bplist-parser vs plist vs bplist
Binary Property List (BPLIST) Manipulation Comparison
1 Year
bplist-parserplistbplist
What's Binary Property List (BPLIST) Manipulation?

Binary Property List (BPLIST) Manipulation libraries in Node.js provide tools for reading, writing, and manipulating binary property list files, which are a serialized format used primarily by macOS and iOS applications to store structured data. These libraries enable developers to efficiently handle BPLIST files, extract data, modify existing entries, or create new files programmatically. They are particularly useful for tasks such as data migration, application configuration, or reverse engineering binary files. bplist is a comprehensive library for both reading and writing binary property list files, while bplist-parser focuses on parsing and extracting data from existing BPLIST files. plist, on the other hand, supports multiple plist formats, including XML and binary, and provides a versatile API for both reading and writing plist files.

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bplist-parser8,161,15311424.1 kB9-MIT
plist3,645,164608687 kB272 years agoMIT
bplist19,4406-1-MIT
Feature Comparison: bplist-parser vs plist vs bplist

Format Support

  • bplist-parser:

    bplist-parser focuses solely on parsing binary property list files (BPLIST). It does not provide any functionality for writing or modifying files, as it is designed primarily for extracting data from existing BPLIST files.

  • plist:

    plist supports multiple property list formats, including XML, binary (BPLIST), and JSON. This makes it a versatile choice for applications that need to handle different plist formats seamlessly.

  • bplist:

    bplist supports reading and writing binary property list files (BPLIST), making it a comprehensive solution for handling this specific format. It does not support other plist formats like XML or JSON.

Writing Capability

  • bplist-parser:

    bplist-parser does not support writing or modifying files. It is a read-only parser that extracts data from binary property list files, making it unsuitable for applications that require any writing functionality.

  • plist:

    plist supports writing to multiple plist formats, including binary, XML, and JSON. This allows for flexible creation and modification of property list files in various formats, depending on the application's needs.

  • bplist:

    bplist provides full writing capabilities for binary property list files, allowing you to create and modify BPLIST files programmatically. This makes it suitable for applications that need to generate or update binary plist files.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

  • bplist-parser:

    bplist-parser Example: Parsing BPLIST

    const { parseFile } = require('bplist-parser');
    
    // Parsing a binary plist file
    parseFile('example.bplist').then((objects) => {
      console.log('Parsed BPLIST objects:', objects);
    });
    
  • plist:

    plist Example: Reading and Writing Plist

    const plist = require('plist');
    const fs = require('fs');
    
    // Reading a plist file (XML or binary)
    const data = fs.readFileSync('example.plist');
    const parsed = plist.parse(data);
    console.log('Parsed plist:', parsed);
    
    // Writing a plist file (XML or binary)
    const newData = { key: 'value' };
    const xml = plist.build(newData);
    fs.writeFileSync('output.plist', xml);
    console.log('Plist file written successfully.');
    
  • bplist:

    bplist Example: Reading and Writing BPLIST

    const bplist = require('bplist');
    
    // Reading a binary plist file
    bplist.parseFile('example.bplist').then((objects) => {
      console.log('Parsed BPLIST:', objects);
    });
    
    // Writing a binary plist file
    const data = [{ key: 'value' }];
    bplist.createFile(data, 'output.bplist').then(() => {
      console.log('BPLIST file written successfully.');
    });
    
How to Choose: bplist-parser vs plist vs bplist
  • bplist-parser:

    Choose bplist-parser if your primary need is to parse and extract data from existing binary property list files. It is lightweight and efficient for reading BPLIST files, making it ideal for applications that do not require writing or modifying the files.

  • plist:

    Choose plist if you need a versatile library that supports multiple property list formats, including XML, binary, and JSON. It is a good choice for applications that require flexibility in handling different plist formats and need a robust API for both reading and writing.

  • bplist:

    Choose bplist if you need a full-featured library that supports both reading and writing binary property list files. It is suitable for applications that require comprehensive manipulation of BPLIST files, including creating, modifying, and extracting data.

README for bplist-parser

bplist-parser

Binary Mac OS X Plist (property list) parser.

Installation

$ npm install bplist-parser

Quick Examples

const bplist = require('bplist-parser');

(async () => {

  const obj = await bplist.parseFile('myPlist.bplist');

  console.log(JSON.stringify(obj));

})();

License

(The MIT License)

Copyright (c) 2012 Near Infinity Corporation

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.