash::Util::Decorators.add_tags(@tags,event,"inputs/#{self.class.name}")
diff --git a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/util/decorators.rb b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/util/decorators.rb
index 265656e5ce9..c7807e883b1 100644
--- a/logstash-core/lib/logstash/util/decorators.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/lib/logstash/util/decorators.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ module LogStash::Util
   # Decorators provides common manipulation on the event data.
   module Decorators
     extend self
-    
+
     @logger = Cabin::Channel.get(LogStash)
 
     # fields is a hash of field => value
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ def add_fields(fields,event, pluginname)
             # note below that the array field needs to be updated then reassigned to the event.
             # this is important because a construct like event[field] << v will not work
             # in the current Java event implementation. see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/issues/4140
-            a = Array(event[field])
+            a = Array(event.get(field))
             a << v
-            event[field] = a
+            event.set(field, a)
           else
-            event[field] = v
+            event.set(field, v)
           end
           @logger.debug? and @logger.debug("#{pluginname}: adding value to field", :field => field, :value => value)
         end
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ def add_tags(tags, event, pluginname)
         # note below that the tags array field needs to be updated then reassigned to the event.
         # this is important because a construct like event["tags"] << tag will not work
         # in the current Java event implementation. see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/issues/4140
-        tags = event["tags"] || []
+        tags = event.get("tags") || []
         tags << tag
-        event["tags"] = tags
+        event.set("tags", tags)
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/logstash-core/spec/conditionals_spec.rb b/logstash-core/spec/conditionals_spec.rb
index dab6fc901e3..c4c68ec4c58 100644
--- a/logstash-core/spec/conditionals_spec.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/spec/conditionals_spec.rb
@@ -64,24 +64,24 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
     CONFIG
 
     sample({"foo" => "bar"}) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to eq("awesome")
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to eq("world")
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["free"]).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to eq("awesome")
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to eq("world")
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to be_nil
     end
 
     sample({"notfoo" => "bar"}) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to eq("awesome")
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["free"]).to eq("hugs")
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to eq("awesome")
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to eq("hugs")
     end
 
     sample({"bar" => "baz"}) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to eq("awesome")
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to eq("pants")
-      expect(subject["free"]).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to eq("awesome")
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to eq("pants")
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to be_nil
     end
   end
 
@@ -102,31 +102,31 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("foo" => "bar", "nest" => 124) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["free"]).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to be_nil
     end
 
     sample("foo" => "bar", "nest" => 123) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to eq("awesome")
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to eq("world")
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["free"]).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to eq("awesome")
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to eq("world")
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to be_nil
     end
 
     sample("notfoo" => "bar", "nest" => 123) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to eq("awesome")
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["free"]).to eq("hugs")
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to eq("awesome")
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to eq("hugs")
     end
 
     sample("bar" => "baz", "nest" => 123) do
-      expect(subject["always"]).to eq("awesome")
-      expect(subject["hello"]).to be_nil
-      expect(subject["fancy"]).to eq("pants")
-      expect(subject["free"]).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("always")).to eq("awesome")
+      expect(subject.get("hello")).to be_nil
+      expect(subject.get("fancy")).to eq("pants")
+      expect(subject.get("free")).to be_nil
     end
   end
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("foo" => 123, "bar" => 123) do
-      expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("woot")
+      expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("woot")
     end
   end
 
@@ -169,12 +169,12 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("foo" => "foo", "foobar" => "foobar", "greeting" => "hello world") do
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("field in field")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("field in string")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("string in field")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("field in list")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("shouldnotexist")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("shouldexist")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("field in field")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("field in string")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("string in field")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("field in list")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("shouldnotexist")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("shouldexist")
     end
   end
 
@@ -192,107 +192,107 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
 
     sample("foo" => "foo", "somelist" => [ "one", "two" ], "foobar" => "foobar", "greeting" => "hello world", "tags" => [ "fancypantsy" ]) do
       # verify the original exists
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("fancypantsy")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("fancypantsy")
 
