diff --git a/docs/plistutil.1 b/docs/plistutil.1
index e502bd7..eb1b591 100644
--- a/docs/plistutil.1
+++ b/docs/plistutil.1
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 .TH "plistutil" 1
 .SH NAME
-plistutil \- Convert a plist FILE from binary to XML format or vice-versa
+plistutil \- Convert a plist FILE between binary, XML, and JSON format
 .SH SYNOPSIS
 .B plistutil
 [OPTIONS]
 [-i FILE]
 [-o FILE]
 .SH DESCRIPTION
-plistutil allows converting a file in Property List format from binary to XML format or vice-versa.
+plistutil allows converting a Property List file between binary, XML, and JSON format.
 .SH OPTIONS
 .TP
 .B \-i, \-\-infile FILE
@@ -18,10 +18,13 @@
 Output FILE to convert to. If this argument is omitted or - is passed as
 filename, plistutil will write to stdout.
 .TP
-.B \-f, \-\-format [bin|xml]
+.B \-f, \-\-format [bin|xml|json]
 Force output format, regardless of input type. This is useful if the input
 format is not known, but the output format should always be in a specific
-format (like xml).
+format (like xml or json).
+
+If omitted, XML plist data will be converted to binary and vice-versa. To
+convert to/from JSON the output format needs to specified.
 .TP
 .B \-h, \-\-help
 Prints usage information.
@@ -47,6 +50,9 @@
 .B plistutil -i test.plist -f xml -o -
 Same as before.
 .TP
+.B plistutil -i test.plist -f json
+Print test.plist as JSON plist, regardless of the input format.
+.TP
 .B cat test.plist |plistutil -f xml
 Take plist data from stdin - piped via cat - and write the output as XML
 to stdout.
diff --git a/include/plist/plist.h b/include/plist/plist.h
index 21fd8bd..ac15568 100644
--- a/include/plist/plist.h
+++ b/include/plist/plist.h
@@ -682,6 +682,19 @@
     plist_err_t plist_to_bin(plist_t plist, char **plist_bin, uint32_t * length);
 
     /**
+     * Export the #plist_t structure to JSON format.
+     *
+     * @param plist the root node to export
+     * @param json a pointer to a char* buffer. This function allocates the memory,
+     *     caller is responsible for freeing it.
+     * @param length a pointer to an uint32_t variable. Represents the length of the allocated buffer.
+     * @param prettify pretty print the output if != 0
+     * @return PLIST_ERR_SUCCESS on success or a #plist_error on failure
+     * @note Use plist_mem_free() to free the allocated memory.
+     */
+    plist_err_t plist_to_json(plist_t plist, char **plist_json, uint32_t* length, int prettify);
+
+    /**
      * Import the #plist_t structure from XML format.
      *
      * @param plist_xml a pointer to the xml buffer.
@@ -702,9 +715,25 @@
     plist_err_t plist_from_bin(const char *plist_bin, uint32_t length, plist_t * plist);
 
     /**
+     * Import the #plist_t structure from JSON format.
+     *
+     * @param json a pointer to the JSON buffer.
+     * @param length length of the buffer to read.
+     * @param plist a pointer to the imported plist.
+     * @return PLIST_ERR_SUCCESS on success or a #plist_error on failure
+     */
+    plist_err_t plist_from_json(const char *json, uint32_t length, plist_t * plist);
+
+    /**
      * Import the #plist_t structure from memory data.
      * This method will look at the first bytes of plist_data
-     * to determine if plist_data contains a binary or XML plist.
+     * to determine if plist_data contains a binary, JSON, or XML plist
+     * and tries to parse the data in the appropriate format.
+     * @note This is just a convenience function and the format detection is
+     *     very basic. It checks with plist_is_binary() if the data supposedly
+     *     contains binary plist data, if not it checks if the first byte is
+     *     either '{' or '[' and assumes JSON format, otherwise it will try
+     *     to parse the data as XML.
      *
      * @param plist_data a pointer to the memory buffer containing plist data.
      * @param length length of the buffer to read.
@@ -714,12 +743,12 @@
     plist_err_t plist_from_memory(const char *plist_data, uint32_t length, plist_t * plist);
 
     /**
-     * Test if in-memory plist data is binary or XML
-     * This method will look at the first bytes of plist_data
-     * to determine if plist_data contains a binary or XML plist.
-     * This method is not validating the whole memory buffer to check if the
-     * content is truly a plist, it's only using some heuristic on the first few
-     * bytes of plist_data.
+     * Test if in-memory plist data is in binary format.
+     * This function will look at the first bytes of plist_data to determine
+     * if it supposedly contains a binary plist.
+     * @note The function is not validating the whole memory buffer to check
+     * if the content is truly a plist, it is only using some heuristic on
+     * the first few bytes of plist_data.
      *
      * @param plist_data a pointer to the memory buffer containing plist data.
      * @param length length of the buffer to read.
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 6583add..d4c9e67 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 	time64_limits.h \
 	xplist.c \
 	bplist.c \
+	jsmn.c jsmn.h \
+	jplist.c \
 	plist.c plist.h
 
