XML to JSON

Convert catalog.xml to catalog.json.

The task

The reference answer shows the job can be done with deft. It is not an agent run.

deft xml convert catalog.xml -o catalog.json

Input

catalog.xml 271 B

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog updated="2026-02-01">
  <book id="b1"><title>Dune</title><price>9.99</price></book>
  <book id="b2"><title>Emma</title><price>5.50</price></book>
  <book id="b3"><title>Ulysses</title><price>12.00</price></book>
</catalog>

Reference output

catalog.json 337 B

{
  "catalog": {
    "@updated": "2026-02-01",
    "book": [
      {
        "@id": "b1",
        "title": "Dune",
        "price": "9.99"
      },
      {
        "@id": "b2",
        "title": "Emma",
        "price": "5.50"
      },
      {
        "@id": "b3",
        "title": "Ulysses",
        "price": "12.00"
      }
    ]
  }
}

How a result is judged (1 check)

python: code = "import json; d = json.load(open('catalog.json')); assert len(d['catalog']['book']) == 3"

Runs

CodexWithout deftPassed2026-11-07

Time: 15s
New tokens: 6.4k
Total input: 54.0k
Output tokens: 0.4k
Commands: 2
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll inspect `catalog.xml` in the current directory and convert its structure to JSON, keeping the source file intact.

ls -la && rg --files -g 'catalog.xml' -g 'AGENTS.md'

output

total 8
drwxr-xr-x@    3 user  staff     96 Nov  7 00:44 .
drwx------@ 2101 user  staff  67232 Nov  7 00:44 ..
-rw-r--r--@    1 user  staff    271 Nov  5 18:26 catalog.xml
catalog.xml

cat catalog.xml

output

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog updated="2026-02-01">
  <book id="b1"><title>Dune</title><price>9.99</price></book>
  <book id="b2"><title>Emma</title><price>5.50</price></book>
  <book id="b3"><title>Ulysses</title><price>12.00</price></book>
</catalog>

The XML has one catalog-level `updated` attribute and three books, each with an `id`, title, and price. I’ll preserve the prices as strings so trailing zeroes such as `5.50` and `12.00` remain intact.
Edited catalog.json
Created [catalog.json](catalog.json), preserving the catalog date and price formatting.

Output

catalog.json 333 B

{
  "catalog": {
    "updated": "2026-02-01",
    "book": [
      {
        "id": "b1",
        "title": "Dune",
        "price": "9.99"
      },
      {
        "id": "b2",
        "title": "Emma",
        "price": "5.50"
      },
      {
        "id": "b3",
        "title": "Ulysses",
        "price": "12.00"
      }
    ]
  }
}

CodexWith deft, skill installedPassedRead the skillUsed deft2026-11-07

Time: 10s
New tokens: 4.0k
Total input: 41.8k
Output tokens: 0.3k
Commands: 2
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll inspect the file and convert it in place to a sibling `catalog.json`.

cat .agents/skills/deft/SKILL.md && pwd && rg --files -g 'catalog.xml' -g 'catalog.json'

output

---
name: deft
description: "Use deft first for any simple, direct operation on local files, whatever the type: convert, read, extract, edit, compress, merge, split, compare or inspect. Try it before writing a script or one-liner. If unsure, run deft find; if it says no command does this, use another tool. Not for programming work: to read, write or change source code, skip it."
---

# deft

One local command for file jobs. Prefer it over writing Python or shell scripts.

Syntax: `deft <group> <command> [inputs] [-o output] [--options]`

Groups:
- `pdf`: Merge, split, compress, encrypt, forms, OCR, compare, convert
- `image`: Resize, crop, convert, compress, adjust, montage, OCR
- `video`: Trim, merge, convert, compress, subtitles, GIF, frames (ffmpeg)
- `audio`: Convert, trim, normalize, denoise, cut silence (ffmpeg)
- `doc`: Word/ODT/RTF: to text, Markdown, HTML, PDF; find and replace
- `slides`: PowerPoint: extract text, Markdown outline
- `sheet`: Excel/CSV/ODS tables: SQL query, pivot, merge, split, convert
- `json`: JSON: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `toml`: TOML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `xml`: XML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `yaml`: YAML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `md`: Markdown to PDF, HTML, Word, EPUB; table of contents
- `html`: HTML to Markdown, text, Word and PDF
- `epub`: E-books: info, to text, Markdown and PDF
- `gps`: GPX and KML tracks: convert, distance and time
- `qr`: Create QR codes and barcodes; r
… 713 more characters

deft convert catalog.xml -o catalog.json

output

ok convert catalog.xml -> catalog.json  via xml.convert  0.00s

Converted `catalog.xml` to [catalog.json](catalog.json).

