deflect
[EXPERIMENTAL] Deflect brings reflection to Rust using DWARF debug info.
Deflect can be used to recover the concrete types of trait objects, inspect the internal state of async generators, and pretty-print arbitrary data.
Example
Use the [Reflect] trait to debug or recursively destructure any value.
pub struct Foo {
a: u8
}
// initialize the debuginfo provider
let context = deflect::default_provider()?;
// create some type-erased data
let erased: Box<dyn Any> = Box::new(Foo { a: 42 });
// cast it to `&dyn Reflect`
let reflectable: &dyn deflect::Reflect = &erased;
// reflect it!
let value: deflect::Value = reflectable.reflect(&context)?;
// pretty-print the reflected value
assert_eq!(value.to_string(), "box Foo { a: 42 }");
// downcast into a `BoxedDyn` value
let value: deflect::value::BoxedDyn = value.try_into()?;
// dereference the boxed value
let value: deflect::Value = value.deref()?;
// downcast into a `Struct` value
let value: deflect::value::Struct = value.try_into()?;
// get the field `a` by name
let Some(field) = value.field("a")? else {
panic!("no field named `a`!")
};
// get the value of the field
let value = field.value()?;
// downcast into a `u8`
let value: u8 = value.try_into()?;
// check that it's equal to `42`!
assert_eq!(value, 42);
See the examples directory of this crate's source for additional examples.
Limitations
The current implementation of [default_provider] only works when DWARF debuginfo is stored in the program's binary. It will not work if DWARF debug info is split into other files. Pull requests are welcome.
This crate is highly experimental. It is not suitable as a critical component of any system. The initial releases of this crate require significant polish. Pull requests are welcome. Its known soundness holes include ignorance of UnsafeCell. Don't reflect into types containing UnsafeCell.
Additionally, the particulars of how Rust encodes DWARF debug info my change over time. This crate will do its best to keep up with those changes. Again, pull requests are welcome.
License
This project is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, or the MIT license, at your option.
Contribution
Unless you explicitly state otherwise, any contribution intentionally submitted for inclusion in deflect by you, shall be licensed as MIT and Apache 2.0, without any additional terms or conditions.
52 Apr 9, 2023
25 Apr 16, 2023
36 May 8, 2023
139 Aug 1, 2023
11 May 1, 2024
18 Sep 23, 2024
19 Nov 16, 2022
19 Nov 16, 2022
15 Oct 12, 2022
21 Nov 17, 2022
22 Jan 3, 2023
4 Jun 9, 2023
125 Oct 29, 2022
13 Dec 25, 2022
17 Jul 12, 2023
3 May 4, 2023
198 Dec 30, 2022
87 Dec 22, 2022
45 Nov 28, 2022
17 Jul 12, 2023
2 Jul 30, 2022
2 Oct 20, 2022
2 May 21, 2022
9 Dec 29, 2022
3 Oct 22, 2022
4 Oct 4, 2022
29 Dec 15, 2022
6 Dec 31, 2022
7 Jan 20, 2023