@json-render/yaml
YAML wire format for @json-render/core. Progressive rendering and surgical edits via streaming YAML.
Key Concepts
- YAML wire format: Alternative to JSONL that uses code fences (
yaml-spec,yaml-edit,yaml-patch,diff) - Streaming parser: Incrementally parses YAML, emits JSON Patch operations via diffing
- Edit modes: Patch (RFC 6902), merge (RFC 7396), and unified diff
- AI SDK transform:
TransformStreamthat converts YAML fences into json-render patches
Generating YAML Prompts
typescriptimport { yamlPrompt } from "@json-render/yaml"; import { catalog } from "./catalog"; // Standalone mode (LLM outputs only YAML) const systemPrompt = yamlPrompt(catalog, { mode: "standalone", editModes: ["merge"], customRules: ["Always use dark theme"], }); // Inline mode (LLM responds conversationally, wraps YAML in fences) const chatPrompt = yamlPrompt(catalog, { mode: "inline" });
Options:
system(string) — Custom system message intromode("standalone" | "inline") — Output mode, default "standalone"customRules(string[]) — Additional rules appended to prompteditModes(EditMode[]) — Edit modes to document, default ["merge"]
AI SDK Transform
Use pipeYamlRender as a drop-in replacement for pipeJsonRender:
typescriptimport { pipeYamlRender } from "@json-render/yaml"; import { createUIMessageStream, createUIMessageStreamResponse } from "ai"; const stream = createUIMessageStream({ execute: async ({ writer }) => { writer.merge(pipeYamlRender(result.toUIMessageStream())); }, }); return createUIMessageStreamResponse({ stream });
For multi-turn edits, pass the previous spec:
typescriptpipeYamlRender(result.toUIMessageStream(), { previousSpec: currentSpec, });
The transform recognizes four fence types:
yaml-spec— Full spec, parsed progressively line-by-lineyaml-edit— Partial YAML deep-merged with current spec (RFC 7396)yaml-patch— RFC 6902 JSON Patch linesdiff— Unified diff applied to serialized spec
Streaming Parser (Low-Level)
typescriptimport { createYamlStreamCompiler } from "@json-render/yaml"; const compiler = createYamlStreamCompiler<Spec>(); // Feed chunks as they arrive from any source const { result, newPatches } = compiler.push("root: main\n"); compiler.push("elements:\n main:\n type: Card\n"); // Flush remaining data at end of stream const { result: final } = compiler.flush(); // Reset for next stream (optionally with initial state) compiler.reset({ root: "main", elements: {} });
Methods: push(chunk), flush(), getResult(), getPatches(), reset(initial?)
Edit Modes (from @json-render/core)
The YAML package uses the universal edit mode system from core:
typescriptimport { buildEditInstructions, buildEditUserPrompt } from "@json-render/core"; import type { EditMode } from "@json-render/core"; // Generate edit instructions for YAML format const instructions = buildEditInstructions({ modes: ["merge", "patch"] }, "yaml"); // Build user prompt with current spec context const userPrompt = buildEditUserPrompt({ prompt: "Change the title to Dashboard", currentSpec: spec, config: { modes: ["merge"] }, format: "yaml", serializer: (s) => yamlStringify(s, { indent: 2 }).trimEnd(), });
Fence Constants
For custom parsing, use the exported constants:
typescriptimport { YAML_SPEC_FENCE, // "```yaml-spec" YAML_EDIT_FENCE, // "```yaml-edit" YAML_PATCH_FENCE, // "```yaml-patch" DIFF_FENCE, // "```diff" FENCE_CLOSE, // "```" } from "@json-render/yaml";
Key Exports
| Export | Description |
|---|---|
yamlPrompt | Generate YAML system prompt from catalog |
createYamlTransform | AI SDK TransformStream for YAML fences |
pipeYamlRender | Convenience pipe wrapper (replaces pipeJsonRender) |
createYamlStreamCompiler | Streaming YAML parser with patch emission |
YAML_SPEC_FENCE | Fence constant for yaml-spec |
YAML_EDIT_FENCE | Fence constant for yaml-edit |
YAML_PATCH_FENCE | Fence constant for yaml-patch |
DIFF_FENCE | Fence constant for diff |
FENCE_CLOSE | Fence close constant |
diffToPatches | Re-export: object diff to JSON Patch |
deepMergeSpec | Re-export: RFC 7396 deep merge |