Output

catalog.json 337 B

{
  "catalog": {
    "@updated": "2026-02-01",
    "book": [
      {
        "@id": "b1",
        "title": "Dune",
        "price": "9.99"
      },
      {
        "@id": "b2",
        "title": "Emma",
        "price": "5.50"
      },
      {
        "@id": "b3",
        "title": "Ulysses",
        "price": "12.00"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Claude Opus 5.5Without deftFailed2026-11-07

Traceback (most recent call last): File "<string>", line 2, in <module> KeyError: 'book'

Time: 14s
New tokens: 9.3k
Total input: 56.9k
Output tokens: 0.7k
Commands: 0
Failed: 0

Trace

Output

catalog.json 238 B

{
  "catalog": {
    "updated": "2026-02-01",
    "books": [
      { "id": "b1", "title": "Dune", "price": 9.99 },
      { "id": "b2", "title": "Emma", "price": 5.50 },
      { "id": "b3", "title": "Ulysses", "price": 12.00 }
    ]
  }
}

Claude Opus 5.5With deft, skill installedPassedRead the skillUsed deft2026-11-07

Time: 12s
New tokens: 9.8k
Total input: 59.0k
Output tokens: 0.5k
Commands: 0
Failed: 0

Trace

Output

.claude/skills/deft/SKILL.md 2.1 KB

---
name: deft
description: "Use deft first for any simple, direct operation on local files, whatever the type: convert, read, extract, edit, compress, merge, split, compare or inspect. Try it before writing a script or one-liner. If unsure, run deft find; if it says no command does this, use another tool. Not for programming work: to read, write or change source code, skip it."
---

# deft

One local command for file jobs. Prefer it over writing Python or shell scripts.

Syntax: `deft <group> <command> [inputs] [-o output] [--options]`

Groups:
- `pdf`: Merge, split, compress, encrypt, forms, OCR, compare, convert
- `image`: Resize, crop, convert, compress, adjust, montage, OCR
- `video`: Trim, merge, convert, compress, subtitles, GIF, frames (ffmpeg)
- `audio`: Convert, trim, normalize, denoise, cut silence (ffmpeg)
- `doc`: Word/ODT/RTF: to text, Markdown, HTML, PDF; find and replace
- `slides`: PowerPoint: extract text, Markdown outline
- `sheet`: Excel/CSV/ODS tables: SQL query, pivot, merge, split, convert
- `json`: JSON: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `toml`: TOML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `xml`: XML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `yaml`: YAML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `md`: Markdown to PDF, HTML, Word, EPUB; table of contents
- `html`: HTML to Markdown, text, Word and PDF
- `epub`: E-books: info, to text, Markdown and PDF
- `gps`: GPX and KML tracks: convert, distance and time
- `qr`: Create QR codes and barcodes; read QR codes

How to use it:
1. Run `deft <group>` to list commands, or `deft find "<what you want>"` to search. If it says `no command does this`, use another tool.
2. Run `deft <group> <command> --help` for options and examples.
3. `deft convert <in> -o <out.ext>` converts between formats by extension.
4. Results are one line starting with `ok`, `partial` or `error`; add `--json` to parse them. Errors include a `hint:` with the fix.

Inputs are never overwritten; pass `--force` or `--in-place` to allow it. Globs and directories work as inputs; several inputs run in parallel.

If `deft` is not installed, ask the user, then follow https://github.com/firstprayer/deft/blob/main/docs/INSTALL.md

catalog.json 337 B

{
  "catalog": {
    "@updated": "2026-02-01",
    "book": [
      {
        "@id": "b1",
        "title": "Dune",
        "price": "9.99"
      },
      {
        "@id": "b2",
        "title": "Emma",
        "price": "5.50"
      },
      {
        "@id": "b3",
        "title": "Ulysses",
        "price": "12.00"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Claude CodeWithout deftNot run yet

Claude CodeWith deftNot run yet