 libplist___2_0_la_LIBADD = libplist-2.0.la
diff --git a/src/jplist.c b/src/jplist.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08441c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/jplist.c
@@ -0,0 +1,695 @@
+/*
+ * jplist.c
+ * JSON plist implementation
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2019-2021 Nikias Bassen All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <time.h>
+
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <math.h>
+#include <limits.h>
+
+#include <node.h>
+#include <node_list.h>
+
+#include "plist.h"
+#include "strbuf.h"
+#include "jsmn.h"
+
+#ifdef DEBUG
+static int plist_json_debug = 0;
+#define PLIST_JSON_ERR(...) if (plist_json_debug) { fprintf(stderr, "libplist[jsonparser] ERROR: " __VA_ARGS__); }
+#define PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR(...) if (plist_json_debug) { fprintf(stderr, "libplist[jsonwriter] ERROR: " __VA_ARGS__); }
+#else
+#define PLIST_JSON_ERR(...)
+#define PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR(...)
+#endif
+
+void plist_json_init(void)
+{
+    /* init JSON stuff */
+#ifdef DEBUG
+    char *env_debug = getenv("PLIST_JSON_DEBUG");
+    if (env_debug && !strcmp(env_debug, "1")) {
+        plist_json_debug = 1;
+    }
+#endif
+}
+
+void plist_json_deinit(void)
+{
+    /* deinit JSON stuff */
+}
+
+static size_t dtostr(char *buf, size_t bufsize, double realval)
+{
+    size_t len = 0;
+    if (isnan(realval)) {
+        len = snprintf(buf, bufsize, "nan");
+    } else if (isinf(realval)) {
+        len = snprintf(buf, bufsize, "%cinfinity", (realval > 0.0) ? '+' : '-');
+    } else if (realval == 0.0f) {
+        len = snprintf(buf, bufsize, "0.0");
+    } else {
+        size_t i = 0;
+        len = snprintf(buf, bufsize, "%.*g", 17, realval);
+        for (i = 0; buf && i < len; i++) {
+            if (buf[i] == ',') {
+                buf[i] = '.';
+                break;
+            } else if (buf[i] == '.') {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return len;
+}
+
+static int node_to_json(node_t* node, bytearray_t **outbuf, uint32_t depth, int prettify)
+{
+    plist_data_t node_data = NULL;
+
+    char *val = NULL;
+    size_t val_len = 0;
+
+    uint32_t i = 0;
+
+    if (!node)
+        return PLIST_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+
+    node_data = plist_get_data(node);
+
+    switch (node_data->type)
+    {
+    case PLIST_BOOLEAN:
+    {
+        if (node_data->boolval) {
+            str_buf_append(*outbuf, "true", 4);
+        } else {
+            str_buf_append(*outbuf, "false", 5);
+        }
+    }
+    break;
+
+    case PLIST_NULL:
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "null", 4);
+	break;
+
+    case PLIST_UINT:
+        val = (char*)malloc(64);
+        if (node_data->length == 16) {
+            val_len = snprintf(val, 64, "%"PRIu64, node_data->intval);
+        } else {
+            val_len = snprintf(val, 64, "%"PRIi64, node_data->intval);
+        }
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, val, val_len);
+        free(val);
+        break;
+
+    case PLIST_REAL:
+        val = (char*)malloc(64);
+        val_len = dtostr(val, 64, node_data->realval);
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, val, val_len);
+        free(val);
+        break;
+
+    case PLIST_STRING:
+    case PLIST_KEY: {
+        size_t j = 0;
+        size_t len = 0;
+        off_t start = 0;
+        off_t cur = 0;
+
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\"", 1);
+
+        len = node_data->length;
+        for (j = 0; j < len; j++) {
+            switch (node_data->strval[j]) {
+            case '"':
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, node_data->strval + start, cur - start);
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\\\"", 2);
+                start = cur+1;
+                break;
+            default:
+                break;
+            }
+            cur++;
+        }
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, node_data->strval + start, cur - start);
+
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\"", 1);
+        } break;
+
+    case PLIST_ARRAY: {
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "[", 1);
+        node_t *ch;
+        uint32_t cnt = 0;
+        for (ch = node_first_child(node); ch; ch = node_next_sibling(ch)) {
+            if (cnt > 0) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, ",", 1);
+            }
+            if (prettify) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\n", 1);
+                for (i = 0; i <= depth; i++) {
+                    str_buf_append(*outbuf, "  ", 2);
+                }
+            }
+            int res = node_to_json(ch, outbuf, depth+1, prettify);
+            if (res < 0) {
+                return res;
+            }
+            cnt++;
+        }
+        if (cnt > 0 && prettify) {
+            str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\n", 1);
+            for (i = 0; i < depth; i++) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, "  ", 2);
+            }
+        }
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "]", 1);
+        } break;
+    case PLIST_DICT: {
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "{", 1);
+        node_t *ch;
+        uint32_t cnt = 0;
+        for (ch = node_first_child(node); ch; ch = node_next_sibling(ch)) {
+            if (cnt > 0 && cnt % 2 == 0) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, ",", 1);
+            }
+            if (cnt % 2 == 0 && prettify) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\n", 1);
+                for (i = 0; i <= depth; i++) {
+                    str_buf_append(*outbuf, "  ", 2);
+                }
+            }
+            int res = node_to_json(ch, outbuf, depth+1, prettify);
+            if (res < 0) {
+                return res;
+            }
+            if (cnt % 2 == 0) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, ":", 1);
+                if (prettify) {
+                  str_buf_append(*outbuf, " ", 1);
+                }
+            }
+            cnt++;
+        }
+        if (cnt > 0 && prettify) {
+            str_buf_append(*outbuf, "\n", 1);
+            for (i = 0; i < depth; i++) {
+                str_buf_append(*outbuf, "  ", 2);
+            }
+        }
+        str_buf_append(*outbuf, "}", 1);
+        } break;
+    case PLIST_DATA:
+        // NOT VALID FOR JSON
+        PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("PLIST_DATA type is not valid for JSON format\n");
+        return PLIST_ERR_FORMAT;
+    case PLIST_DATE:
+        // NOT VALID FOR JSON
+        PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("PLIST_DATE type is not valid for JSON format\n");
+        return PLIST_ERR_FORMAT;
+    case PLIST_UID:
+        // NOT VALID FOR JSON
+        PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("PLIST_UID type is not valid for JSON format\n");
+        return PLIST_ERR_FORMAT;
+    default:
+        return PLIST_ERR_UNKNOWN;
+    }
+
+    return PLIST_ERR_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+#define PO10i_LIMIT (INT64_MAX/10)
+
+/* based on https://stackoverflow.com/a/4143288 */
+static int num_digits_i(int64_t i)
+{
+    int n;
+    int64_t po10;
+    n=1;
+    if (i < 0) {
+        i = -i;
+        n++;
+    }
+    po10=10;
+    while (i>=po10) {
+        n++;
+        if (po10 > PO10i_LIMIT) break;
+        po10*=10;
+    }
+    return n;
+}
+
+#define PO10u_LIMIT (UINT64_MAX/10)
+
+/* based on https://stackoverflow.com/a/4143288 */
+static int num_digits_u(uint64_t i)
+{
+    int n;
+    uint64_t po10;
+    n=1;
+    po10=10;
+    while (i>=po10) {
+        n++;
+        if (po10 > PO10u_LIMIT) break;
+        po10*=10;
+    }
+    return n;
+}
+
+static int node_estimate_size(node_t *node, uint64_t *size, uint32_t depth, int prettify)
+{
+    plist_data_t data;
+    if (!node) {
+        return PLIST_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+    data = plist_get_data(node);
+    if (node->children) {
