addict - the Python Dict that's better than heroin.

addict is a Python module that gives you a dictionary whos values are both gettable and settable using both attribute and getitem syntax.

Never again will you have to write code like this:

body = {
    'query': {
        'filtered': {
            'query': {
                'match': {'description': 'addictive'}
            },
            'filter': {
                'term': {'created_by': 'Mats'}
            }
        }
    }
}

From now on, you may simply write the following three lines:

body = Dict()
body.query.filtered.query.match.description = 'addictive'
body.query.filtered.filter.term.created_by = 'Mats'

###Installing To install simply type

pip install addict

###Usage addict inherits from dict, but is way more flexible in terms of accessing and setting it's values. Working with dictionaries have never been more awesome than this! Setting the items of a nested Dict is a dream:

>>> from addict import Dict
>>> my_new_shiny_dict = Dict()
>>> my_new_shiny_dict.a.b.c.d.e = 2
>>> my_new_shiny_dict
{'a': {'b': {'c': 'd': {'e': 2}}}}

###Pruning It behaves much like a defaultdict, in the way that trying to get a nonexistent key will return a new, empty Dict instance. So trying to peek at an empty item will result in

>>> my_dict = Dict()
>>> my_dict.a = 2
>>> my_dict.b.c.d.e
{}
>>> my_dict
{'a': 2, 'b': {'c': 'd': {'e': {}}}}

But don't you worry, if you by mistake added some empty Dicts in your Dict, you can recursively delete those by running .prune() on your Dict

>>> my_dict.prune()
{'a': 2}

Also, remember that ints are not valid attribute names, so keys of the dict that are not strings must be set/get with the get-/setitem syntax

>>> my_other_shiny_dict = Dict()
>>> my_other_shiny_dict.a.b.c.d.e = 2
>>> my_other_shiny_dict[2] = [1, 2, 3]
{2: [1, 2, 3], 'a': {'b': {'c': 'd': {'e': 2}}}}

However feel free to mix the two syntaxes:

>>> my_other_shiny_dict.a.b['c'].d.e
2

###When is this especially useful?

This module rose from the entirely tiresome creation of elasticsearch queries in Python. Whenever you find yourself writing out dicts over multiple lines, just remember that you don't have to. Use a Dict instead.

###Perks As it is essentially a dict, it will also serialize into JSON perfectly. Ready for use with hopefully all other libraries that handles dicts.

###Testimonials @spiritsack - "Mother of God, this changes everything."