What tools and scripts can I use to convert JSON game data to CSV format for easier analysis during development?

Tools and Scripts for Converting JSON Game Data to CSV

1. Python Libraries

Python offers versatile libraries for data manipulation and conversion between formats such as JSON and CSV. Two popular libraries include:

pandas: This powerful library allows you to read a JSON file and then convert it to a CSV with a simple method. Use pandas.read_json() to load the JSON data into a DataFrame and DataFrame.to_csv() to write it to a CSV file.
json and csv: Native Python libraries can handle simpler cases of JSON to CSV conversion. Use json.load() to read JSON data and csv.writer() to output to a CSV format.

import json
import csv

# Read JSON data
def json_to_csv(json_file_path, csv_file_path):
    with open(json_file_path) as json_file:
        data = json.load(json_file)

    # Write CSV data
    with open(csv_file_path, mode='w', newline='') as csv_file:
        writer = csv.writer(csv_file)
        writer.writerow(data[0].keys())  # Write headers
        for item in data:
            writer.writerow(item.values())

2. Command-Line Tools

For those who prefer command-line tools, you can use:

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jq: A lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor. It can parse and manipulate JSON directly from the terminal, and with additional scripting, you can output to CSV using tools like csvkit.
csvkit: A suite of command-line tools for converting to and working with CSV files. It can convert JSON data directly to CSV with its in2csv command.

3. Game Engine Scripting

Within game engines like Unity, C# scripting can be used to programmatically convert JSON game data to CSV. Here’s a basic approach:

Create a C# script that reads JSON using JsonUtility or Newtonsoft.Json if more complex structures are needed.
Transform this data into a CSV-like string and write it to a file using the System.IO namespace for file handling.

4. Online Tools and Services

Several online converters are available for simple tasks without needing to write code, such as:

ConvertCSV: A free online service that provides basic conversion from JSON to CSV for quick tasks.