+        node_t *ch;
+        unsigned int n_children = node_n_children(node);
+        for (ch = node_first_child(node); ch; ch = node_next_sibling(ch)) {
+            int res = node_estimate_size(ch, size, depth + 1, prettify);
+            if (res < 0) {
+                return res;
+            }
+        }
+        switch (data->type) {
+        case PLIST_DICT:
+            *size += 2; // '{' and '}'
+            *size += n_children-1; // number of ':' and ','
+            if (prettify) {
+                *size += n_children; // number of '\n' and extra space
+                *size += n_children * (depth+1); // indent for every 2nd child
+                *size += 1; // additional '\n'
+            }
+            break;
+        case PLIST_ARRAY:
+            *size += 2; // '[' and ']'
+            *size += n_children-1; // number of ','
+            if (prettify) {
+                *size += n_children; // number of '\n'
+                *size += n_children * ((depth+1)<<1); // indent for every child
+                *size += 1; // additional '\n'
+            }
+            break;
+        default:
+            break;
+	}
+        if (prettify)
+            *size += (depth << 1); // indent for {} and []
+    } else {
+        switch (data->type) {
+        case PLIST_STRING:
+        case PLIST_KEY:
+            *size += data->length;
+            *size += 2;
+            break;
+        case PLIST_UINT:
+            if (data->length == 16) {
+                *size += num_digits_u(data->intval);
+            } else {
+                *size += num_digits_i((int64_t)data->intval);
+            }
+            break;
+        case PLIST_REAL:
+            *size += dtostr(NULL, 0, data->realval);
+            break;
+        case PLIST_BOOLEAN:
+            *size += ((data->boolval) ? 4 : 5);
+            break;
+        case PLIST_DICT:
+        case PLIST_ARRAY:
+            *size += 2;
+            break;
+        case PLIST_DATA:
+            // NOT VALID FOR JSON
+            PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("PLIST_DATA type is not valid for JSON format\n");
+            return PLIST_ERR_FORMAT;
+        case PLIST_DATE:
+            // NOT VALID FOR JSON
+            PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("PLIST_DATE type is not valid for JSON format\n");
+            return PLIST_ERR_FORMAT;
+        case PLIST_UID:
+            // NOT VALID FOR JSON
+            PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("PLIST_UID type is not valid for JSON format\n");
+            return PLIST_ERR_FORMAT;
+        default:
+            PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("invalid node type encountered\n");
+            return PLIST_ERR_UNKNOWN;
+        }
+    }
+    return PLIST_ERR_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+PLIST_API int plist_to_json(plist_t plist, char **json, uint32_t* length, int prettify)
+{
+    uint64_t size = 0;
+    int res;
+
+    if (!plist || !json || !length) {
+        return PLIST_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+
+    res = node_estimate_size(plist, &size, 0, prettify);
+    if (res < 0) {
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    strbuf_t *outbuf = str_buf_new(size);
+    if (!outbuf) {
+        PLIST_JSON_WRITE_ERR("Could not allocate output buffer");
+        return PLIST_ERR_NO_MEM;
+    }
+
+    res = node_to_json(plist, &outbuf, 0, prettify);
+    if (res < 0) {
+        str_buf_free(outbuf);
+        *json = NULL;
+        *length = 0;
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    str_buf_append(outbuf, "\0", 1);
+
+    *json = outbuf->data;
+    *length = outbuf->len - 1;
+
+    outbuf->data = NULL;
+    str_buf_free(outbuf);
+
+    return PLIST_ERR_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static plist_t parse_primitive(const char* js, jsmntok_t* tokens, int* index)
+{
+    if (tokens[*index].type != JSMN_PRIMITIVE) {
+        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: token type != JSMN_PRIMITIVE\n", __func__);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    plist_t val = NULL;
+    const char* str_val = js + tokens[*index].start;
+    const char* str_end = js + tokens[*index].end;
+    size_t str_len = tokens[*index].end - tokens[*index].start;
+    if (!strncmp("false", str_val, str_len)) {
+        val = plist_new_bool(0);
+    } else if (!strncmp("true", str_val, str_len)) {
+        val = plist_new_bool(1);
+    } else if (!strncmp("null", str_val, str_len)) {
+        plist_data_t data = plist_new_plist_data();
+        data->type = PLIST_NULL;
+        val = plist_new_node(data);
+    } else if (str_val[0] == '-' || isdigit(str_val[0])) {
+        char* endp = NULL;
+        long long intpart = strtol(str_val, &endp, 10);
+        if (endp >= str_end) {
+            /* integer */
+            val = plist_new_uint((uint64_t)intpart);
+        } else if (*endp == '.' && endp+1 < str_end && isdigit(*(endp+1))) {
+            /* float */
+            char* fendp = endp+1;
+            while (isdigit(*fendp) && fendp < str_end) fendp++;
+            if ((fendp > endp+1 && fendp >= str_end) || (fendp+2 < str_end && (*fendp == 'e' || *fendp == 'E') && (*(fendp+1) == '+' || *(fendp+1) == '-') && isdigit(*(fendp+2)))) {
+                double dval = atof(str_val);
+                val = plist_new_real(dval);
+            } else {
+                PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: invalid character at offset %d when parsing floating point value\n", __func__, (int)(fendp - js));
+            }
+        } else {
+            PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: invalid character at offset %d when parsing numerical value\n", __func__, (int)(endp - js));
+        }
+    } else {
+        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: invalid primitive value '%.*s' encountered\n", __func__, (int)str_len, str_val);
+    }
+    (*index)++;
+    return val;
+}
+
+static plist_t parse_string(const char* js, jsmntok_t* tokens, int* index)
+{
+    if (tokens[*index].type != JSMN_STRING) {
+        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: token type != JSMN_STRING\n", __func__);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    const char* str_val = js + tokens[*index].start;
+    size_t str_len = tokens[*index].end - tokens[*index].start;
+    char* strval = strndup(str_val, str_len);
+    plist_t node;
+
+    /* unescape */
+    size_t i = 0;
+    while (i < str_len) {
+        if (strval[i] == '\\' && i < str_len-1) {
+            switch (strval[i+1]) {
+                case '\"': case '/' : case '\\' : case 'b' :
+                case 'f' : case 'r' : case 'n'  : case 't' :
+                    memmove(strval+i, strval+i+1, str_len - (i+1));
+                    str_len--;
+                    switch (strval[i]) {
+                        case 'b':
+                            strval[i] = '\b';
+                            break;
+                        case 'f':
+                            strval[i] = '\f';
+                            break;
+                        case 'r':
+                            strval[i] = '\r';
+                            break;
+                        case 'n':
+                            strval[i] = '\n';
+                            break;
+                        case 't':
+                            strval[i] = '\t';
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            break;
+                    }
+                    break;
+                case 'u': {
+                    unsigned int val = 0;
+                    if (str_len-(i+2) < 4) {
+                        free(strval);
+                        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: invalid escape sequence '%s' (too short)\n", __func__, strval+i);
+                        return NULL;
+                    }
+                    if (!(isxdigit(strval[i+2]) && isxdigit(strval[i+3]) && isxdigit(strval[i+4]) && isxdigit(strval[i+5])) || sscanf(strval+i+2, "%04x", &val) != 1) {
