Flatten array of integers

flatten.go

// Flatten integers array
//
// This simple utility flattens an arbitrarily nested array of integers.
// Example: [[1,2,[3]],4] -> [1,2,3,4]
//
// Example usage:
//   $ ./flatten '[1,2,[4,5,[6],12],14]'
//   [1 2 4 5 6 12 14]
//
// If no argument is provided, an example data is used: [[1,2,[3]],4]

package main

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"os"
)

type nestedArr []interface{}

func main() {
	// Determine the input string: either the default one, or the first argument,
	// if provided
	str := `[[1,2,[3]],4]`
	if len(os.Args) >= 2 {
		str = os.Args[1]
	}

	// Unmarshal input string
	var nested nestedArr
	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(str), &nested)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println("invalid data: argument must be an array of integers")
		os.Exit(1)
	}

	// Flatten array and print the result
	flat, err := flattenIntArr(nested)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err.Error())
		os.Exit(1)
	}
	fmt.Println(flat)
}

// flattenIntArr flattens array of integers. Example: [[1,2,[3]],4] -> [1,2,3,4]
func flattenIntArr(nested nestedArr) ([]int, error) {
	var ret []int

	// Iterate all items in the input array (items should be either integers or
	// other arrays)
	for _, cur := range nested {
		switch val := cur.(type) {

		case float64:
			// Current item is a number: check if it's an integer, and if so, append it
			// to the resulting array
			intval := int(val)
			if float64(intval) != val {
				return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid data: %f is not an integer", val)
			}
			ret = append(ret, intval)

		case []interface{}:
			// Current item is an array: call flattenIntArr() recursively
			flat, err := flattenIntArr(val)
			if err != nil {
				return nil, err
			}
			ret = append(ret, flat...)

		default:
			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid data: %v is neither an integer nor array", val)
		}
	}
	return ret, nil
}