transverse python dict

transverse_dict.py

def transverse_dict(d, indent=0, level=None, abstract=False):
    """Transverse dictionary to see underlying structure

    indent:   amount of indent when outputing to console
    level:    max depth when transversing
    abstract: if True, prints the datatype for items 
              that are not lists or dicts.
              if False, prints the items themselves
    """

    if level is not None:
        level -= 1
    if level == -1:
        return

    if isinstance(d, dict):
        for k,v in d.items():
            print(' '*indent,k)
            transverse_dict(v, indent=indent+4, level=level, abstract=abstract)
    elif isinstance(d, list):
        for i in d:
            transverse_dict(i, indent=indent+4, level=level, abstract=abstract)
    else:
        if abstract:
            print(' '*indent, str(type(d)).split("'")[1])
        else:
            print(' '*indent, d)