Python-like pickling of full Javascript objects

Question

Is there any serialization framework for Javascript which would retain class and reference information like Python pickles? I.e. one could directly take a prototypial inherited class instance (not just JSON-like data) and serialize it like::

 // Somehow add serialization metadata to classes first  obj = new MyObject();  obj.referred = new MyObject2();  pickle = serializer.dump(obj) // Provides byte stream of the serialized object   

The serializer could take care of

• Encoding class information in the pickle - this should be somehow customizable due to different JS class systems in existence

• Automatically follow and serialize referred objects

• Provide hooks to add custom encoders/decoders for values (dates being the most common case)

This would making internal storing and transferring of complex data structures little bit easier. I am hoping to use this in a game engine. Like with pickles, the deserialization of data would not be possible without the orignal Javascript code providing the class definitions.

What kind of such frameworks exist for Javascript already exist or I am going to need to roll-out a custom system?

Answer 1

It doesn't fit perfectly but you can try to use occamsrazor.js . Doing this you can use JSON serialization:

// this is your costructor function function Circle(attrs){     this.radius = attrs.radius; } Circle.prototype.area = function (){     return this.radius*this.radius*Math.PI; } Circle.prototype.perimeter = function (){     return 2*this.radius*Math.PI; }  // this is a validator function hasRadius(obj){     return radius in obj; }  // this is your factory function objFactory = occamsrazor().addContructor(hasRadius, Circle);  // this is your deserialized object var json = '{"radius": 10}';  // circle now is a full fledged object var circle = objFactory(JSON.parse(json)); 

The drawback is that you don't get a snapshot of an object like using pickle, you recreate a new object. But it may be convenient in some circunstances.