Python: read-only access to dictionary keys as attributes

attrdict.py

# There are other solutions across the interwebs. This is one that avoids complexities 
# because it's read-only (useful when you just want to read json data, for example).
# It also makes it possible to read nested dictionaries in the same way.
# Based on ideas from http://code.activestate.com/recipes/473786-dictionary-with-attribute-style-access/
class attrdict (dict):
  '''
  Read-only access to dictionary keys as attributes.
  
    >>> d=attrdict({"a":1, "b":2, "c":{"a":1, "b":2, "c":{"a":1, "b":2}}})
    >>> d.a
    1
    >>> d.b
    2
    >>> d.c
    {'a': 1, 'c': {'a': 1, 'b': 2}, 'b': 2}
    >>> d.c.a
    1
    >>> d.c.c
    {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
    >>> d.c.c.a
    1
    
'''
  def __getitem__(self, key):
    value = dict.__getitem__(self, key)
    return attrdict(value) if isinstance(value, dict) else value

  __getattr__ = __getitem__