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154 changes: 77 additions & 77 deletions README.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -56,32 +56,32 @@ ConfiguredSimpleExample.from_json('{"intField": 1}') # ConfiguredSimpleExample(
## Supported types

It's recursive (see caveats below), so you can easily work with nested dataclasses.
In addition to the supported types in the
In addition to the supported types in the
[py to JSON table](https://docs.python.org/3/library/json.html#py-to-json-table), this library supports the following:

- any arbitrary [Collection](https://docs.python.org/3/library/collections.abc.html#collections.abc.Collection) type is supported.
[Mapping](https://docs.python.org/3/library/collections.abc.html#collections.abc.Mapping) types are encoded as JSON objects and `str` types as JSON strings.
Any other Collection types are encoded into JSON arrays, but decoded into the original collection types.

- [datetime](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#available-types)
objects. `datetime` objects are encoded to `float` (JSON number) using
[timestamp](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#datetime.datetime.timestamp).
As specified in the `datetime` docs, if your `datetime` object is naive, it will
assume your system local timezone when calling `.timestamp()`. JSON numbers
corresponding to a `datetime` field in your dataclass are decoded
into a datetime-aware object, with `tzinfo` set to your system local timezone.
Thus, if you encode a datetime-naive object, you will decode into a
datetime-aware object. This is important, because encoding and decoding won't
strictly be inverses. See [this section](#Overriding) if you want to override this default
behavior (for example, if you want to use ISO).

- [UUID](https://docs.python.org/3/library/uuid.html#uuid.UUID) objects. They
are encoded as `str` (JSON string).
[Mapping](https://docs.python.org/3/library/collections.abc.html#collections.abc.Mapping) types are encoded as JSON objects and `str` types as JSON strings.
Any other Collection types are encoded into JSON arrays, but decoded into the original collection types.

- [datetime](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#available-types)
objects. `datetime` objects are encoded to `float` (JSON number) using
[timestamp](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#datetime.datetime.timestamp).
As specified in the `datetime` docs, if your `datetime` object is naive, it will
assume your system local timezone when calling `.timestamp()`. JSON numbers
corresponding to a `datetime` field in your dataclass are decoded
into a datetime-aware object, with `tzinfo` set to your system local timezone.
Thus, if you encode a datetime-naive object, you will decode into a
datetime-aware object. This is important, because encoding and decoding won't
strictly be inverses. See [this section](#overriding) if you want to override this default
behavior (for example, if you want to use ISO).

- [UUID](https://docs.python.org/3/library/uuid.html#uuid.UUID) objects. They
are encoded as `str` (JSON string).

- [Decimal](https://docs.python.org/3/library/decimal.html) objects. They are
also encoded as `str`.
also encoded as `str`.

**The [latest release](https://github.com/lidatong/dataclasses-json/releases/latest) is compatible with both Python 3.7 and Python 3.6 (with the dataclasses backport).**
**The [latest release](https://github.com/lidatong/dataclasses-json/releases/latest) is compatible with Python 3.7.**

## Usage

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -125,12 +125,10 @@ assert Person.from_json(lidatong.to_json()) == lidatong
```

Pick whichever approach suits your taste. Note that there is better support for
the mixin approach when using _static analysis_ tools (e.g. linting, typing),
but the differences in implementation will be invisible in _runtime_ usage.

## How do I...

the mixin approach when using _static analysis_ tools (e.g. linting, typing),
but the differences in implementation will be invisible in _runtime_ usage.

## How do I

### Use my dataclass with JSON arrays or objects?

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -158,7 +156,7 @@ people_json = '[{"name": "lidatong"}]'
Person.schema().loads(people_json, many=True) # [Person(name='lidatong')]
```

**Encode as part of a larger JSON object containing my Data Class (e.g. an HTTP
**Encode as part of a larger JSON object containing my Data Class (e.g. an HTTP
request/response)**

```python
Expand All @@ -173,13 +171,13 @@ response_dict = {
response_json = json.dumps(response_dict)
```

In this case, we do two steps. First, we encode the dataclass into a
**python dictionary** rather than a JSON string, using `.to_dict`.
In this case, we do two steps. First, we encode the dataclass into a
**python dictionary** rather than a JSON string, using `.to_dict`.

Second, we leverage the built-in `json.dumps` to serialize our `dataclass` into
Second, we leverage the built-in `json.dumps` to serialize our `dataclass` into
a JSON string.

