Prepare a GAE model for serialisation

serialise.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import logging
import urllib

def serialise_model(m, d):
    # let's serialise this bad boy
    ps = m.properties()
    
    # check if we're dealing with a list or not
    if isinstance( d, list ):
        # prepare list for return
        r = [ ]
        
        # cycle through the list
        for i in d:
            r.append( _serialise_model_cycle( ps, i ) )
        
        # return list
        return r
        
    else:
        # just cycle through the data
        return _serialise_model_cycle( ps, d )
    

def _serialise_model_cycle(ps, d):
    # prepare the return dict
    r = { }
    
    # we cycle through the properties of the model
    for k, p in ps.iteritems():
        v = getattr( d, k )
        
        # if the value isn't empty, we add it to the list
        if v is not None and v != '':
            # check if we can escape the value
            if isinstance( v, bool ) is False:
                v = urllib.unquote_plus( v )
            
            # set the value
            r[ k ] = v
        
    
    # don't forget the key
    r[ 'key' ] = str( d.key() )
    
    # return the data
    return r