+                        free(strval);
+                        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: invalid escape sequence '%.*s'\n", __func__, 6, strval+i);
+                        return NULL;
+                    }
+                    int bytelen = 0;
+                    if (val >= 0x800) {
+                        /* three bytes */
+                        strval[i]   = (char)(0xE0 + ((val >> 12) & 0xF));
+                        strval[i+1] = (char)(0x80 + ((val >> 6) & 0x3F));
+                        strval[i+2] = (char)(0x80 + (val & 0x3F));
+                        bytelen = 3;
+                    } else if (val >= 0x80) {
+                        /* two bytes */
+                        strval[i]   = (char)(0xC0 + ((val >> 6) & 0x1F));
+                        strval[i+1] = (char)(0x80 + (val & 0x3F));
+                        bytelen = 2;
+                    } else {
+                        /* one byte */
+                        strval[i] = (char)(val & 0x7F);
+                        bytelen = 1;
+                    }
+                    memmove(strval+i+bytelen, strval+i+6, str_len - (i+5));
+                    str_len -= (6-bytelen);
+                }   break;
+                default:
+                    PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: invalid escape sequence '%.*s'\n", __func__, 2, strval+i);
+                    free(strval);
+                    return NULL;
+            }
+        }
+        i++;
+    }
+
+    plist_data_t data = plist_new_plist_data();
+    data->type = PLIST_STRING;
+    data->strval = strval;
+    data->length = str_len;
+    node = plist_new_node(data);
+
+    (*index)++;
+    return node;
+}
+
+static plist_t parse_object(const char* js, jsmntok_t* tokens, int* index);
+
+static plist_t parse_array(const char* js, jsmntok_t* tokens, int* index)
+{
+    if (tokens[*index].type != JSMN_ARRAY) {
+        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: token type != JSMN_ARRAY\n", __func__);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    plist_t arr = plist_new_array();
+    int num_tokens = tokens[*index].size;
+    int num;
+    int j = (*index)+1;
+    for (num = 0; num < num_tokens; num++) {
+        plist_t val = NULL;
+        switch (tokens[j].type) {
+            case JSMN_OBJECT:
+                val = parse_object(js, tokens, &j);
+                break;
+            case JSMN_ARRAY:
+                val = parse_array(js, tokens, &j);
+                break;
+            case JSMN_STRING:
+                val = parse_string(js, tokens, &j);
+                break;
+            case JSMN_PRIMITIVE:
+                val = parse_primitive(js, tokens, &j);
+                break;
+            default:
+                break;
+        }
+        if (val) {
+            plist_array_append_item(arr, val);
+        }
+    }
+    *(index) = j;
+    return arr;
+}
+
+static plist_t parse_object(const char* js, jsmntok_t* tokens, int* index)
+{
+    if (tokens[*index].type != JSMN_OBJECT) {
+        PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: token type != JSMN_OBJECT\n", __func__);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    plist_t obj = plist_new_dict();
+    int num_tokens = tokens[*index].size;
+    int num;
+    int j = (*index)+1;
+    for (num = 0; num < num_tokens; num++) {
+        if (tokens[j].type == JSMN_STRING) {
+            char* key = strndup(js + tokens[j].start, tokens[j].end - tokens[j].start);
+            plist_t val = NULL;
+            j++;
+            num++;
+            switch (tokens[j].type) {
+                case JSMN_OBJECT:
+                    val = parse_object(js, tokens, &j);
+                    break;
+                case JSMN_ARRAY:
+                    val = parse_array(js, tokens, &j);
+                    break;
+                case JSMN_STRING:
+                    val = parse_string(js, tokens, &j);
+                    break;
+                case JSMN_PRIMITIVE:
+                    val = parse_primitive(js, tokens, &j);
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+            if (val) {
+                plist_dict_set_item(obj, key, val);
+            }
+            free(key);
+        } else {
+            PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: keys must be of type STRING\n", __func__);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+    }
+    (*index) = j;
+    return obj;
+}
+
+PLIST_API int plist_from_json(const char *json, uint32_t length, plist_t * plist)
+{
+    if (!plist) {
+        return PLIST_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+    *plist = NULL;
+    if (!json || (length == 0)) {
+        return PLIST_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+
+    jsmn_parser parser;
+    jsmn_init(&parser);
+    int maxtoks = 256;
+    int r = 0;
+    jsmntok_t *tokens = NULL;
+
+    do {
+        jsmntok_t* newtokens = realloc(tokens, sizeof(jsmntok_t)*maxtoks);
+        if (!newtokens) {
+            PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: Out of memory\n", __func__);
+            return PLIST_ERR_NO_MEM;
+        }
+	tokens = newtokens;
+
+        r = jsmn_parse(&parser, json, tokens, maxtoks);
+        if (r == JSMN_ERROR_NOMEM) {
+            maxtoks+=16;
+            continue;
+	}
+    } while (0);
+
+    switch(r) {
+        case JSMN_ERROR_NOMEM:
+            PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: Out of memory...\n", __func__);
+            free(tokens);
+            return PLIST_ERR_NO_MEM;
+        case JSMN_ERROR_INVAL:
+            PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: Invalid character inside JSON string\n", __func__);
+            free(tokens);
+            return PLIST_ERR_PARSE;
+        case JSMN_ERROR_PART:
+            PLIST_JSON_ERR("%s: Incomplete JSON, more bytes expected\n", __func__);
+            free(tokens);
+            return PLIST_ERR_PARSE;
+        default:
+            break;
+    }
+
+    int startindex = 0;
+    switch (tokens[startindex].type) {
+        case JSMN_PRIMITIVE:
+            *plist = parse_primitive(json, tokens, &startindex);
+            break;
+        case JSMN_STRING:
+            *plist = parse_string(json, tokens, &startindex);
+            break;
+        case JSMN_ARRAY:
+            *plist = parse_array(json, tokens, &startindex);
+            break;
+        case JSMN_OBJECT:
+            *plist = parse_object(json, tokens, &startindex);
+            break;
+        default:
+            break;
+    }
+    free(tokens);
+    return PLIST_ERR_SUCCESS;
+}
diff --git a/src/jsmn.c b/src/jsmn.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff7c818
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/jsmn.c
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+/*
+ * jsmn.c
+ * Simple JSON parser
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2010 Serge A. Zaitsev
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include "jsmn.h"
+
+/**
+ * Allocates a fresh unused token from the token pull.
+ */
+static jsmntok_t *jsmn_alloc_token(jsmn_parser *parser,
+		jsmntok_t *tokens, int num_tokens) {
+	jsmntok_t *tok;
+	if (parser->toknext >= num_tokens) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	tok = &tokens[parser->toknext++];
+	tok->start = tok->end = -1;
+	tok->size = 0;
+#ifdef JSMN_PARENT_LINKS
+	tok->parent = -1;
+#endif
+	return tok;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fills token type and boundaries.
+ */
+static void jsmn_fill_token(jsmntok_t *token, jsmntype_t type,
+                            int start, int end) {
+	token->type = type;
+	token->start = start;
+	token->end = end;
+	token->size = 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fills next available token with JSON primitive.
+ */
+static jsmnerr_t jsmn_parse_primitive(jsmn_parser *parser, const char *js,
+		jsmntok_t *tokens, int num_tokens) {
+	jsmntok_t *token;
+	int start;
+
+	start = parser->pos;
+
+	for (; js[parser->pos] != '\0'; parser->pos++) {
