# Joker Sims Parser

> Parse and analyze Sims DBPF (Database Packed File) format for Sims 2, 3, and 4 save files. Extract package structure, resource metadata, and format information. Use when processing Sims game saves for validation, analysis, or extraction.

- Skill: `plurigrid/joker-sims-parser-2` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 7 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add plurigrid/joker-sims-parser-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/plurigrid/joker-sims-parser-2/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: plurigrid (https://skillmd.com/u/plurigrid)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/plurigrid/joker-sims-parser-2

---


# joker - Sims DBPF Parser Skill

## Overview

**joker** provides comprehensive DBPF (Database Packed File) parsing capabilities for all Sims game generations (2, 3, and 4). It validates package integrity, enumerates resources, and detects game versions automatically.

**Role**: MINUS validator in triadic consensus - validates package format correctness and resource integrity.

## Quick Start

### Launch Interactive Shell

```bash
./bin/joker              # Interactive REPL mode
./bin/joker -i           # Explicit interactive flag
./bin/joker interactive  # Full keyword
```

### CLI Mode

```bash
# Analyze package structure
./bin/joker parse ~/Sims3Saves/save.sims3pack

# List all resources
./bin/joker list game.package

# Batch scan for save files
./bin/joker info ~/Documents/TheSims3/Saves/

# Extract resources by type (future)
./bin/joker extract package.sims3pack 0x043bec01
```

## When to Use

- **Validating Sims save files**: Check if files are valid DBPF packages
- **Extracting package metadata**: Analyze game version, resource count, compression status
- **Batch processing**: Scan directories for all Sims saves with statistics
- **Format debugging**: Understand DBPF structure and resource organization
- **Pre-processing for mods**: Validate packages before modification

## When NOT to Use

- Decompressing resources (use specialized decompression skills)
- Modifying resource data (use generation skills)
- Converting formats (outside current scope)

## Interactive Commands

| Command | Usage | Example |
|---------|-------|---------|
| **parse** | Analyze single package | `parse ~/save.sims3pack` |
| **list** | Enumerate resources | `list game.package` |
| **info** | Scan directory | `info ~/Documents/TheSims3/Saves/` |
| **extract** | Extract by type | `extract game.package 0x043bec01` |
| **help** | Show commands | `help` |
| **quit** / **exit** | Exit shell | `quit` |

## Output Format

### parse command
```
=== Sims Package Analysis ===

File: UserSaveGame.sims3pack
Game Version: Sims 3
DBPF Version: 2.0
Total Resources: 1247
File Size: 52428800 bytes

Index Information:
  Index Count: 1247
  Index Offset: 0x032a1f00
  Created: 1672531200
  Modified: 1672531200

Resource Types Found:
  Type 0x043bec01: 247 resources
  Type 0x0210dc99: 892 resources
  ...

Compressed Resources: 1200
Uncompressed Resources: 47
```

### list command
```
Type       Group      ID           Size       Compressed
0x043bec01 0x00000001 0x000000012a 8192       Yes
0x0210dc99 0x00000002 0x000000013b 4096       No
0x0215ca48 0x00000003 0x000000014c 16384      Yes
...
```

### info command
```
~/Documents/TheSims3/Saves/UserSaveGame1.sims3pack
  Game: Sims 3
  Resources: 1247

~/Documents/TheSims3/Saves/UserSaveGame2.sims3pack
  Game: Sims 3
  Resources: 892
```

## Format Support Matrix

| Game | Extension | DBPF Version | Index Format | Compression | Status |
|------|-----------|--------------|--------------|-------------|--------|
| Sims 2 | .sims, .sims2 | 1.0 - 1.1 | 7.0 + deletion | QFS/RefPack | ✓ Implemented |
| Sims 3 | .package, .sims3pack | 2.0 | 7.0 | QFS/RefPack | ✓ Implemented |
| Sims 4 | .package, .ts4script | 2.0 | 7.1 + Type IDs | ZLIB | ✓ Implemented |

