Basic example of using Python's csv module

gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

# Try putting this data in a file called 'band.csv'
# James,Dennis,Drums,punk
# Rob,Spectre,Guitar,punk


import csv
import json


filename = 'basic.csv'


def read_file():
    f = open(filename, 'r')
    for line in f:
        print line
    f.close()


def read_as_csv():
    csv_data = []
    f = open(filename, 'r')
    csv_file = csv.reader(f)
    for row in csv_file:
        csv_data.append(row)
    f.close()
    return csv_data


def csv_to_json(csv_data):
    json_data = []
    for row in csv_data:
        ### Create dict for row
        json_dict = {}
        json_dict['first'] = row[0]
        json_dict['last'] = row[1]
        json_dict['role'] = row[2]
        json_dict['genre'] = row[3]
        ### Add to json_data
        json_data.append(json_dict)
    json_string = json.dumps(json_data)
    return json_string


### Example use
csv_data = read_as_csv()
json_data = csv_to_json(csv_data)