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# Command line tool

`asdf` includes a command-line tool, `asdftool` that performs a number of useful operations:

> - `explode`: Convert a self-contained ASDF file into exploded form (see Saving external arrays).

> - `implode`: Convert an ASDF file in exploded form into a self-contained file.

> - `defragment`: Remove unused blocks and extra space.

> - `diff`: Report differences between two ASDF files.

> - `edit`: Edit the YAML portion of an ASDF file.

> - `info`: Print a rendering of an ASDF tree.

> - `search`: Search an ASDF file.

> - `extensions`: Show information about installed extensions (see Extensions from other packages).

> - `tags`: List currently available tags.

> - `to_yaml`: Inline all of the data in an ASDF file so that it is pure YAML.

> - `validate`: Validate an ASDF file’s blocks and schema.

Run `asdftool --help` for more information.