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("baz")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("foo")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("notfoo")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("notsomelist")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("somelist")
-      expect(subject["tags"]).to include("no string in missing field")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("baz")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("foo")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("notfoo")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("notsomelist")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("somelist")
+      expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("no string in missing field")
     end
   end
 
   describe "operators" do
     conditional "[message] == 'sample'" do
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("different") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("different") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] != 'sample'" do
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
-      sample("different") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("different") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] < 'sample'" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] > 'sample'" do
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] <= 'sample'" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] >= 'sample'" do
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] =~ /sample/" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("failure") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
-      sample("some sample") { expect(subject["tags"] ).to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
+      sample("some sample") { expect(subject.get("tags") ).to include("success") }
     end
 
     conditional "[message] !~ /sample/" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
-      sample("some sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
+      sample("some sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
     end
 
   end
 
   describe "negated expressions" do
     conditional "!([message] == 'sample')" do
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("different") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("different") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] != 'sample')" do
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
-      sample("different") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("different") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] < 'sample')" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] > 'sample')" do
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] <= 'sample')" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] >= 'sample')" do
-      sample("zebra") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("zebra") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] =~ /sample/)" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("some sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("some sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
     end
 
     conditional "!([message] !~ /sample/)" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("success") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
-      sample("some sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
+      sample("some sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).not_to include("failure") }
     end
 
   end
@@ -300,47 +300,47 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
   describe "value as an expression" do
     # testing that a field has a value should be true.
     conditional "[message]" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
-      sample("some sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
+      sample("some sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
     end
 
     # testing that a missing field has a value should be false.
     conditional "[missing]" do
-      sample("apple") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
-      sample("sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
-      sample("some sample") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
+      sample("apple") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
+      sample("sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
+      sample("some sample") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
     end
   end
 
   describe "logic operators" do
     describe "and" do
       conditional "[message] and [message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
       end
       conditional "[message] and ![message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
       end
       conditional "![message] and [message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
       end
       conditional "![message] and ![message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
       end
     end
 
     describe "or" do
       conditional "[message] or [message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
       end
       conditional "[message] or ![message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
       end
       conditional "![message] or [message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success") }
       end
       conditional "![message] or ![message]" do
-        sample("whatever") { expect(subject["tags"]).to include("failure") }
+        sample("whatever") { expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("failure") }
       end
     end
   end
@@ -348,19 +348,19 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
   describe "field references" do
     conditional "[field with space]" do
       sample("field with space" => "hurray") do
-        expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success")
+        expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success")
       end
     end
 
     conditional "[field with space] == 'hurray'" do
       sample("field with space" => "hurray") do
-        expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success")
+        expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success")
       end
     end
 
     conditional "[nested field][reference with][some spaces] == 'hurray'" do
       sample({"nested field" => { "reference with" => { "some spaces" => "hurray" } } }) do
-        expect(subject["tags"]).to include("success")
+        expect(subject.get("tags")).to include("success")
       end
     end
   end
@@ -385,13 +385,13 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
       expect(subject).to be_an(Array)
       expect(subject.length).to eq(2)
 
-      expect(subject[0]["type"]).to eq("original")
-      expect(subject[0]["cond1"]).to eq("true")
-      expect(subject[0]["cond2"]).to eq(nil)
+      expect(subject[0].get("type")).to eq("original")
+      expect(subject[0].get("cond1")).to eq("true")
+      expect(subject[0].get("cond2")).to eq(nil)
 
-      expect(subject[1]["type"]).to eq("clone")
-      # expect(subject[1]["cond1"]).to eq(nil)
-      # expect(subject[1]["cond2"]).to eq("true")
+      expect(subject[1].get("type")).to eq("clone")
+      # expect(subject[1].get("cond1")).to eq(nil)
+      # expect(subject[1].get("cond2")).to eq("true")
     end
   end
 
@@ -413,16 +413,16 @@ def conditional(expression, &block)
 
     sample({"type" => "original"}) do
       # puts subject.inspect
-      expect(subject[0]["cond1"]).to eq(nil)
-      expect(subject[0]["cond2"]).to eq(nil)
+      expect(subject[0].get("cond1")).to eq(nil)
+      expect(subject[0].get("cond2")).to eq(nil)
 
