🙀 WAT Inspector

GitHub - PyPI - Documentation

Deep inspection of Python objects.

WAT is a powerful inspection tool that allows you to delve into and examine unknown objects at runtime.

"Wat" is a variant of the English word "what" that is often used to express confusion or disgust

If you find yourself deep within the Python console, feeling dazed and confused, wondering "WAT? What's that thing?", that's where the wat inspector comes in handy.

Start the Python Interpreter (or attach to one) and execute wat / object on any object to investigate its type, formatted value, variables, methods, parent types, signature, documentation, and even its source code. Alternatively, you can use wat(object) syntax.

wat-demo.mp4

Import

Insta-Load

If you want to quickly debug something, you can use this inspector without installing anything, in the same session.

Load it on the fly by pasting this snippet to your Python interpreter:

import base64, zlib
code = b'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'
exec(zlib.decompress(base64.b64decode(code)).decode(), globals())

Now you can use wat object.

Warning

Before executing Insta-Load snippet, it's recommended to verify what you're about to run. If you feel uncomfortable, you can either:

• Verify what's inside the extracted code beforehand:

  print(zlib.decompress(base64.b64decode(code)).decode())

• Paste the content of inspection.py into your interpreter. It has the same effect.
• Install package with pip and review the code.

Install with pip

Alternatively, install wat-inspector package and import inspection tool from wat module:

pip install wat-inspector

import wat

Usage & modifiers

wat object can quickly inspect things by using the division operator (for faster typing without parentheses). A short syntax wat / object is equivalent to wat(object).

You can call wat.modifiers / object with the following modifiers:

• .short or .s to hide attributes (variables and methods)
• .long to show non-abbreviated values and documentation
• .dunder to display dunder attributes
• .code to reveal the source code of a function, method, or class
• .nodocs to hide documentation for functions and classes
• .all to include all available information
• .ret to return the inspected object
• .str to return the output string instead of printing
• .gray to disable colorful output in the console

You can chain modifiers, e.g. wat.long.dunder.nodocs / object.

Call wat.locals or wat() to inspect locals() variables.
Call wat.globals to inspect globals() variables.

Type wat in the interpreter to learn more about this object itself.

There are several alternative syntaxes that are equivalent. Choose the one that works best for you:

wat.short / 'foo'  # fast typing
wat.short('foo')
wat('foo', short=True)  # natural Python syntax
'foo' | wat.short  # Unix piping

Use Cases Examples

Determine type

In a dynamic typing language like Python, it's often hard to determine the type of an object. WAT Inspector can help you with that by showing the name of the type with the module it comes from.

>>> wat.short / (1,)
value: (1,)
type: tuple
len: 1

>>> wat.short / {None}
value: {None}
type: set
len: 1

>>> wat.short / user
str: admin
repr: <User: admin>
type: django.contrib.auth.models.User
parents: django.contrib.auth.models.AbstractUser, django.contrib.auth.base_user.AbstractBaseUser, django.contrib.auth.models.PermissionsMixin, django.db.models.base.Model, django.db.models.utils.AltersData

Now that you've identified the actual type, you can put the type annotations in your code to reduce the confusion.

Look up methods

Listing methods, functions and looking up their signature is extremely beneficial to see how to use them. Plus, you can read their docstrings.

wat / 'stringy'

Use wat.long if you want to see full doscstrings.

Discover function's signature

See the docstrings and the signature of a function or a method to see how to use it.

wat / str.split

Look up attributes

List the attribues and their types to see what's really inside the inspected object.

wat / re.match('(\d)_(.*)', '1_title')

Explore modules

One of the use cases is to explore modules. For instance you can list functions, classes and the sub-modules of a selected module.

import pathlib
wat / pathlib

Then, you can navigate further, e.g. wat / pathlib.fnmatch.

Explore dunder attributes

By default, WAT Inspector hides attributes starting with __. Use wat.dunder to see them.

wat.dunder / {}

Review the code

Look up the source code of a function to see how it really works.

import re
wat.code / re.match

Prettify unreadable collections

import sys
wat.s / sys.modules

This will give you a nicely formatted, indented output, even for nested dictionaries or lists.

Debug with breakpoint

You can use Python's breakpoint() keyword to launch an interactive debugger in your program:

logger.debug('init')
x = {'what is it?'}
breakpoint()
logger.debug('done')

(Pdb) import wat  # or paste insta-load snippet
(Pdb) wat / x  # inspect local variable
...
(Pdb) c  # continue execution

Look up local and global variables

wat.locals
# Local variables:
#   __annotations__: dict = {}
#   __builtins__: module = <module 'builtins' (built-in)>
#   __doc__: NoneType = None
#   __loader__: type = <class '_frozen_importlib.BuiltinImporter'>
#   __name__: str = '__main__'
#   __package__: NoneType = None
#   __spec__: NoneType = None
#   wat: wat.inspection.inspection.Wat = <WAT Inspector object>

wat.globals
# Global variables:
# ...

Learn Python

With these snippets you can better understand Python internals.

wat.s / reversed([])
# value: <list_reverseiterator object at 0x76749d1cb400>
# type: list_reverseiterator

x = (1 << 53) + 1
wat.s / x
# value: 9007199254740993
# type: int
wat.s / (x + 1.0)
# value: 9007199254740992.0
# type: float

x = float("nan")
wat.s / {x, x, float(x), float(x), float("nan"), float("nan")}
# value: {nan, nan, nan}
# type: set
# len: 3

wat.s / 1 ** -1
# value: 1.0
# type: float

from typing import List
wat.s / List[str]
# value: typing.List[str]
# type: typing._GenericAlias
# parents: typing._BaseGenericAlias, typing._Final
# signature: def List(*args, **kwargs)

wat.s / list[str]
# value: list[str]
# type: types.GenericAlias
# signature: def list(*args, **kwargs)

wat(str | None)
# value: str | None
# type: types.UnionType

Explore Python built-ins:

wat / __builtins__

wat / ...
# value: Ellipsis
# type: ellipsis

Environment variables

• WAT_COLOR="false" to disable colorful output in the console.
• WAT_COLOR="true" to enforce colorful outputs even in non-tty environment.