Various tools, including:

dictlib.union()

>>> dict3 = dictlib.union(dict1, dict2)
>>> dict3 = dictlib.union_copy(dict1, dict2)

Deep union of dict2 into dict1, where dictionary values are recursively merged. Non-dictionary elements are replaced, with preference given to dict2.

This alters dict1, which is the returned result, but it will have references to both dictionaries. If you do not want this, use union_copy(), which is less efficient but data-safe.

dictlib.dig()

Recursively pull from a dictionary, using dot notation.

>>> dictlib.dig({"a":{"b":{"c":1}}}, "a.b.c")
1
>>> dictlib.dig({"a":{"b":[{"c":1},{"d":2}]}}, "a.b[1].d")
2
>>> dictlib.dig({"a":{"b":{"c":1}}}, "a.b.d")
Traceback:...

There is also dig_get(), which allows for a default, similar to dict.get:

>>> dictlib.dig_get({"a":{"b":{"c":1}}}, "a.b.c", 2)
1
>>> dictlib.dig_get({"a":{"b":{"c":1}}}, "a.b.d", 2)
2

dictlib.dug()

Inverse of dig, puts an item into a nested dictionary, using dot notation. This does not behave functionally, it alters the origin dictionary.

>>> test = {"a":{"b":{"c":1}}}
>>> dug(test, "a.b.c", 200)
>>> test
{'a': {'b': {'c': 200}}}

dictlib.Obj()

Represent a dictionary in object form, while handling tokenizable keys, and can export to original form. Recursive.

Not python zen because it provides an alternate way to use dictionaries. But I'm okay with this, becuase it is handy.

Limitations:

• raises error if there is a name conflict with reserved words
• reserves the prefix \f$\f for internal use (raises error)
• because of namespace conflict problems, this is a deal breaker for universal use--you must be cautious on what keys are input.
• Two keys exist for each non-tokenized name, such as ugly var!, which is tokenized to ugly_var_. While both exist, if exporting to original object only the value of the tokenized name is used.

Examples:

>>> dictlib.Obj(key1=1, a=2)
{'key1': 1, 'a': 2}
>>> test_dict = {"a":{"b":1,"ugly var!":2}, "c":3}
>>> test_obj = dictlib.Obj(**test_dict)
>>> orig_obj = test_obj.copy() # referenced later
>>> test_obj.keys()
['a', 'c']
>>> 'a' in test_obj
True
>>> test_obj.get('c')
3
>>> test_obj['c']
3
>>> test_obj.c
3
>>> test_obj.c = 4
>>> test_obj.c
4
>>> test_obj.a.b
1
>>> test_obj.a.ugly_var_
2
>>> test_obj.a['ugly var!']
2
>>> test_obj.__original__()
{'a': {'b': 1, 'ugly var!': 2}, 'c': 4}