**Decode as part of a larger JSON object containing my Data Class (e.g. an HTTP
**Decode as part of a larger JSON object containing my Data Class (e.g. an HTTP
response)**

```python
Expand All @@ -194,16 +192,15 @@ person = Person.from_dict(person_dict)

In a similar vein to encoding above, we leverage the built-in `json` module.

First, call `json.loads` to read the entire JSON object into a
dictionary. We then access the key of the value containing the encoded dict of
First, call `json.loads` to read the entire JSON object into a
dictionary. We then access the key of the value containing the encoded dict of
our `Person` that we want to decode (`response_dict['response']`).

Second, we load in the dictionary using `Person.from_dict`.


### Encode or decode into Python lists/dictionaries rather than JSON?

This can be by calling `.schema()` and then using the corresponding
This can be by calling `.schema()` and then using the corresponding
encoder/decoder methods, ie. `.load(...)`/`.dump(...)`.

**Encode into a single Python dictionary**
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -252,7 +249,7 @@ from dataclasses_json import LetterCase, config, dataclass_json
class Person:
given_name: str
family_name: str

Person('Alice', 'Liddell').to_json() # '{"givenName": "Alice"}'
Person.from_json('{"givenName": "Alice", "familyName": "Liddell"}') # Person('Alice', 'Liddell')

Expand All @@ -262,14 +259,14 @@ Person.from_json('{"givenName": "Alice", "familyName": "Liddell"}') # Person('A
class Person:
given_name: str = field(metadata=config(letter_case=LetterCase.CAMEL))
family_name: str

Person('Alice', 'Liddell').to_json() # '{"givenName": "Alice"}'
# notice how the `family_name` field is still snake_case, because it wasn't configured above
Person.from_json('{"givenName": "Alice", "family_name": "Liddell"}') # Person('Alice', 'Liddell')
```

**This library assumes your field follows the Python convention of snake_case naming.**
If your field is not `snake_case` to begin with and you attempt to parameterize `LetterCase`,
If your field is not `snake_case` to begin with and you attempt to parameterize `LetterCase`,
the behavior of encoding/decoding is undefined (most likely it will result in subtle bugs).

### Encode or decode using a different name
Expand All @@ -291,7 +288,7 @@ Person('Alice').to_json() # {"overriddenGivenName": "Alice"}

### Handle missing or optional field values when decoding?

By default, any fields in your dataclass that use `default` or
By default, any fields in your dataclass that use `default` or
`default_factory` will have the values filled with the provided default, if the
corresponding field is missing from the JSON you're decoding.

Expand All @@ -310,8 +307,8 @@ Student.from_json('{"id": 1}') # Student(id=1, name='student')
Notice `from_json` filled the field `name` with the specified default 'student'
when it was missing from the JSON.

Sometimes you have fields that are typed as `Optional`, but you don't
necessarily want to assign a default. In that case, you can use the
Sometimes you have fields that are typed as `Optional`, but you don't
necessarily want to assign a default. In that case, you can use the
`infer_missing` kwarg to make `from_json` infer the missing field value as `None`.

**Decode optional field without default**
Expand All @@ -326,25 +323,25 @@ class Tutor:
Tutor.from_json('{"id": 1}') # Tutor(id=1, student=None)
```

Personally I recommend you leverage dataclass defaults rather than using
`infer_missing`, but if for some reason you need to decouple the behavior of
Personally I recommend you leverage dataclass defaults rather than using
`infer_missing`, but if for some reason you need to decouple the behavior of
JSON decoding from the field's default value, this will allow you to do so.


### Handle unknown / extraneous fields in JSON?

By default, it is up to the implementation what happens when a `json_dataclass` receives input parameters that are not defined.
(the `from_dict` method ignores them, when loading using `schema()` a ValidationError is raised.)
There are three ways to customize this behavior.

Assume you want to instantiate a dataclass with the following dictionary:

```python
dump_dict = {"endpoint": "some_api_endpoint", "data": {"foo": 1, "bar": "2"}, "undefined_field_name": [1, 2, 3]}
```

1. You can enforce to always raise an error by setting the `undefined` keyword to `Undefined.RAISE`
(`'RAISE'` as a case-insensitive string works as well). Of course it works normally if you don't pass any undefined parameters.
(`'RAISE'` as a case-insensitive string works as well). Of course it works normally if you don't pass any undefined parameters.

