Alternatives

easytree shares some functionality with other existing libraries, but differs from each in some respect.

collections.defaultdict

The recursive nature of the easytree.dict can be replicated with the native collections.defaultdict.

>>> import collections

>>> recursivedict = lambda: collections.defaultdict(lambda: recursivedict())
>>> data = recursivedict()
>>> data["foo"]["bar"]["baz"] = "Hello world!"
>>> data
{
    "foo": {
        "bar": {
            "baz": "Hello world!"
        }
    }
}

However

1. easytree.dict allows for the dot notation

2. new nodes in an easytree.dict can become a new easytree.dict or easytree.list.

>>> import easytree

>>> data = easytree.dict()
>>> data.foo.bar.baz.append("Hello world!")
>>> data
{
    "foo": {
        "bar": {
            "baz": ["Hello world!"]
        }
    }
}

dictdot

dictdot is an alternative library (see here) which allows for the use of the dot notation.

However

1. easytree allows you to recursively write new nested nodes

Compare:

>>> import easytree

>>> data = easytree.dict()
>>> data.foo.bar.baz = "Hello world!"
>>> data
{
    "foo": {
        "bar": {
            "baz": "Hello world!"
        }
    }
}

with

>>> from dictdot import dictdot

>>> data = dictdot()
>>> data.foo.bar.baz
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'bar'

jsontree

Another competing alternative is jsontree (see here)

However

1. dictionaries and lists, when attached or appended to an easytree.list, are recursively cast as easytree.dict and easytree.list.

Compare:

>>> import easytree

>>> tree = easytree.dict()
>>> tree.friends = [{"name":"David"},{"name":"Celine"}]
>>> tree.friends[0].age = 29 #this works
>>> tree
{
    'friends': [
        {'age': 29, 'name': 'David'},
        {'name': 'Celine'}
    ]
}

with:

>>> import jsontree

>>> tree = jsontree.jsontree()
>>> tree.friends = [{"name":"David"},{"name":"Celine"}]
>>> tree.friends[0].age = 29 #this does not work
AttributeError: 'dict' object has no attribute 'age'

2. easytree.dict and easytree.list objects inherit from the builtin dict and list objects, allowing for seamless integration into existing codebases

>>> data = easytree.dict({"foo":"bar"})
>>> isinstance(data, dict)
True

>>> items = easytree.list([1,2,3])
>>> isinstance(items, list)
True

3. easytree.dict and easytree.list support freezing and sealing.