## DBPF Specification

### Header Structure (96 bytes)

```
Offset   Size   Field
0x00     4      Magic ("DBPF")
0x04     4      Major Version
0x08     4      Minor Version
0x0C     16     Reserved
0x1C     4      File Size
0x20     4      Index Count
0x24     4      Index Offset
0x28     4      Index Size
0x2C     4      Hole Index Count
0x30     4      Hole Index Offset
0x34     4      Hole Index Size
0x38     4      Created Date (Unix timestamp)
0x3C     4      Modified Date (Unix timestamp)
0x40     4      Index Minor (version indicator)
```

### Resource Entry

**Sims 2/3** (24 bytes):
```
ResourceType:   uint32 (4 bytes)
ResourceGroup:  uint32 (4 bytes)
ResourceID:     uint64 (8 bytes)
Offset:         uint32 (4 bytes)
CompressedSize: uint32 (4 bytes, 0xFFFFFFFF = uncompressed)
RawSize:        uint32 (4 bytes)
```

**Sims 4** (32 bytes - adds TypeID):
```
[24-byte entry above]
TypeID:         uint32 (4 bytes)
[padding]       uint32 (4 bytes)
```

### Game Version Detection

```
Major = 1, Minor ≤ 1        → Sims 2
Major = 2, IndexMinor = 0   → Sims 3
Major = 2, IndexMinor = 1   → Sims 4
```

### Compression Detection

- `CompressedSize == 0xFFFFFFFF` → Uncompressed
- `CompressedSize != 0xFFFFFFFF` → Compressed (identifies size in bytes)

## Architecture

joker uses a REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) architecture:

```
User Input → Parse Command → Execute Handler → Display Output → Prompt
```

### Components

- **dbpf.go** (391 lines): Core DBPF format parser
  - Multi-version DBPF support (1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.0 v7.1)
  - Streaming parser with minimal memory footprint
  - Resource enumeration with compression detection

- **skill_integration.go** (108 lines): Boxxy skill registration
  - GF(3) trit assignment (-1 MINUS/Validator)
  - ASI registry integration
  - Capability declarations

- **main.go** (320 lines): CLI tool and command dispatcher
  - parse, list, info, extract commands
  - Usage documentation

- **interactive.go** (108 lines): REPL shell
  - Command parsing and routing
  - Interactive help system

## GF(3) Conservation

joker is assigned **trit = -1 (MINUS)** for validation role:

```
Validator (-1) + Coordinator (0) + Generator (+1) ≡ 0 (mod 3)
   [joker]        [jo-clojure]     [hy-regime]
```

This enables triadic consensus for Sims file processing pipelines.

## Performance

- Parse 50MB file: ~100ms
- List 1000 resources: ~50ms
- Batch scan 100 files: ~2-3s
- Memory footprint: ~10MB (streaming)
- Binary size: 2.4MB (standalone, zero dependencies)

## References

See `references/USAGE.md` for detailed usage examples and `scripts/` for implementation.

## Troubleshooting

**"File not found"**
- Verify file path is correct
- Use absolute paths (e.g., `~/Documents/...` or `/Users/...`)

**"Unknown command"**
- Type `help` in interactive mode to see all available commands

**No output from info command**
- Ensure directory contains Sims save files (.sims, .sims2, .package, .sims3pack, .ts4script)
- Check directory permissions

**Binary not found**
- Rebuild with: `go build -o bin/joker ./cmd/joker`
- Ensure Go 1.21+ is installed

## Future Enhancements

### Phase 1 (Immediate)
- Implement QFS/RefPack decompression
- Implement ZLIB decompression
- Add resource extraction to disk
- JSON export capability

### Phase 2 (Short-term)
- Format conversion utilities
- Diff/comparison tools
- Resource type identification
- Automated backup/restore

### Phase 3 (Extended)
- GUI tool for save browsing
- Mod package builder
- Format fuzzing tests
- Performance optimization


## REPL atlas

Part of: `repl-commons`. Family canonical: `clojure`.