```python
from dataclasses_json import Undefined

Expand All @@ -358,8 +355,8 @@ dump = ExactAPIDump.from_dict(dump_dict) # raises UndefinedParameterError
```

2. You can simply ignore any undefined parameters by setting the `undefined` keyword to `Undefined.EXCLUDE`
(`'EXCLUDE'` as a case-insensitive string works as well). Note that you will not be able to retrieve them using `to_dict`:
(`'EXCLUDE'` as a case-insensitive string works as well). Note that you will not be able to retrieve them using `to_dict`:

```python
from dataclasses_json import Undefined

Expand All @@ -374,11 +371,11 @@ dump.to_dict() # {"endpoint": "some_api_endpoint", "data": {"foo": 1, "bar": "2
```

3. You can save them in a catch-all field and do whatever needs to be done later. Simply set the `undefined`
keyword to `Undefined.INCLUDE` (`'INCLUDE'` as a case-insensitive string works as well) and define a field
of type `CatchAll` where all unknown values will end up.
This simply represents a dictionary that can hold anything.
If there are no undefined parameters, this will be an empty dictionary.
keyword to `Undefined.INCLUDE` (`'INCLUDE'` as a case-insensitive string works as well) and define a field
of type `CatchAll` where all unknown values will end up.
This simply represents a dictionary that can hold anything.
If there are no undefined parameters, this will be an empty dictionary.

```python
from dataclasses_json import Undefined, CatchAll

Expand All @@ -394,26 +391,28 @@ dump.to_dict() # {'endpoint': 'some_api_endpoint', 'data': {'foo': 1, 'bar': '2
```

Notes:

- When using `Undefined.INCLUDE`, an `UndefinedParameterError` will be raised if you don't specify
exactly one field of type `CatchAll`.
exactly one field of type `CatchAll`.
- Note that `LetterCase` does not affect values written into the `CatchAll` field, they will be as they are given.
- When specifying a default (or a default factory) for the the `CatchAll`-field, e.g. `unknown_things: CatchAll = None`, the default value will be used instead of an empty dict if there are no undefined parameters.
- Calling __init__ with non-keyword arguments resolves the arguments to the defined fields and writes everything else into the catch-all field.
- Calling **init** with non-keyword arguments resolves the arguments to the defined fields and writes everything else into the catch-all field.

4. All 3 options work as well using `schema().loads` and `schema().dumps`, as long as you don't overwrite it by specifying `schema(unknown=<a marshmallow value>)`.
marshmallow uses the same 3 keywords ['include', 'exclude', 'raise'](https://marshmallow.readthedocs.io/en/stable/quickstart.html#handling-unknown-fields).
marshmallow uses the same 3 keywords ['include', 'exclude', 'raise'](https://marshmallow.readthedocs.io/en/stable/quickstart.html#handling-unknown-fields).

5. All 3 operations work as well using `__init__`, e.g. `UnknownAPIDump(**dump_dict)` will **not** raise a `TypeError`, but write all unknown values to the field tagged as `CatchAll`.
Classes tagged with `EXCLUDE` will also simply ignore unknown parameters. Note that classes tagged as `RAISE` still raise a `TypeError`, and **not** a `UndefinedParameterError` if supplied with unknown keywords.


### Override the default encode / decode / marshmallow field of a specific field?

See [Overriding](#Overriding)
See [Overriding](#overriding)

### Handle recursive dataclasses?

Object hierarchies where fields are of the type that they are declared within require a small
type hinting trick to declare the forward reference.

```python
from typing import Optional
from dataclasses import dataclass
Expand All @@ -428,12 +427,15 @@ class Tree():
```

Avoid using

```python
from __future__ import annotations
```

as it will cause problems with the way dataclasses_json accesses the type annotations.

### Use numpy or pandas types?

Data types specific to libraries commonly used in data analysis and machine learning like [numpy](https://github.com/numpy/numpy) and [pandas](https://github.com/pandas-dev/pandas) are not supported by default, but you can easily enable them by using custom decoders and encoders. Below are two examples for `numpy` and `pandas` types.

