Allow for key references

[indexzero]

We've been using this at Nodejitsu, and thought it might be useful mustache.js itself. Lets consider that you have a template the requires dynamic keynames like like:

foo.{{ refs.0 }}.foo: {{ foo.{{ refs.0 }}.foo }}
foo.{{ refs.1 }}: {{ foo.{{ refs.1 }} }}
{{ refs.2 }}: {{ {{ refs.2 }} }}

With a view:

  {
    "foo": {
      "first": { "foo": "bar" }
      "second": "second-value"
    },
    "third": "third-value"
    "refs": [
      "first",
      "second",
      "third"
    ]
  }

This would render:

  foo.first.foo: bar
  foo.second: second-value
  third: third-value

Thoughts? If you're interested in this I'll work up some tests.

[BigBlueHat]

@janl remember discussing this "back in the day." :) I'd love to see this get merged--or something like it.

The syntax is a bit unwieldy and hard to read, but the objective (and the need for it) is spot on! Jan and I had discussed a syntax like {{@}} in blocks (this was prior to the dot pragma and the cascading scope being "stock" mustache, iirc).

Maybe a revised variation of the example above:

foo.{{ @.0 }}.foo: {{ foo.{{ @.0 }}.foo }}
foo.{{ @.1 }}: {{ foo.{{ @.1 }} }}
{{ @.2 }}: {{ {{ @.2 }} }}

I'd love the addition of something like this but for object key names as well:

{{#foo.@}}
- {{@.@}}
{{/foo.@}}

Result would be:

- first
- second

Syntax is humorous if nothing else. :)

Regardless of any of my blather, I'd love to see this idea reconsidered. Thanks for posting it (with code!) @indexzero

[melkior]

Hi

This issue is closest to my problem. I need to traverse object the same way sections work. Why not allowing object traversal in similar manner as sections? For example:

{"obj": {"quux": "first", "foo": "second", "bar": "third"}}

{{@obj}} Object traversal code {{/obj}}

Now it would be really helpful that people could access keys and values. Maybe something like:

{{@obj}}
{{.}}: {{#.}} {{.}} {{/.}}
{{/obj}}

Would generate:

quux: first
foo: second
bar: third

This is kind in a line with mustache and syntax is better (?). Everything else should be made in javascript anyway.
What do you think?

Thanks

[MartinMuzatko]

I want this to happen <3

[caruccio]

I need this so bad!

[adapterik]

I implemented this in another c-template clone, in just this manner -- if a dotted elemented is referencing an array it will be used as an array index. I haven't actually had to use it often, but when needed it is indispensible. I have sometimes thought that using bracket syntax like refs[0] might be easier to read and understand, but the . was easier to implement and type.

@melkior I agree this can be very helpful. I implemented this using the * operator, because it reminded me that I was doing general purpose (and only) iteration. It operates for arrays, objects, and strings.