parsm 0.8.2

Multi-format data processor that understands structured text better than sed or awk. Supports JSON, CSV, YAML, TOML, logfmt, and plain text with powerful filtering and templating.
Documentation

parsm - Parse 'Em - An 'everything' parser, Sedder, Awkker, Grokker, Grepper

Parsm is the powerful command-line tool that understands structured text better than sed, awk, grep or grok.

Overview

parsm automatically detects and parses multiple data formats (JSON, CSV, YAML, TOML, logfmt, and plain text) and provides powerful filtering and templating capabilities through an intuitive syntax.

By default, parsm outputs the original input when a filter matches. For custom output formatting, use templates.

Installation

From crates.io

cargo install parsm

From source

cargo install --path .

Or build from source:

git clone <repository-url>
cd parsm
cargo build --release
./target/release/parsm --examples

Quick Start

# Basic usage
parsm [FILTER] [TEMPLATE]

# Examples
parsm --examples

# Extract a field
echo '{"name": "Alice"}' | parsm 'name'

# Nested fields
echo '{"user": {"email": "alice@example.com"}}' | parsm 'user.email'

# Filtering
echo '{"age": 30}' | parsm 'age > 25'

# Filter and format
echo '{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}' | parsm 'age > 25 [${name} is ${age}]'

Supported Formats

  • JSON
  • CSV
  • YAML
  • TOML
  • Logfmt
  • Plain Text

Force Format Parsing

Flag Format
--json JSON
--yaml YAML
--csv CSV
--toml TOML
--logfmt logfmt
--text Plain Text

Syntax Reference

Filters

  • Comparison: ==, !=, <, <=, >, >=
  • String ops: *= (contains), ^= (starts with), $= (ends with), ~= (regex match)
  • Boolean logic: &&, ||, !
  • Truthy check: field?

Examples:

name == "Alice" && age > 25
email ~ "@example.com"
user.active?

Templates

  • Variables: [${name}] or $name
  • Literal: [name]

Example:

parsm 'age > 25 [${name} is ${age}]'

Field Selectors

  • Simple: name
  • Nested: user.email
  • Quoted (special chars): 'special-field'
  • CSV/Text: field_0, word_0

Examples

JSON/YAML/TOML

cat Cargo.toml | parsm 'package.name'
echo '{"user": {"email": "alice@example.com"}}' | parsm 'user.email'

CSV

echo 'Alice,30,Engineer' | parsm 'field_1 > "25" [${1} (${2})]'

Logs

echo 'level=error msg="DB error"' | parsm 'level == "error" [${msg}]'

CLI Usage

parsm [OPTIONS] [FILTER] [TEMPLATE]

Options:
  --examples     Show usage examples
  -h, --help     Show help
  -V, --version  Show version

Comparison with Other Tools

Feature parsm jq awk sed
Multi-format ✅ JSON, CSV, YAML, TOML, logfmt, text JSON only Text Text
Auto-detection ✅ Automatic ❌ Manual ❌ Manual ❌ Manual
Field extraction ✅ Simple name syntax ✅ .name syntax Limited ❌ No
Simple syntax ✅ Low Medium Complex Medium

Development

  • Build: cargo build
  • Test: cargo test
  • Lint: cargo fmt && cargo clippy

Contributing

  1. Fork repository
  2. Create feature branch
  3. Write tests and code
  4. Run tests and lint checks
  5. Submit a pull request

License

See LICENSE.

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md.

Examples

# Basic filtering - outputs original input when filter matches
echo '{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}' | parsm 'age > 25'
# Output: {"name": "Alice", "age": 30}

# Filtering with custom template
echo '{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}' | parsm 'age > 25 [${name} is ${age}]'
# Output: Alice is 30

# Access original input in templates with ${0}
echo '{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}' | parsm '[Original: ${0}, Name: ${name}]'
# Output: Original: {"name": "Alice", "age": 30}, Name: Alice