roll.js

/* 
 Javascripters can create inline object literals with dynamic values:
   var sue = {name: "Sue", adult: person.age >= 18};

 Javascripters cannot create inline object literals with dynamic keys:  
    var family =  {herman.role: herman, lily.role: lily}       //impossible...
    //  family == {husband: herman, wife: lily};
    var family =  {};                                          //...unless we resort to longhand.
    family[herman.role] = herman;
    family[lily.role  ] = lily;

 But I prefer shorthand:
    var family = _.roll(herman.role, herman, lily.role, lily)  //possible 
*/

  _.mixin({
    //rolls an array of key/value pairs into an object
    roll: function(){
      var args = _.toArray(arguments);
      if (args.length == 1) {
        var firstItem = _.first(args);
        if (_.isArray(firstItem)){
          args = firstItem;
        } else {
          return firstItem;
        }
      }
      var object = {};
      for(var idx = 0; idx < args.length; idx += 2){
        var key = args[idx], value = args[idx + 1];
        object[key] = value;
      }
      return object;
    },
    //unrolls an object into an array of key/value pairs
    unroll: function(object){
      var array = [];
      _.each(object, function(value, key){
        array.push(key); array.push(value);
      });
      return array;
    }
  });
  _.mixin({toObject: _.prototype.roll}); //a possible alias

  //Example:

  var stooge = {
    name: "Moe",
    occupation: ["actor", "comedian"],
    birthday: "June 19",
    age: 77
  };
  var array  = _.unroll(stooge);
  var object = _.roll(array);
  var moe    = _.unroll(object);

  console.log({
    stooge: stooge, 
    array : array, 
    object: object, 
    moe   : moe, 
    alikeObjects: _.isEqual(stooge, object), 
    alikeArrays : _.isEqual(moe, array)
  });