A simple convertor in Python to take the backup.json file that is supplied by LinkWarden on clicking export or through the migration API and convert it into the Netscape bookmark HTML format which is supported by most other major bookmarking, read-it-later and link-saving applications (LinkDing, LinkAce, Briefkasten, Pocket, Readwise, Omnivore e…

LinkWardenExportjson2htmlconverter.py

import json
import logging
from datetime import datetime

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(asctime)s %(message)s')

def date_to_timestamp(date_str):
    try:
        dt = datetime.fromisoformat(date_str.replace('Z', '+00:00'))
        return int(dt.timestamp())
    except ValueError as e:
        logging.warning(f'Error converting date: {e}')
        return None

def json_to_netscape_html(json_data):
    html_output = [
        '<!DOCTYPE NETSCAPE-Bookmark-file-1>',
        '<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=UTF-8">',
        '<TITLE>Bookmarks</TITLE>',
        '<H1>Bookmarks</H1>',
        '<DL><p>'
    ]
    
    for collection in json_data.get('collections', []):
        for link in collection.get('links', []):
            try:
                raw_tags = link.get('tags', [])
                logging.debug(f'Processing link: {link["name"]} with raw tags: {raw_tags}')
                
                tags = [tag['name'] for tag in raw_tags if isinstance(tag, dict) and 'name' in tag]
                logging.debug(f'Filtered tags: {tags}')
                
                tags = ','.join(tags)
                
                description = link.get('description', '')
                add_date = date_to_timestamp(link.get('createdAt', ''))
                last_modified = date_to_timestamp(link.get('updatedAt', ''))

                if add_date is not None and last_modified is not None:
                    html_output.append(
                        f'    <DT><A HREF="{link["url"]}" ADD_DATE="{add_date}" LAST_MODIFIED="{last_modified}" PRIVATE="1" TOREAD="1" TAGS="{tags}">{link["name"]}</A>'
                    )
                    html_output.append(f'    <DD>{description}')
                else:
                    logging.warning(f'Invalid date for link: {link["url"]}')
            except KeyError as e:
                logging.warning(f'Missing key in link: {e}')
            except Exception as e:
                logging.warning(f'Error processing link: {e}')

    html_output.append('</DL><p>')
    
    return '\n'.join(html_output)

with open('backup.json', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
    json_data = json.load(file)

html_content = json_to_netscape_html(json_data)

with open('bookmarks.html', 'w', encoding='utf-8') as file:
    file.write(html_content)

print("NetScape HTML file generated successfully.")