Django: Generate corresponding JSON and rendered template (HTML) views from the same data dictionary.

dict_to_view.py

from django.http import HttpResponse
from django.utils.functional import wraps
from django.template.context import RequestContext
from django.template.loader import get_template
from django.utils import simplejson as json

def dict_to_template_view(**template_args):
    """
    Takes a function that returns a dict and decorates it into a template-rendering view
    """
    template_name = template_args.pop('template_name')
    response_class = template_args.pop('response_class', HttpResponse)

    def outer(func):
        @wraps(func)
        def inner(request, *args, **kwargs):
            dict = func(request, *args, **kwargs)
            context = RequestContext(request, dict)
            template = get_template(template_name)
            return response_class(template.render(context))
        return inner
    return outer

def dict_to_json_view(**json_args):
    """
    Takes a function that returns a dict and decorates it into a JSON-producing view
    """
    indent = json_args.pop('indent', 4)

    def outer(func):
        @wraps(func)
        def inner(request, *args, **kwargs):
            dict = func(request, *args, **kwargs)
            if not dict:
                dict = {}
            return HttpResponse(json.dumps(dict, indent=indent, **json_args), mimetype='application/json')
        return inner
    return outer

views.py

from dict_to_view import dict_to_template_view, dict_to_json_view
from diagnose.models import BodyPart

def body_parts_list_dict(request):
    """
    Returns a dictionary of root-level body parts
    """
    body_parts = BodyPart.objects.filter(depth=1)

    return {
        'count' : body_parts.count(),
        'body_parts' : [dict(name=body_part.name, id=body_part.id) for body_part in body_parts]
    }

@dict_to_template_view(template_name='body_parts/list.html')
def body_part_list_as_html(request):
    """
    A list view of body parts as HTML
    """
    return body_parts_list_dict(request)

@dict_to_json_view(indent=2)
def body_part_list_as_json(request):
    """
    A list view of body parts as JSON
    """
    return body_parts_list_dict(request)