+		switch (js[parser->pos]) {
+#ifndef JSMN_STRICT
+			/* In strict mode primitive must be followed by "," or "}" or "]" */
+			case ':':
+#endif
+			case '\t' : case '\r' : case '\n' : case ' ' :
+			case ','  : case ']'  : case '}' :
+				goto found;
+		}
+		if (js[parser->pos] < 32 || js[parser->pos] >= 127) {
+			parser->pos = start;
+			return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+		}
+	}
+#ifdef JSMN_STRICT
+	/* In strict mode primitive must be followed by a comma/object/array */
+	parser->pos = start;
+	return JSMN_ERROR_PART;
+#endif
+
+found:
+	token = jsmn_alloc_token(parser, tokens, num_tokens);
+	if (token == NULL) {
+		parser->pos = start;
+		return JSMN_ERROR_NOMEM;
+	}
+	jsmn_fill_token(token, JSMN_PRIMITIVE, start, parser->pos);
+#ifdef JSMN_PARENT_LINKS
+	token->parent = parser->toksuper;
+#endif
+	parser->pos--;
+	return JSMN_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Filsl next token with JSON string.
+ */
+static jsmnerr_t jsmn_parse_string(jsmn_parser *parser, const char *js,
+		jsmntok_t *tokens, int num_tokens) {
+	jsmntok_t *token;
+
+	int start = parser->pos;
+
+	parser->pos++;
+
+	/* Skip starting quote */
+	for (; js[parser->pos] != '\0'; parser->pos++) {
+		char c = js[parser->pos];
+
+		/* Quote: end of string */
+		if (c == '\"') {
+			token = jsmn_alloc_token(parser, tokens, num_tokens);
+			if (token == NULL) {
+				parser->pos = start;
+				return JSMN_ERROR_NOMEM;
+			}
+			jsmn_fill_token(token, JSMN_STRING, start+1, parser->pos);
+#ifdef JSMN_PARENT_LINKS
+			token->parent = parser->toksuper;
+#endif
+			return JSMN_SUCCESS;
+		}
+
+		/* Backslash: Quoted symbol expected */
+		if (c == '\\') {
+			parser->pos++;
+			switch (js[parser->pos]) {
+				/* Allowed escaped symbols */
+				case '\"': case '/' : case '\\' : case 'b' :
+				case 'f' : case 'r' : case 'n'  : case 't' :
+					break;
+				/* Allows escaped symbol \uXXXX */
+				case 'u':
+					/* TODO */
+					break;
+				/* Unexpected symbol */
+				default:
+					parser->pos = start;
+					return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	parser->pos = start;
+	return JSMN_ERROR_PART;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse JSON string and fill tokens.
+ */
+jsmnerr_t jsmn_parse(jsmn_parser *parser, const char *js, jsmntok_t *tokens,
+		unsigned int num_tokens) {
+	jsmnerr_t r;
+	int i;
+	jsmntok_t *token;
+
+	for (; js[parser->pos] != '\0'; parser->pos++) {
+		char c;
+		jsmntype_t type;
+
+		c = js[parser->pos];
+		switch (c) {
+			case '{': case '[':
+				token = jsmn_alloc_token(parser, tokens, num_tokens);
+				if (token == NULL)
+					return JSMN_ERROR_NOMEM;
+				if (parser->toksuper != -1) {
+					tokens[parser->toksuper].size++;
+#ifdef JSMN_PARENT_LINKS
+					token->parent = parser->toksuper;
+#endif
+				}
+				token->type = (c == '{' ? JSMN_OBJECT : JSMN_ARRAY);
+				token->start = parser->pos;
+				parser->toksuper = parser->toknext - 1;
+				break;
+			case '}': case ']':
+				type = (c == '}' ? JSMN_OBJECT : JSMN_ARRAY);
+#ifdef JSMN_PARENT_LINKS
+				if (parser->toknext < 1) {
+					return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+				}
+				token = &tokens[parser->toknext - 1];
+				for (;;) {
+					if (token->start != -1 && token->end == -1) {
+						if (token->type != type) {
+							return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+						}
+						token->end = parser->pos + 1;
+						parser->toksuper = token->parent;
+						break;
+					}
+					if (token->parent == -1) {
+						break;
+					}
+					token = &tokens[token->parent];
+				}
+#else
+				for (i = parser->toknext - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+					token = &tokens[i];
+					if (token->start != -1 && token->end == -1) {
+						if (token->type != type) {
+							return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+						}
+						parser->toksuper = -1;
+						token->end = parser->pos + 1;
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+				/* Error if unmatched closing bracket */
+				if (i == -1) return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+				for (; i >= 0; i--) {
+					token = &tokens[i];
+					if (token->start != -1 && token->end == -1) {
+						parser->toksuper = i;
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+#endif
+				break;
+			case '\"':
+				r = jsmn_parse_string(parser, js, tokens, num_tokens);
+				if (r < 0) return r;
+				if (parser->toksuper != -1)
+					tokens[parser->toksuper].size++;
+				break;
+			case '\t' : case '\r' : case '\n' : case ':' : case ',': case ' ':
+				break;
+#ifdef JSMN_STRICT
+			/* In strict mode primitives are: numbers and booleans */
+			case '-': case '0': case '1' : case '2': case '3' : case '4':
+			case '5': case '6': case '7' : case '8': case '9':
+			case 't': case 'f': case 'n' :
+#else
+			/* In non-strict mode every unquoted value is a primitive */
+			default:
+#endif
+				r = jsmn_parse_primitive(parser, js, tokens, num_tokens);
+				if (r < 0) return r;
+				if (parser->toksuper != -1)
+					tokens[parser->toksuper].size++;
+				break;
+
+#ifdef JSMN_STRICT
+			/* Unexpected char in strict mode */
+			default:
+				return JSMN_ERROR_INVAL;
+#endif
+
+		}
+	}
+
+	for (i = parser->toknext - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+		/* Unmatched opened object or array */
+		if (tokens[i].start != -1 && tokens[i].end == -1) {
+			return JSMN_ERROR_PART;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return JSMN_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new parser based over a given  buffer with an array of tokens
+ * available.
+ */
+void jsmn_init(jsmn_parser *parser) {
+	parser->pos = 0;
+	parser->toknext = 0;
+	parser->toksuper = -1;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/jsmn.h b/src/jsmn.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f12dc5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/jsmn.h
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+/*
+ * jsmn.h
+ * Simple JSON parser (header file)
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2010 Serge A. Zaitsev
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+#ifndef __JSMN_H_
+#define __JSMN_H_
+
+/**
+ * JSON type identifier. Basic types are:
+ * 	o Object
+ * 	o Array
+ * 	o String
+ * 	o Other primitive: number, boolean (true/false) or null
+ */
+typedef enum {
+	JSMN_PRIMITIVE = 0,
+	JSMN_OBJECT = 1,
+	JSMN_ARRAY = 2,
+	JSMN_STRING = 3
+} jsmntype_t;
+
+typedef enum {
+	/* Not enough tokens were provided */
+	JSMN_ERROR_NOMEM = -1,
+	/* Invalid character inside JSON string */
+	JSMN_ERROR_INVAL = -2,
+	/* The string is not a full JSON packet, more bytes expected */
+	JSMN_ERROR_PART = -3,
+	/* Everything was fine */
+	JSMN_SUCCESS = 0
+} jsmnerr_t;
+
+/**
+ * JSON token description.
+ * @param		type	type (object, array, string etc.)
+ * @param		start	start position in JSON data string
+ * @param		end		end position in JSON data string
+ */
+typedef struct {
+	jsmntype_t type;
+	int start;
+	int end;
+	int size;
+#ifdef JSMN_PARENT_LINKS
+	int parent;
+#endif
+} jsmntok_t;
+
+/**
+ * JSON parser. Contains an array of token blocks available. Also stores
+ * the string being parsed now and current position in that string
+ */
+typedef struct {
+	unsigned int pos; /* offset in the JSON string */
+	int toknext; /* next token to allocate */
+	int toksuper; /* superior token node, e.g parent object or array */
+} jsmn_parser;
+
+/**
+ * Create JSON parser over an array of tokens
+ */
+void jsmn_init(jsmn_parser *parser);
+
+/**
+ * Run JSON parser. It parses a JSON data string into and array of tokens, each describing
+ * a single JSON object.
+ */
+jsmnerr_t jsmn_parse(jsmn_parser *parser, const char *js,
+		jsmntok_t *tokens, unsigned int num_tokens);
+
+#endif /* __JSMN_H_ */
diff --git a/src/plist.c b/src/plist.c
index 61b2913..9f3c8f4 100644
--- a/src/plist.c
+++ b/src/plist.c
@@ -49,17 +49,21 @@
 extern void plist_xml_deinit(void);
 extern void plist_bin_init(void);
 extern void plist_bin_deinit(void);
+extern void plist_json_init(void);
+extern void plist_json_deinit(void);
 
