DinoBytes

DinoBytes is a dynamic serialization framework designed to simplify network communication by providing a robust set of tools for serializing and deserializing messages using the MessagePack format. With its easy-to-use decorator and base class, DinoBytes makes defining and handling network messages both efficient and intuitive, suitable for applications ranging from simple messaging systems to complex distributed architectures.

Features

• Automatic Message Type Registration: Utilizes a decorator to automatically register class types and assign unique identifiers, ensuring a smooth serialization and deserialization process.
• Simplified Serialization: Offers a straightforward method (to_bytes) for converting class objects into serialized bytes.
• Effortless Deserialization: Allows for easy conversion of bytes back into class objects using the from_bytes method, facilitating quick and reliable class parsing.
• Streamlined Message Definition: Leverages Python's dataclass decorator within the custom dbyte decorator to reduce boilerplate and enhance readability when defining new class types.
• Message Registry: Automatically maintains a registry of class types, simplifying the process of managing different kinds of network messages within your application.

Installation

Install DinoBytes using pip:

pip install dinobytes

Quick Start

Defining a Message

from dinobytes import dbyte

@dbyte
class MyMessage:
    content: str

Serializing a Message

message = MyMessage(content="Hello, DinoBytes!")
serialized_message = message.to_bytes() # or bytes(message)

Deserializing a Message

received_message = MyMessage.from_bytes(serialized_message)
print(received_message.content)  # Output: Hello, DinoBytes!

The unpackd convenience method can also be used to automatically unpack into the correct type:

from dinobytes import unpackd

received_message = unpackd(serialized_message)
print(received_message.content)  # Output: Hello, DinoBytes!

More examples

from dataclasses import dataclass

from dinobytes import dbyte, unpackd

@dbyte
class Parent:
  def __init__(self, children: list[Child] | None =None):
    self.children = children or []

  def __repr__(self):
    return f"Parent(children={self.children})"

@dbyte
@dataclass
class Child:
  name:str = '<default>'

parent = Parent()
child = Child(name="Jimothy")

parent.children.append(child)

serialized = bytes(parent)
print(serialized)
print(unpackd(serialized))

Output:

b'\x92\x00\x91\xc4\n\x92\x01\xa7Jimothy'
Parent(children=[Child(name='Jimothy')])

---

from dataclasses import dataclass

from dinobytes import dbyte, unpackd


@dbyte
@dataclass
class ClassA:
  value: int

@dbyte
@dataclass
class ClassB:
  value: str

@dbyte
@dataclass
class ClassC:
  value:list[int]


classA = ClassA(1)
classB = ClassB('hello')
classC = ClassC([1,2,3])

for x in [
  bytes(classB),
  bytes(classC),
  bytes(classA)
]:
  match unpackd(x):
    case ClassA(value):
      print(f'ClassA: {value=}')
    case ClassB(value):
      print(f'ClassB: {value=}')
    case ClassC(value):
      print(f'ClassC: {value=}')
    case _:
      print('unknown class')

Output:

ClassB: value='hello'
ClassC: value=[1, 2, 3]
ClassA: value=1

Contributing

Contributions to DinoBytes are welcome! Whether it's bug reports, feature requests, or code contributions, please feel free to reach out or submit a pull request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

License

DinoBytes is released under the Apache 2.0 License. See the LICENSE file for more details.