Convert a list to a string and back

python, python-2.7

Solution

JSON!

import json

with open(data_file, 'wb') as dump:
    dump.write(json.dumps(arbitrary_data))

and similarly:

source = open(data_file, 'rb').read()
data = json.loads(source)

Problem

I have a virtual machine which reads instructions from tuples nested within a list like so: ``` [(0,4738),(0,36), (0,6376),(0,0)] ``` When storing this kind of machine code program, a text file is easiest, and has to be written as a string. Which is obviously quite hard to convert back. Is there any module which can read a string into a list/store the list in a readable way? requirements: - Must be human readable in stored form (hence "pickle" is not suitable) - Must be relatively easy to implement

Original source