 static void internal_plist_init(void)
 {
     plist_bin_init();
     plist_xml_init();
+    plist_json_init();
 }
 
 static void internal_plist_deinit(void)
 {
     plist_bin_deinit();
     plist_xml_deinit();
+    plist_json_deinit();
 }
 
 #ifdef WIN32
@@ -195,6 +199,8 @@
     }
     if (plist_is_binary(plist_data, length)) {
         res = plist_from_bin(plist_data, length, plist);
+    } else if (plist_data[0] == '[' || plist_data[0] == '{') {
+        res = plist_from_json(plist_data, length, plist);
     } else {
         res = plist_from_xml(plist_data, length, plist);
     }
diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index 3fca55f..b70a85d 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 noinst_PROGRAMS = \
 	plist_cmp \
 	plist_test \
-	plist_btest
+	plist_btest \
+	plist_jtest
 
 plist_cmp_SOURCES = plist_cmp.c
 plist_cmp_LDADD = \
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@
 plist_btest_SOURCES = plist_btest.c
 plist_btest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/src/libplist-2.0.la
 
+plist_jtest_SOURCES = plist_jtest.c
+plist_jtest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/src/libplist-2.0.la
+
 TESTS = \
 	empty.test \
 	small.test \
@@ -45,7 +49,10 @@
 	offsetsize.test \
 	refsize.test \
 	malformed_dict.test \
-	uid.test
+	uid.test \
+	json1.test \
+	json2.test \
+	json-invalid-types.test
 
 EXTRA_DIST = \
 	$(TESTS) \
@@ -89,7 +96,9 @@
 	data/signedunsigned.plist \
 	data/unsigned.bplist \
 	data/unsigned.plist \
-	data/uid.bplist
+	data/uid.bplist \
+	data/data.bplist \
+	data/j1.plist
 
 TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = \
 	top_srcdir=$(top_srcdir) \
diff --git a/test/amp.test b/test/amp.test
index 0815391..76b32ff 100755
--- a/test/amp.test
+++ b/test/amp.test
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 ## -*- sh -*-
 
-set -e
-
 DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
 TESTFILE=amp.plist
 DATAIN0=$DATASRC/$TESTFILE
@@ -9,6 +7,10 @@
 
 rm -rf $DATAOUT0
 $top_builddir/tools/plistutil -i $DATAIN0 -o $DATAOUT0
-if test -f $DATAOUT0; then
+
+# test succeeds if plistutil fails
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
   exit 1
+else
+  exit 0
 fi
diff --git a/test/data/data.bplist b/test/data/data.bplist
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..955993f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/data.bplist
Binary files differ
diff --git a/test/data/j1.plist b/test/data/j1.plist
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ae9acb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/j1.plist
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"test":[1,1],"foo":[[1],[1],[1],[1],[[1],[1],[1],[1],[[1],[1],[1],[1]]]],"more":{"a":"yo","b":[{"c":0.25},{"a":"yo","b":[{"c":0.25},{"a":"yo","b":[{"c":0.25}]}]}]}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/invalid_tag.test b/test/invalid_tag.test
index 079bcdd..2c42a53 100755
--- a/test/invalid_tag.test
+++ b/test/invalid_tag.test
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 ## -*- sh -*-
 
-set -e
-
 DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
 TESTFILE=invalid_tag.plist
 DATAIN0=$DATASRC/$TESTFILE
@@ -9,6 +7,10 @@
 
 rm -rf $DATAOUT0
 $top_builddir/tools/plistutil -i $DATAIN0 -o $DATAOUT0
-if test -f $DATAOUT0; then
+
+# test succeeds if plistutil fails
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
   exit 1
+else
+  exit 0
 fi
diff --git a/test/json-invalid-types.test b/test/json-invalid-types.test
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0397c05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/json-invalid-types.test
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+## -*- sh -*-
+
+DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
+DATAOUT=$top_builddir/test/data
+TESTFILE0=data.bplist
+TESTFILE1=7.plist
+TESTFILE2=uid.bplist
+
+if ! test -d "$DATAOUT"; then
+	mkdir -p $DATAOUT
+fi
+
+export PLIST_JSON_DEBUG=1
+
+echo "Converting (failure expected)"
+STDERR=`$top_builddir/tools/plistutil -f json -i $DATASRC/$TESTFILE0 -o /dev/null 2>&1`
+echo "$STDERR"
+if ! echo "$STDERR" |grep "PLIST_DATA type is not valid for JSON format"; then
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Converting (failure expected)"
+STDERR=`$top_builddir/tools/plistutil -f json -i $DATASRC/$TESTFILE1 -o /dev/null 2>&1`
+echo "$STDERR"
+if ! echo "$STDERR" |grep "PLIST_DATE type is not valid for JSON format"; then
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+echo "Converting (failure expected)"
+STDERR=`$top_builddir/tools/plistutil -f json -i $DATASRC/$TESTFILE2 -o /dev/null 2>&1`
+echo "$STDERR"
+if ! echo "$STDERR" |grep "PLIST_UID type is not valid for JSON format"; then
+  exit 3
+fi
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/test/json1.test b/test/json1.test
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..dba4912
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/json1.test
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+## -*- sh -*-
+
+set -e
+
+DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
+DATAOUT=$top_builddir/test/data
+TESTFILE=j1.plist
+
+if ! test -d "$DATAOUT"; then
+	mkdir -p $DATAOUT
+fi
+
+export PLIST_JSON_DEBUG=1
+
+echo "Converting"
+$top_builddir/test/plist_jtest $DATASRC/$TESTFILE $DATAOUT/$TESTFILE.out
+
+echo "Comparing"
+$top_builddir/test/plist_cmp $DATASRC/$TESTFILE $DATAOUT/$TESTFILE.out
diff --git a/test/json2.test b/test/json2.test
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..06a7007
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/json2.test
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+## -*- sh -*-
+
+set -e
+
+DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
+DATAOUT=$top_builddir/test/data
+TESTFILE=entities.plist
+
+if ! test -d "$DATAOUT"; then
+	mkdir -p $DATAOUT
+fi
+
+export PLIST_JSON_DEBUG=1
+
+echo "Converting input file to JSON"
+$top_builddir/tools/plistutil -f json -i $DATASRC/$TESTFILE -o $DATASRC/$TESTFILE.json
+
+echo "Converting to binary and back to JSON"
+$top_builddir/test/plist_jtest $DATASRC/$TESTFILE.json $DATAOUT/$TESTFILE.json.out
+
+echo "Comparing"
+$top_builddir/test/plist_cmp $DATASRC/$TESTFILE $DATAOUT/$TESTFILE.json.out
diff --git a/test/malformed_dict.test b/test/malformed_dict.test
index f45ae7e..cbad2bd 100755
--- a/test/malformed_dict.test
+++ b/test/malformed_dict.test
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 ## -*- sh -*-
 
