# Objective
`bevy_reflect` as different kinds of reflected types (each with their own trait), `trait Struct: Reflect`, `trait List: Reflect`, `trait Map: Reflect`, ...
Types that don't fit either of those are called reflect value types, they are opaque and can't be deconstructed further.
`bevy_reflect` can serialize `dyn Reflect` values. Any container types (struct, list, map) get deconstructed and their elements serialized separately, which can all happen without serde being involved ever (happens [here](https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/blob/main/crates/bevy_reflect/src/serde/ser.rs#L50-L85=)).
The only point at which we require types to be serde-serializable is for *value types* (happens [here](https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/blob/main/crates/bevy_reflect/src/serde/ser.rs#L104=)).
So reflect array serializing is solved, since arrays are container types which don't require serde.
#1213 also introduced added the `serialize` method and `Serialize` impls for `dyn Array` and `DynamicArray` which use their element's `Reflect::serializable` function. This is 1. unnecessary, because it is not used for array serialization, and 2. annoying for removing the `Serialize` bound on container types, because these impls don't have access to the `TypeRegistry`, so we can't move the serialization code there.
# Solution
Remove these impls and `fn serialize`. It's not used and annoying for other changes.
# Objective
Debugging reflected types can be somewhat frustrating since all `dyn Reflect` trait objects return something like `Reflect(core::option::Option<alloc::string::String>)`.
It would be much nicer to be able to see the actual value— or even use a custom `Debug` implementation.
## Solution
Added `Reflect::debug` which allows users to customize the debug output. It sets defaults for all `ReflectRef` subtraits and falls back to `Reflect(type_name)` if no `Debug` implementation was registered.
To register a custom `Debug` impl, users can add `#[reflect(Debug)]` like they can with other traits.
### Example
Using the following structs:
```rust
#[derive(Reflect)]
pub struct Foo {
a: usize,
nested: Bar,
#[reflect(ignore)]
_ignored: NonReflectedValue,
}
#[derive(Reflect)]
pub struct Bar {
value: Vec2,
tuple_value: (i32, String),
list_value: Vec<usize>,
// We can't determine debug formatting for Option<T> yet
unknown_value: Option<String>,
custom_debug: CustomDebug
}
#[derive(Reflect)]
#[reflect(Debug)]
struct CustomDebug;
impl Debug for CustomDebug {
fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
write!(f, "This is a custom debug!")
}
}
pub struct NonReflectedValue {
_a: usize,
}
```
We can do:
```rust
let value = Foo {
a: 1,
_ignored: NonReflectedValue { _a: 10 },
nested: Bar {
value: Vec2::new(1.23, 3.21),
tuple_value: (123, String::from("Hello")),
list_value: vec![1, 2, 3],
unknown_value: Some(String::from("World")),
custom_debug: CustomDebug
},
};
let reflected_value: &dyn Reflect = &value;
println!("{:#?}", reflected_value)
```
Which results in:
```rust
Foo {
a: 2,
nested: Bar {
value: Vec2(
1.23,
3.21,
),
tuple_value: (
123,
"Hello",
),
list_value: [
1,
2,
3,
],
unknown_value: Reflect(core::option::Option<alloc::string::String>),
custom_debug: This is a custom debug!,
},
}
```
Notice that neither `Foo` nor `Bar` implement `Debug`, yet we can still deduce it. This might be a concern if we're worried about leaking internal values. If it is, we might want to consider a way to exclude fields (possibly with a `#[reflect(hide)]` macro) or make it purely opt in (as opposed to the default implementation automatically handled by ReflectRef subtraits).
Co-authored-by: Gino Valente <49806985+MrGVSV@users.noreply.github.com>
# Objective
> ℹ️ **Note**: This is a rebased version of #2383. A large portion of it has not been touched (only a few minor changes) so that any additional discussion may happen here. All credit should go to @NathanSWard for their work on the original PR.
- Currently reflection is not supported for arrays.
- Fixes#1213
## Solution
* Implement reflection for arrays via the `Array` trait.
* Note, `Array` is different from `List` in the way that you cannot push elements onto an array as they are statically sized.
* Now `List` is defined as a sub-trait of `Array`.
---
## Changelog
* Added the `Array` reflection trait
* Allows arrays up to length 32 to be reflected via the `Array` trait
## Migration Guide
* The `List` trait now has the `Array` supertrait. This means that `clone_dynamic` will need to specify which version to use:
```rust
// Before
let cloned = my_list.clone_dynamic();
// After
let cloned = List::clone_dynamic(&my_list);
```
* All implementers of `List` will now need to implement `Array` (this mostly involves moving the existing methods to the `Array` impl)
Co-authored-by: NathanW <nathansward@comcast.net>
Co-authored-by: MrGVSV <49806985+MrGVSV@users.noreply.github.com>
