gsettings-data-convert

gsettings-data-convert XML_FILE OUTPUT_FILE

XML_FILE
    Path to the input GSettings XML schema definition file (e.g., `org.gnome.Terminal.gschema.xml`).

OUTPUT_FILE
    Path where the converted binary schema data will be written. This file typically has a `.gschema.keyfile` extension and is then used by `glib-compile-schemas`.

The gsettings-data-convert command is a low-level utility provided by the GLib library, primarily used during the build process of applications that utilize GSettings. Its main function is to transform human-readable GSettings XML schema definition files (typically with a `.gschema.xml` extension) into a more compact, binary format. These binary files are then consumed by glib-compile-schemas, which compiles them into a single, efficient GSettings schema database that applications can query at runtime. It is not typically invoked directly by end-users but rather by build systems like Meson or Autotools to prepare schema data for installation.

This command is primarily a build-time utility and not typically used by end-users directly. It lacks interactive features or extensive command-line options, focusing solely on its conversion task. Users interested in managing GSettings should use the `gsettings` command-line tool.

During the compilation and installation of an application, build systems (like Autotools, Meson, or CMake) often invoke gsettings-data-convert as a build step. This pre-processing converts XML schema definitions into a binary representation. This step is crucial for preparing the schema data in a format optimized for runtime access by the GSettings backend, thereby improving application startup times and configuration lookup efficiency. The resulting binary files are then collected and compiled into a single database by `glib-compile-schemas`.

gsettings-data-convert emerged as an integral part of the GSettings configuration system within GLib, which superseded the older GConf system in GTK+ and GNOME environments. Its development is tied to the evolution of GLib itself, providing the necessary backend for applications to define and store their configuration settings in a standardized and efficient manner. It acts as a foundational component in the modern GNOME configuration stack, ensuring schema integrity and performance.

gsettings(1), glib-compile-schemas(1), dconf(7)