-set -e
-
 DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
 TESTFILE=malformed_dict.bplist
 DATAIN0=$DATASRC/$TESTFILE
@@ -9,3 +7,9 @@
 
 $top_builddir/tools/plistutil -i $DATAIN0 -o $DATAOUT0
 
+# test succeeds if plistutil fails
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
+  exit 1
+else
+  exit 0
+fi
diff --git a/test/plist_cmp.c b/test/plist_cmp.c
index c854446..85b92ee 100644
--- a/test/plist_cmp.c
+++ b/test/plist_cmp.c
@@ -126,11 +126,15 @@
 
     if (memcmp(plist_1, "bplist00", 8) == 0)
         plist_from_bin(plist_1, size_in1, &root_node1);
+    else if (plist_1[0] == '[' || plist_1[0] == '{')
+        plist_from_json(plist_1, size_in1, &root_node1);
     else
         plist_from_xml(plist_1, size_in1, &root_node1);
 
     if (memcmp(plist_2, "bplist00", 8) == 0)
         plist_from_bin(plist_2, size_in2, &root_node2);
+    else if (plist_2[0] == '[' || plist_2[0] == '{')
+        plist_from_json(plist_2, size_in2, &root_node2);
     else
         plist_from_xml(plist_2, size_in2, &root_node2);
 
diff --git a/test/plist_jtest.c b/test/plist_jtest.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..130e3c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plist_jtest.c
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+/*
+ * backup_test.c
+ * source libplist regression test
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2009 Jonathan Beck All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+
+#include "plist/plist.h"
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+
+#ifdef _MSC_VER
+#pragma warning(disable:4996)
+#endif
+
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    FILE *iplist = NULL;
+    plist_t root_node1 = NULL;
+    plist_t root_node2 = NULL;
+    char *plist_json = NULL;
+    char *plist_json2 = NULL;
+    char *plist_bin = NULL;
+    int size_in = 0;
+    uint32_t size_out = 0;
+    uint32_t size_out2 = 0;
+    char *file_in = NULL;
+    char *file_out = NULL;
+    struct stat *filestats = (struct stat *) malloc(sizeof(struct stat));
+    if (argc != 3)
+    {
+        printf("Wrong input\n");
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    file_in = argv[1];
+    file_out = argv[2];
+    //read input file
+    iplist = fopen(file_in, "rb");
+
+    if (!iplist)
+    {
+        printf("File does not exists\n");
+        return 2;
+    }
+    printf("File %s is open\n", file_in);
+    stat(file_in, filestats);
+    size_in = filestats->st_size;
+    plist_json = (char *) malloc(sizeof(char) * (size_in + 1));
+    fread(plist_json, sizeof(char), size_in, iplist);
+    fclose(iplist);
+    plist_json[size_in] = 0;
+
+    //convert one format to another
+    plist_from_json(plist_json, size_in, &root_node1);
+    if (!root_node1)
+    {
+        printf("PList JSON parsing failed\n");
+        return 3;
+    }
+
+    printf("PList JSON parsing succeeded\n");
+    plist_to_bin(root_node1, &plist_bin, &size_out);
+    if (!plist_bin)
+    {
+        printf("PList BIN writing failed\n");
+        return 4;
+    }
+
+    printf("PList BIN writing succeeded\n");
+    plist_from_bin(plist_bin, size_out, &root_node2);
+    if (!root_node2)
+    {
+        printf("PList BIN parsing failed\n");
+        return 5;
+    }
+
+    printf("PList BIN parsing succeeded\n");
+    plist_to_json(root_node2, &plist_json2, &size_out2, 0);
+    if (!plist_json2)
+    {
+        printf("PList JSON writing failed\n");
+        return 8;
+    }
+
+    printf("PList JSON writing succeeded\n");
+    if (plist_json2)
+    {
+        FILE *oplist = NULL;
+        oplist = fopen(file_out, "wb");
+        fwrite(plist_json2, size_out2, sizeof(char), oplist);
+        fclose(oplist);
+    }
+
+    plist_free(root_node1);
+    plist_free(root_node2);
+    free(plist_bin);
+    free(plist_json);
+    free(plist_json2);
+    free(filestats);
+
+    if ((uint32_t)size_in != size_out2)
+    {
+        printf("Size of input and output is different\n");
+        printf("Input size : %i\n", size_in);
+        printf("Output size : %i\n", size_out2);
+    }
+
+    //success
+    return 0;
+}
+
diff --git a/test/recursion.test b/test/recursion.test
index 0120a12..9946d81 100755
--- a/test/recursion.test
+++ b/test/recursion.test
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 ## -*- sh -*-
 
-set -e
-
 DATASRC=$top_srcdir/test/data
 TESTFILE=recursion.bplist
 DATAIN0=$DATASRC/$TESTFILE
@@ -9,3 +7,9 @@
 
