gistfile1.txt

# I just ripped off the deep_merge core extension from activesupport.
# The file is 'activesupport-3.0.3/lib/active_support/core_ext/hash/deep_merge.rb'

class Hash
  # Returns a new hash with +self+ and +other_hash+ merged recursively.
  def deep_merge(other_hash)
    dup.deep_merge!(other_hash)
  end

  # Returns a new hash with +self+ and +other_hash+ merged recursively.
  # Modifies the receiver in place.
  def deep_merge!(other_hash)
    other_hash.each_pair do |k,v|
      tv = self[k]
      self[k] = tv.is_a?(Hash) && v.is_a?(Hash) ? tv.deep_merge(v) : v
    end
    self
  end
end

def thingajig hash
  new_hash = {}
  hash.each_pair do |key, value|
    tokens = key.split('.')
    tokens[-1] = Hash[tokens[-1],value]
    nested_hash = tokens.push(Hash[*tokens.pop(2)]) until tokens.length == 1
    new_hash.deep_merge!(nested_hash[0])
  end
  return new_hash
end