```python
Expand All @@ -457,7 +459,7 @@ class DataWithPandas:
data = DataWithPandas.from_dict({"my_df": [{"col1": 1, "col2": 2}, {"col1": 3, "col2": 4}]})
# my_df results in:
# col1 col2
# 1 2
# 1 2
# 3 4
data.to_dict()
# {"my_df": [{"col1": 1, "col2": 2}, {"col1": 3, "col2": 4}]}
Expand All @@ -476,7 +478,6 @@ You can pass in the exact same arguments to `.schema()` that you would when
constructing a `PersonSchema` instance, e.g. `.schema(many=True)`, and they will
get passed through to the marshmallow schema.


```python
from dataclasses import dataclass
from dataclasses_json import dataclass_json
Expand All @@ -493,7 +494,7 @@ class PersonSchema(Schema):
name = fields.Str()
```

Briefly, on what's going on under the hood in the above examples: calling
Briefly, on what's going on under the hood in the above examples: calling
`.schema()` will have this library generate a
[marshmallow schema]('https://marshmallow.readthedocs.io/en/3.0/api_reference.html#schema)
for you. It also fills in the corresponding object hook, so that marshmallow
Expand All @@ -504,7 +505,7 @@ by default in marshmallow.
**Performance note**

`.schema()` is not cached (it generates the schema on every call), so if you
have a nested Data Class you may want to save the result to a variable to
have a nested Data Class you may want to save the result to a variable to
avoid re-generation of the schema on every usage.

```python
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -562,18 +563,18 @@ class DataClassWithIsoDatetime:
accessed_at: date
```

As you can see, you can **override** or **extend** the default codecs by providing a "hook" via a
As you can see, you can **override** or **extend** the default codecs by providing a "hook" via a
callable:

- `encoder`: a callable, which will be invoked to convert the field value when encoding to JSON
- `decoder`: a callable, which will be invoked to convert the JSON value when decoding from JSON
- `mm_field`: a marshmallow field, which will affect the behavior of any operations involving `.schema()`

Note that these hooks will be invoked regardless if you're using
Note that these hooks will be invoked regardless if you're using
`.to_json`/`dump`/`dumps`
and `.from_json`/`load`/`loads`. So apply overrides / extensions judiciously, making sure to
and `.from_json`/`load`/`loads`. So apply overrides / extensions judiciously, making sure to
carefully consider whether the interaction of the encode/decode/mm_field is consistent with what you expect!


#### What if I have other dataclass field extensions that rely on `metadata`

All the `dataclasses_json.config` does is return a mapping, namespaced under the key `'dataclasses_json'`.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -656,21 +657,20 @@ Take a look at [this issue](https://github.com/lidatong/dataclasses-json/issues/
Note this library is still pre-1.0.0 (SEMVER).

The current convention is:

- **PATCH** version upgrades for bug fixes and minor feature additions.
- **MINOR** version upgrades for big API features and breaking changes.

Once this library is 1.0.0, it will follow standard SEMVER conventions.

### Python compatibility
### Python compatibility

Any version that is not listed in the table below we do not test against, though you might still be able to install the library. For future Python versions, please open an issue and/or a pull request, adding them to the CI suite.


| Python version range | Compatible dataclasses-json version |
|----------------------|:-----------------------------------:|
| -------------------- | :---------------------------------: |
| 3.7.x - 3.12.x | 0.5.x - 0.6.x |
| >= 3.13.x | No official support (yet) |

| >= 3.13.x | No official support (yet) |

## Roadmap

Expand All @@ -680,23 +680,23 @@ on performance, and finishing [this issue](https://github.com/lidatong/dataclass
That said, if you think there's a feature missing / something new needed in the
library, please see the contributing section below.


## Contributing

First of all, thank you for being interested in contributing to this library.
I really appreciate you taking the time to work on this project.

- If you're just interested in getting into the code, a good place to start are
issues tagged as bugs.
- If introducing a new feature, especially one that modifies the public API,
consider submitting an issue for discussion before a PR. Please also take a look
at existing issues / PRs to see what you're proposing has already been covered
before / exists.
- If you're just interested in getting into the code, a good place to start are
issues tagged as bugs.
- If introducing a new feature, especially one that modifies the public API,
consider submitting an issue for discussion before a PR. Please also take a look
at existing issues / PRs to see what you're proposing has already been covered
before / exists.
- I like to follow the commit conventions documented [here](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/#summary)

### Setting up your environment

This project uses [Poetry](https://python-poetry.org/) for dependency and venv management. It is quite simple to get ready for your first commit:

- [Install](https://python-poetry.org/docs/#installation) latest stable Poetry
- Navigate to where you cloned `dataclasses-json`
- Run `poetry install`
Expand Down
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