YAML to JSON

Convert config.yaml to config.json.

The task

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

deft yaml convert config.yaml -o config.json

Input

config.yaml 125 B

service:
  name: billing
  port: 8080
  debug: true
database:
  host: localhost
  pool: 5
features:
  - invoices
  - refunds

Reference output

config.json 193 B

{
  "service": {
    "name": "billing",
    "port": 8080,
    "debug": true
  },
  "database": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "pool": 5
  },
  "features": [
    "invoices",
    "refunds"
  ]
}

How a result is judged (1 check)

python: code = "import json; assert json.load(open('config.json'))['service']['port'] == 8080"

Runs

CodexWithout deftPassed2026-11-07

Time: 15s
New tokens: 6.1k
Total input: 53.7k
Output tokens: 0.3k
Commands: 3
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll inspect the YAML and convert its structure and values into equivalent JSON in the current directory.
pwd && rg --files -g 'config.yaml' -g 'config.yml' -g 'config.json'
output
```
config.yaml
```

cat config.yaml && command -v yq || true && command -v ruby || true && command -v python3 || true

output

service:
  name: billing
  port: 8080
  debug: true
database:
  host: localhost
  pool: 5
features:
  - invoices
  - refunds
/usr/bin/ruby
/usr/local/bin/python3

cat > config.json <<'EOF' { \"service\": { \"name\": \"billing\", \"port\": 8080, \"debug\": true }, \"database\": { \"host\": \"localhost\", \"pool\": 5 }, \"features\": [ \"invoices\", \"refunds\" ] } EOF cat config.json
output
```
{
  "service": {
    "name": "billing",
    "port": 8080,
    "debug": true
  },
  "database": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "pool": 5
  },
  "features": [
    "invoices",
    "refunds"
  ]
}
```
Created [config.json](config.json) with the contents of `config.yaml` converted to JSON.

Output

config.json 193 B

{
  "service": {
    "name": "billing",
    "port": 8080,
    "debug": true
  },
  "database": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "pool": 5
  },
  "features": [
    "invoices",
    "refunds"
  ]
}

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

Time: 12s
New tokens: 4.3k
Total input: 56.1k
Output tokens: 0.4k
Commands: 3
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll inspect `config.yaml` and the available local conversion tools, then write `config.json` in this directory.

cat .agents/skills/deft/SKILL.md && rg --files -g 'config.yaml' -g 'config.json' -g 'AGENTS.md'

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
… 712 more characters

`config.yaml` is present and there’s no existing `config.json`. I’m using the prescribed local YAML converter, then I’ll verify the JSON output.

deft yaml convert config.yaml -o config.json

output

ok yaml.convert config.yaml -> config.json  193B  0.01s

deft json validate config.json

output

ok json.validate config.json
valid=true format=json

Converted `config.yaml` to [config.json](config.json) and verified it’s valid JSON.

Output

config.json 193 B

{
  "service": {
    "name": "billing",
    "port": 8080,
    "debug": true
  },
  "database": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "pool": 5
  },
  "features": [
    "invoices",
    "refunds"
  ]
}

Claude Opus 5.5Without deftPassed2026-11-07

Time: 10s
New tokens: 8.6k
Total input: 41.7k
Output tokens: 0.4k
Commands: 0
Failed: 0

Trace

Output

config.json 193 B

{
  "service": {
    "name": "billing",
    "port": 8080,
    "debug": true
  },
  "database": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "pool": 5
  },
  "features": [
    "invoices",
    "refunds"
  ]
}

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

Time: 13s
New tokens: 9.6k
Total input: 58.8k
Output tokens: 0.4k
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

config.json 193 B

{
  "service": {
    "name": "billing",
    "port": 8080,
    "debug": true
  },
  "database": {
    "host": "localhost",
    "pool": 5
  },
  "features": [
    "invoices",
    "refunds"
  ]
}

Claude CodeWithout deftNot run yet

Claude CodeWith deftNot run yet