-      expect(subject[1]["type"]).to eq("clone1")
-      expect(subject[1]["cond1"]).to eq("true")
-      expect(subject[1]["cond2"]).to eq(nil)
+      expect(subject[1].get("type")).to eq("clone1")
+      expect(subject[1].get("cond1")).to eq("true")
+      expect(subject[1].get("cond2")).to eq(nil)
 
-      expect(subject[2]["type"]).to eq("clone2")
-      expect(subject[2]["cond1"]).to eq(nil)
-      expect(subject[2]["cond2"]).to eq("true")
+      expect(subject[2].get("type")).to eq("clone2")
+      expect(subject[2].get("cond1")).to eq(nil)
+      expect(subject[2].get("cond2")).to eq("true")
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/logstash-core/spec/logstash/filters/base_spec.rb b/logstash-core/spec/logstash/filters/base_spec.rb
index 177c44dcb8c..26c5d6c5438 100644
--- a/logstash-core/spec/logstash/filters/base_spec.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/spec/logstash/filters/base_spec.rb
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def filter(event)
     CONFIG
 
     sample "example" do
-      insist { subject["new_field"] } == ["new_value", "new_value_2"]
+      insist { subject.get("new_field") } == ["new_value", "new_value_2"]
     end
   end
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def filter(event)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("type" => "noop") do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["test"]
     end
   end
 
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ def filter(event)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("type" => "noop") do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["test"]
     end
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1", "t2"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1", "t2", "test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1", "t2", "test"]
     end
   end
 
@@ -108,19 +108,19 @@ def filter(event)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("type" => "noop") do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["test"]
     end
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1", "test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1", "test"]
     end
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1", "t2"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1", "t2", "test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1", "t2", "test"]
     end
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1", "t2", "t3"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1", "t2", "t3", "test"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1", "t2", "t3", "test"]
     end
   end
 
@@ -134,27 +134,27 @@ def filter(event)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t4"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t4"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t4"]
     end
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1", "t2", "t3"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1"]
     end
 
     # also test from Json deserialized data to test the handling of native Java collections by JrJackson
     # see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/issues/2261
     sample(LogStash::Json.load("{\"type\":\"noop\", \"tags\":[\"t1\", \"t2\", \"t3\"]}")) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1"]
     end
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1", "t2"]) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1"]
     end
 
     # also test from Json deserialized data to test the handling of native Java collections by JrJackson
     # see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/issues/2261
     sample(LogStash::Json.load("{\"type\":\"noop\", \"tags\":[\"t1\", \"t2\"]}")) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1"]
     end
   end
 
@@ -168,13 +168,13 @@ def filter(event)
     CONFIG
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "tags" => ["t1", "goaway", "t3"], "blackhole" => "goaway") do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1", "t3"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1", "t3"]
     end
 
     # also test from Json deserialized data to test the handling of native Java collections by JrJackson
     # see https://github.com/elastic/logstash/issues/2261
     sample(LogStash::Json.load("{\"type\":\"noop\", \"tags\":[\"t1\", \"goaway\", \"t3\"], \"blackhole\":\"goaway\"}")) do
-      insist { subject["tags"] } == ["t1", "t3"]
+      insist { subject.get("tags") } == ["t1", "t3"]
     end
   end
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ def filter(event)
 
     sample("type" => "noop", "t1" => ["t2", "t3"]) do
       insist { subject }.include?("t1")
-      insist { subject["[t1][0]"] } == "t3"
+      insist { subject.get("[t1][0]") } == "t3"
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/logstash-core/spec/logstash/inputs/base_spec.rb b/logstash-core/spec/logstash/inputs/base_spec.rb
index d87f07b49f6..a3f01fa89e1 100644
--- a/logstash-core/spec/logstash/inputs/base_spec.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/spec/logstash/inputs/base_spec.rb
@@ -15,50 +15,50 @@ def register; end
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("tags" => "value")
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["tags"]).to eq(["value"])
+    expect(evt.get("tags")).to eq(["value"])
   end
 
