ncdump.py

import netCDF4 as nc

def ncdump(path):
    ds = nc.Dataset(path)
    def dim_repr(dim):
        return ['\t{0} = {1} ; {2}'.format(dim._name, 'UNLIMITED' if dim.isunlimited() else len(dim),
                                           '// {0} currently'.format(len(dim)) if dim.isunlimited() else '')]
    def var_repr(var):
        header = '\t{0} {1}({2}) ;'.format(var.dtype, var._name, ', '.join(var.dimensions))
        attrs = ['\t\t{0}:{1} = "{2}" ;'.format(var._name, attr, var.getncattr(attr)) for attr in var.ncattrs()]
        return [header] + attrs
    return '\n'.join(['dimensions:'] +
                     flatten([dim_repr(ds.dimensions[dim]) for dim in ds.dimensions]) +
                     ['variables:'] +
                     flatten([var_repr(ds.variables[var]) for var in ds.variables]))