XML to Pike
Paste XML and get ready-to-use Pike class definitions with inferred field types.
Example
Input XML:
<note>
<to>Tove</to>
<id>42</id>
</note>
Generated Pike:
// Pike type definitions generated from XML
class Root
{
string to;
int id;
}How it works
The tool parses your XML with the browser DOMParser, builds a value model from elements, attributes, and text, then infers Pike types and emits a class per distinct element shape. Conversion runs live as you type and on the Convert button.
Good to know
XML to Pike turns a chunk of XML into ready-to-paste Pike class definitions, inferring a field type for every element, attribute, and text node it finds. It is aimed at Pike developers who need to model external data — config files, API responses, or legacy XML feeds — as proper typed classes instead of hand-writing them and guessing whether a field should be an int, a float, or a string.
Reach for it whenever you have a representative XML sample and want a starting skeleton fast: scaffolding a parser, documenting the shape of a third-party payload, or sketching a data model during prototyping. Because it runs entirely in the browser and works offline once loaded, it is also safe for XML that contains internal or sensitive values you would rather not paste into a remote service.
Reading the output is straightforward but worth understanding. The tool emits one class per distinct element shape and names the outermost element Root; repeated sibling elements collapse into an array(Type) field, attributes appear as fields prefixed with attr_, and an element that has both attributes and text gets an extra text field. Type inference is by example, so it only sees what is in your sample:
int for whole numbers, float when a decimal or exponent is present, int(0..1) for the literal values true/false, and string for everything else, including empty values.
The practical caveat: the generated types are only as good as your input. A field that happens to hold 42 in your sample becomes int even if it is sometimes alphanumeric, and mixing numeric kinds across siblings widens the type (for example int plus float becomes float, while genuinely incompatible kinds become mixed). Feed it the most complete, realistic example you have, then review and tighten the result by hand before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
How are repeated XML elements handled?
When a parent has multiple child elements with the same tag name, that field is emitted as an array(...) of the inferred element type, so a list ofentries becomes array(Book).
What happens to XML attributes?
Attributes are turned into fields prefixed with attr_ on the element's generated class, with their type inferred from the attribute value (int, float, int(0..1) for true/false, or string).
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this tool runs entirely in your browser. Your input never leaves your device and it works offline once loaded.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up and no limits.
People also ask
What is Pike used for as a programming language?
Pike is a dynamic, interpreted, general-purpose language with C-like syntax, historically used for high-performance networked applications and web servers such as the Roxen and Caudium platforms. It has a strong static-ish type system that supports types like int, float, string, mapping, and array(...).
What does array(Book) mean in Pike?
It is Pike's syntax for a typed array whose elements are all of type Book. The XML to Pike tool generates this when a parent element contains several child elements that share the same tag name.
Why does this tool convert true and false to int(0..1) instead of a boolean type?
Pike does not have a dedicated boolean type; it represents truth values with integers. The notation int(0..1) is a constrained integer type meaning the value can only be 0 or 1, which is the idiomatic way to express a boolean-like field in Pike.
Can it convert XML back, or generate XML from Pike classes?
No. This tool only goes one direction, from XML input to Pike type definitions. It does not parse Pike code or emit XML.
Does it generate parsing or serialization code, or just the type definitions?
It produces only the class definitions with typed fields, not the logic to read or write the XML. You would write the parsing code yourself, using the generated classes as the target data model.
How does it decide what to name the generated classes?
Class names are derived from the XML element tag names, with the first letter capitalized and any invalid characters replaced; the top-level element is renamed to Root. If two elements would produce the same name, a number is appended to keep each class name unique.
What happens if my XML is invalid or empty?
The tool relies on the browser's DOMParser, so malformed XML produces a parse error message and no output is generated. Empty input simply clears the output without showing an error.
Will it handle XML namespaces and prefixed tags correctly?
It reads tag names as they appear, so a namespace prefix becomes part of the field and class name after invalid characters like the colon are replaced with underscores. It does not resolve or strip namespace declarations on its own.
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