   it "should add multiple tag" do
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("tags" => ["value1","value2"])
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["tags"]).to eq(["value1","value2"])
+    expect(evt.get("tags")).to eq(["value1","value2"])
   end
 
   it "should allow duplicates  tag" do
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("tags" => ["value","value"])
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["tags"]).to eq(["value","value"])
+    expect(evt.get("tags")).to eq(["value","value"])
   end
 
   it "should add tag with sprintf" do
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("tags" => "%{type}")
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["tags"]).to eq(["noop"])
+    expect(evt.get("tags")).to eq(["noop"])
   end
 
   it "should add single field" do
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("add_field" => {"field" => "value"})
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["field"]).to eq("value")
+    expect(evt.get("field")).to eq("value")
   end
 
   it "should add single field with sprintf" do
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("add_field" => {"%{type}" => "%{type}"})
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["noop"]).to eq("noop")
+    expect(evt.get("noop")).to eq("noop")
   end
 
   it "should add multiple field" do
     input = LogStash::Inputs::NOOP.new("add_field" => {"field" => ["value1", "value2"], "field2" => "value"})
     evt = LogStash::Event.new({"type" => "noop"})
     input.instance_eval {decorate(evt)}
-    expect(evt["field"]).to eq(["value1","value2"])
-    expect(evt["field2"]).to eq("value")
+    expect(evt.get("field")).to eq(["value1","value2"])
+    expect(evt.get("field2")).to eq("value")
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/logstash-core/spec/logstash/pipeline_spec.rb b/logstash-core/spec/logstash/pipeline_spec.rb
index f7ef5c36221..e17ddff719c 100644
--- a/logstash-core/spec/logstash/pipeline_spec.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/spec/logstash/pipeline_spec.rb
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class TestPipeline < LogStash::Pipeline
       CONFIG
 
       sample("hello") do
-        expect(subject["message"]).to eq("hello")
+        expect(subject.get("message")).to eq("hello")
       end
     end
 
@@ -299,10 +299,10 @@ class TestPipeline < LogStash::Pipeline
       sample(["foo", "bar"]) do
         expect(subject.size).to eq(2)
 
-        expect(subject[0]["message"]).to eq("foo\nbar")
-        expect(subject[0]["type"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject[1]["message"]).to eq("foo\nbar")
-        expect(subject[1]["type"]).to eq("clone1")
+        expect(subject[0].get("message")).to eq("foo\nbar")
+        expect(subject[0].get("type")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject[1].get("message")).to eq("foo\nbar")
+        expect(subject[1].get("type")).to eq("clone1")
       end
     end
   end
@@ -354,17 +354,17 @@ class TestPipeline < LogStash::Pipeline
       sample("hello") do
         expect(subject.size).to eq(3)
 
-        expect(subject[0]["message"]).to eq("hello")
-        expect(subject[0]["type"]).to be_nil
-        expect(subject[0]["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject[0].get("message")).to eq("hello")
+        expect(subject[0].get("type")).to be_nil
+        expect(subject[0].get("foo")).to eq("bar")
 
-        expect(subject[1]["message"]).to eq("hello")
-        expect(subject[1]["type"]).to eq("clone1")
-        expect(subject[1]["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject[1].get("message")).to eq("hello")
+        expect(subject[1].get("type")).to eq("clone1")
+        expect(subject[1].get("foo")).to eq("bar")
 
-        expect(subject[2]["message"]).to eq("hello")
-        expect(subject[2]["type"]).to eq("clone2")
-        expect(subject[2]["foo"]).to eq("bar")
+        expect(subject[2].get("message")).to eq("hello")
+        expect(subject[2].get("type")).to eq("clone2")
+        expect(subject[2].get("foo")).to eq("bar")
       end
     end
   end
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ class TestPipeline < LogStash::Pipeline
       # give us a bit of time to flush the events
       wait(5).for do
         next unless output && output.events && output.events.first
-        output.events.first["message"].split("\n").count
+        output.events.first.get("message").split("\n").count
       end.to eq(number_of_events)
       pipeline.shutdown
     end