repr.js

Sick of 99% of objects in your runtime being represented as [object Object]? I sure am. repr takes a leaf out of python's book, and gives some identity to your objects so you can tell what they are without jumping through hoops.

Usage:

in node.js:

require('repr');

... returns the repr function.

In the browser:

<script src="/path/to/repr.js"></script>

... sets the repr global to the repr function.

The repr function can be called directly:

• repr(obj): return a representation of obj (similar to inspect() in ruby, and obviously repr in python)

It also has an install method, to install the function globally:

• install(): Install globally. Takes two optional arguments:

  • install(global, proto): If global is truthy (typically window or global), adds the repr function as a property on global. If proto is truthy (typically Object.prototype), overrides this object's toString method to use repr instead.

  If called without any arguments, it'll install everything - i.e. equivalent to install(global, Object.prototype)

  install returns the repr function itself.

---

Here's some examples:

function Foo() {
  this.x = "123";
}
var f = new Foo();
f.complex = {a: 123, b:456};
f.fun = function() { };


>>> repr(null)
null
>>> repr(undefined)
undefined
>>> repr([1,2,3])
[1, 2, 3]
>>> repr({})
{}
>>> repr({a:"b"})
{"a": "b"}
>>> repr(f)
<# object Foo; "x": "123", "complex": {"a": 123, "b": 456}, "fun": <# anonymous function>>
>>> repr(Foo)
<# function Foo>
>>> repr([1,f,3])
[1, <# object Foo; "x": "123", "complex": {"a": 123, "b": 456}, "fun": <# anonymous function>>, 3]
>>> repr("foo\" bar")
"foo\" bar"

The code ends up dealing with a lot of edge cases, because javascript's type system is basically one big trap. So please report any issues you find, and I'll endeavor to fix them as they come up.