This function parses a string representation of an object (written in dot notation) into an actual object.

gistfile1.js

#!/usr/bin/env node

// Parses a string representation of a nested object (of arbitrary depth) into
// a "proper" object.
function vivify(str) {

  return str.split('.').reduceRight(function(a, b) {
    var c = {};

    if (typeof a === 'string') {
      var x = {};
      x[a]  = {};
      c[b]  = x;
    }
    
    else {
      c[b]  = a;
    }

    return c;
  });
}

// A String representation of an object that we'd like to vivify:
var dots = 'one.two.three.four';

// Vivify
console.log(vivify(dots));

// Outputs: { one: { two: { three: { four: {} } } } }