# `pprint`
A Rust library for pretty printing using a document model. Automatically derive
`Pretty` for structs, enums, and primitive types; vector and map types are also
supported by default; very similar to the `derive(Debug)` macro, just prettier and more
configurable.
## Usage
```rust
use pprint::{Doc, pprint};
let doc = Doc::from(vec![1, 2, 3])
.join(Doc::from(", ") + Doc::Hardline)
.wrap("[", "]");
print!("{}", pprint(doc));
// prints:
// [
// 1,
// 2,
// 3
// ]
```
## Document Model
The document model provides a rich set of building blocks:
- Primitive values like strings, numbers
- Containers like vectors, tuples, maps, sets
- Formatting like `concat`, `join`, `smart_join`, `wrap`, `group`
- Indentation control with `indent` and `dedent`
- Conditional formatting with `if_break`
- Line breaks like `hardline`, `softline`
The `Printer` handles pretty printing a `Doc` to a string with configurable options:
- `max_width` - maximum width of each line
- `indent` - number of spaces for each indentation level
- `use_tabs` - use tabs instead of spaces for indentation
## Derive Macro
Half of the library's development time was spent on the derive macro, allowing for easy
pretty printing of essentially any type. Here's a trivial example:
```rust
#[derive(Pretty)]
struct Point {
x: f64,
y: f64
}
let point = Point { x: 1.0, y: 2.0 };
print!("{}", Doc::from(point)); // prints "(x: 1, y: 2)"
```
`Pretty` supports an additional attribute, `pprint`, which is used to customize an
object's pretty printing definition. The following options are available:
- skip: bool: Skip this field - don't include it in the output
- indent: bool: Indent this field - add a newline and indent before and after
- rename: Option<String>: Rename this field - use the given string as the field name
- getter: Option<String>: Use the given function to get the value of this field
- verbose: bool: Verbose output - include field names in output
```rust
#[derive(Pretty)]
#[pprint(verbose)]
struct Point {
#[pprint(rename = "x-coordinate")]
x: f64,
#[pprint(rename = "y-coordinate")]
y: f64
#[pprint(skip)]
_skip_me: bool,
}
let point = Point { x: 1.0, y: 2.0, _skip_me: true };
print!("{}", Doc::from(point));
// prints:
// Point {
// x-coordinate: 1,
// y-coordinate: 2
// }
```
Structures can be arbitrarily nested, & c. & c. More involved examples can be found in
the [tests](tests/derive_tests.rs) file.
## `smart_join`
`smart_join`'s implementation is based off the text justification algorithm: [`text_justify`](src/utils)
For more information on the algorithm in particular, see the above's heavily commented source code, or the wonderful [Lecture No. 20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENyox7kNKeY) from MIT's 6.006 course, "Introduction to Algorithms".
## Performance
Throughput varies by workload—leaf-heavy documents (integers, strings) are close to `Debug`, while `smart_join` adds DP overhead for optimal line breaking.
| flat_vec_1k (ints) | 65,874 | 21,171 | 3.1x |
| flat_vec_10k (ints) | 628,306 | 217,838 | 2.9x |
| nested_100x100 | 697,764 | 333,457 | 2.1x |
| floats_1k | 63,823 | 68,056 | 0.94x |
| strings_1k | 125,788 | 45,932 | 2.7x |
| tuples_1k | 384,797 | 153,782 | 2.5x |
See the [benches](benches) directory for more information.
## About
This library was partway created as a means by which to learn more about Rust's procedural macros, and partway because I just love pretty printing. It's a work in progress, but I'm fairly pleased with it hitherto. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to open an issue or a pull request.