What is @expo/plist?
@expo/plist is a utility library for parsing and building property list (plist) files, which are commonly used in macOS and iOS applications for configuration. This package allows you to easily read, write, and manipulate plist files in both XML and binary formats.
What are @expo/plist's main functionalities?
Parsing XML Plist
This feature allows you to parse an XML plist string into a JavaScript object. The example demonstrates parsing a simple XML plist string containing a dictionary with one key-value pair.
const plist = require('@expo/plist');
const xml = '<plist version="1.0"><dict><key>foo</key><string>bar</string></dict></plist>';
const parsed = plist.parse(xml);
console.log(parsed); // { foo: 'bar' }
Building XML Plist
This feature allows you to build an XML plist string from a JavaScript object. The example demonstrates converting a simple JavaScript object into an XML plist string.
const plist = require('@expo/plist');
const obj = { foo: 'bar' };
const xml = plist.build(obj);
console.log(xml); // <plist version="1.0"><dict><key>foo</key><string>bar</string></dict></plist>
Parsing Binary Plist
This feature allows you to parse a binary plist file into a JavaScript object. The example demonstrates reading a binary plist file from the filesystem and parsing it.
const plist = require('@expo/plist');
const fs = require('fs');
const buffer = fs.readFileSync('example.plist');
const parsed = plist.parse(buffer);
console.log(parsed);
Building Binary Plist
This feature allows you to build a binary plist file from a JavaScript object. The example demonstrates converting a simple JavaScript object into a binary plist file and writing it to the filesystem.
const plist = require('@expo/plist');
const fs = require('fs');
const obj = { foo: 'bar' };
const buffer = plist.build(obj, { format: 'binary' });
fs.writeFileSync('example.plist', buffer);
Other packages similar to @expo/plist
plist
The 'plist' package is a popular alternative for parsing and building plist files. It supports both XML and binary formats and offers similar functionality to @expo/plist. However, @expo/plist is specifically tailored for use with Expo projects, making it a better choice for developers working within the Expo ecosystem.
simple-plist
The 'simple-plist' package provides a straightforward API for reading and writing plist files. It focuses on simplicity and ease of use, making it a good choice for developers who need basic plist functionality without the additional features provided by @expo/plist.
bplist-parser
The 'bplist-parser' package is specialized for parsing binary plist files. It is a lightweight and efficient option for developers who only need to work with binary plists. In contrast, @expo/plist offers a more comprehensive solution with support for both XML and binary formats.