 $top_builddir/tools/plistutil -i $DATAIN0 -o $DATAOUT0
 
+# test succeeds if plistutil fails
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
+  exit 1
+else
+  exit 0
+fi
diff --git a/tools/plistutil.c b/tools/plistutil.c
index 71972f9..bd83e92 100644
--- a/tools/plistutil.c
+++ b/tools/plistutil.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 typedef struct _options
 {
     char *in_file, *out_file;
-    uint8_t debug, in_fmt, out_fmt; // fmts 0 = undef, 1 = bin, 2 = xml, 3 = json someday
+    uint8_t debug, in_fmt, out_fmt; // fmts 0 = undef, 1 = bin, 2 = xml, 3 = json
 } options_t;
 
 static void print_usage(int argc, char *argv[])
@@ -50,14 +50,19 @@
     name = strrchr(argv[0], '/');
     printf("Usage: %s [OPTIONS] [-i FILE] [-o FILE]\n", (name ? name + 1: argv[0]));
     printf("\n");
-    printf("Convert a plist FILE from binary to XML format or vice-versa.\n");
+    printf("Convert a plist FILE between binary, XML, and JSON format.\n");
+    printf("If -f is omitted, XML plist data will be converted to binary and vice-versa.\n");
+    printf("To convert to/from JSON the output format needs to be specified.\n");
     printf("\n");
     printf("OPTIONS:\n");
-    printf("  -i, --infile FILE       Optional FILE to convert from or stdin if - or not used\n");
-    printf("  -o, --outfile FILE      Optional FILE to convert to or stdout if - or not used\n");
-    printf("  -f, --format [bin|xml]  Force output format, regardless of input type\n");
-    printf("  -d, --debug             Enable extended debug output\n");
-    printf("  -v, --version           Print version information\n");
+    printf("  -i, --infile FILE    Optional FILE to convert from or stdin if - or not used\n");
+    printf("  -o, --outfile FILE   Optional FILE to convert to or stdout if - or not used\n");
+    printf("  -f, --format FORMAT  Force output format, regardless of input type\n");
+    printf("                       FORMAT is one of xml, bin, or json\n");
+    printf("                       If omitted XML will be converted to binary,\n");
+    printf("                       and binary to XML.\n");
+    printf("  -d, --debug          Enable extended debug output\n");
+    printf("  -v, --version        Print version information\n");
     printf("\n");
     printf("Homepage:    <" PACKAGE_URL ">\n");
     printf("Bug Reports: <" PACKAGE_BUGREPORT ">\n");
@@ -105,8 +110,10 @@
                 options->out_fmt = 1;
             } else if (!strncmp(argv[i+1], "xml", 3)) {
                 options->out_fmt = 2;
+            } else if (!strncmp(argv[i+1], "json", 4)) {
+                options->out_fmt = 3;
             } else {
-                printf("ERROR: Unsupported output format\n");
+                fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Unsupported output format\n");
                 free(options);
                 return NULL;
             }
@@ -129,7 +136,7 @@
         }
         else
         {
-            printf("ERROR: Invalid option '%s'\n", argv[i]);
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Invalid option '%s'\n", argv[i]);
             free(options);
             return NULL;
         }
@@ -140,6 +147,7 @@
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+    int ret = 0;
     FILE *iplist = NULL;
     plist_t root_node = NULL;
     char *plist_out = NULL;
@@ -162,7 +170,7 @@
         plist_entire = malloc(sizeof(char) * read_capacity);
         if(plist_entire == NULL)
         {
-            printf("ERROR: Failed to allocate buffer to read from stdin");
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Failed to allocate buffer to read from stdin");
             free(options);
             return 1;
         }
@@ -176,7 +184,7 @@
                 plist_entire = realloc(plist_entire, sizeof(char) * read_capacity);
                 if (plist_entire == NULL)
                 {
-                    printf("ERROR: Failed to reallocate stdin buffer\n");
+                    fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Failed to reallocate stdin buffer\n");
                     free(old);
                     free(options);
                     return 1;
@@ -190,7 +198,7 @@
             plist_entire = realloc(plist_entire, sizeof(char) * (read_capacity+1));
             if (plist_entire == NULL)
             {
-                printf("ERROR: Failed to reallocate stdin buffer\n");
+                fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Failed to reallocate stdin buffer\n");
                 free(old);
                 free(options);
                 return 1;
@@ -201,14 +209,14 @@
         // Not positive we need this, but it doesnt seem to hurt lol
         if(ferror(stdin))
         {
-            printf("ERROR: reading from stdin.\n");
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: reading from stdin.\n");
             free(plist_entire);
             free(options);
             return 1;
         }
 
         if (read_size < 8) {
-            printf("ERROR: Input file is too small to contain valid plist data.\n");
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Input file is too small to contain valid plist data.\n");
             free(plist_entire);
             free(options);
             return 1;
@@ -219,7 +227,7 @@
         // read input file
         iplist = fopen(options->in_file, "rb");
         if (!iplist) {
-            printf("ERROR: Could not open input file '%s': %s\n", options->in_file, strerror(errno));
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Could not open input file '%s': %s\n", options->in_file, strerror(errno));
             free(options);
             return 1;
         }
@@ -228,7 +236,7 @@
         fstat(fileno(iplist), &filestats);
 
         if (filestats.st_size < 8) {
-            printf("ERROR: Input file is too small to contain valid plist data.\n");
+            fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Input file is too small to contain valid plist data.\n");
             free(options);
             fclose(iplist);
             return -1;
@@ -240,7 +248,7 @@
     }
 
     if (options->out_fmt == 0) {
-        // convert from binary to xml or vice-versa<br>
+        // convert from binary to xml or vice-versa
         if (plist_is_binary(plist_entire, read_size))
         {
             plist_from_bin(plist_entire, read_size, &root_node);
@@ -254,29 +262,13 @@
     }
     else
     {
+        plist_from_memory(plist_entire, read_size, &root_node);
         if (options->out_fmt == 1) {
-            if (plist_is_binary(plist_entire, read_size))
-            {
-                plist_out = malloc(sizeof(char) * read_size);
-                memcpy(plist_out, plist_entire, read_size);
-                size = read_size;
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                plist_from_xml(plist_entire, read_size, &root_node);
-                plist_to_bin(root_node, &plist_out, &size);
-            }
+            plist_to_bin(root_node, &plist_out, &size);
         } else if (options->out_fmt == 2) {
-            if (plist_is_binary(plist_entire, read_size)) {
-                plist_from_bin(plist_entire, read_size, &root_node);
-                plist_to_xml(root_node, &plist_out, &size);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                plist_out = malloc(sizeof(char) * read_size);
-                memcpy(plist_out, plist_entire, read_size);
-                size = read_size;
-            }
+            plist_to_xml(root_node, &plist_out, &size);
+        } else if (options->out_fmt == 3) {
+            plist_to_json(root_node, &plist_out, &size, 0);
         }
     }
     plist_free(root_node);
@@ -288,7 +280,7 @@
         {
             FILE *oplist = fopen(options->out_file, "wb");
             if (!oplist) {
-                printf("ERROR: Could not open output file '%s': %s\n", options->out_file, strerror(errno));
+                fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Could not open output file '%s': %s\n", options->out_file, strerror(errno));
                 free(options);
                 return 1;
             }
@@ -301,9 +293,11 @@
 
         free(plist_out);
     }
-    else
-        printf("ERROR: Failed to convert input file.\n");
+    else {
+        fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Failed to convert input file.\n");
+        ret = 2;
+    }
 
     free(options);
-    return 0;
+    return ret;
 }