EspConvert

EspConvert is a fast experimental converter for Bethesda plugin files.

Currently supported:

- ESP/ESM → XML export
- Streaming architecture for very large files
- Partial support for multiple Bethesda engine generations

Current performance:

- Starfield.esm: creates a 2 GB XML file in 95 seconds
- Oblivion: 22 s for an XML of 352 MB
- Fallout 3: 17 s for 412 MB XML
- Fallout 4, Fallout New Vegas and Morrowind do not work yet

Why this project exists:

- Opening even small Starfield plugins in Creation Kit can take several minutes
- Export e.g. Starfield.esm once and keep a searchable XML version forever
- Better understanding of Bethesda content
- Enable future tooling outside Creation Kit/xEdit

EspConvert focuses on:

- Speed
- Extremely low memory usage (Starfield.esm is converted using less than 16 MB RAM)
- Stream processing - write data without storing it

Project Status: preview/some esp features still missing