Implement serializer support for arbitrary classes.

Fixes #5024

components/checker/checkercomponent.cpp

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(CheckerComponent);
 REGISTER_TYPE(CheckerComponent);
 
 void CheckerComponent::Start(void)

components/checker/checkercomponent.h

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #ifndef CHECKERCOMPONENT_H
 #define CHECKERCOMPONENT_H
 
+#include "checker/checkercomponent.th"
 #include "icinga/service.h"
 #include "base/dynamicobject.h"
 #include "base/timer.h"
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ struct ServiceNextCheckExtractor
 /**
  * @ingroup checker
  */
-class CheckerComponent : public DynamicObject
+class CheckerComponent : public ObjectImpl<CheckerComponent>
 {
 public:
 	DECLARE_PTR_TYPEDEFS(CheckerComponent);

components/cluster/clusterlistener.cpp

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(ClusterListener);
 REGISTER_TYPE(ClusterListener);
 
 /**
@@ -210,13 +211,12 @@ void ClusterListener::PersistMessage(const Endpoint::Ptr& source, const Dictiona
 	if (source)
 		pmessage->Set("source", source->GetName());
 
-	pmessage->Set("message", Value(message).Serialize());
+	pmessage->Set("message", JsonSerialize(message));
 	pmessage->Set("security", message->Get("security"));
 
 	ObjectLock olock(this);
 	if (m_LogFile) {
-		String json = Value(pmessage).Serialize();
+		NetString::WriteStringToStream(m_LogFile, JsonSerialize(pmessage));
-		NetString::WriteStringToStream(m_LogFile, json);
 		m_LogMessageCount++;
 		SetLogMessageTimestamp(ts);
 
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ void ClusterListener::ReplayLog(const Endpoint::Ptr& endpoint, const Stream::Ptr
 					if (!NetString::ReadStringFromStream(lstream, &message))
 						break;
 
-					pmessage = Value::Deserialize(message);
+					pmessage = JsonDeserialize(message);
 				} catch (std::exception&) {
 					Log(LogWarning, "cluster", "Unexpected end-of-file for cluster log: " + path);
 
@@ -539,8 +539,7 @@ void ClusterListener::NewClientHandler(const Socket::Ptr& client, TlsRole role)
 	message->Set("method", "cluster::Config");
 	message->Set("params", params);
 
-	String json = Value(message).Serialize();
+	NetString::WriteStringToStream(tlsStream, JsonSerialize(message));
-	NetString::WriteStringToStream(tlsStream, json);
 
 	ReplayLog(endpoint, tlsStream);
 }

components/cluster/endpoint.cpp

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Endpoint);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Endpoint);
 
 boost::signals2::signal<void (const Endpoint::Ptr&)> Endpoint::OnConnected;

components/cluster/jsonrpc.cpp

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "base/netstring.h"
 #include "base/objectlock.h"
 #include "base/logger_fwd.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
 #include <boost/exception/diagnostic_information.hpp>
 #include <iostream>
 
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ using namespace icinga;
  */
 void JsonRpc::SendMessage(const Stream::Ptr& stream, const Dictionary::Ptr& message)
 {
-	String json = Value(message).Serialize();
+	String json = JsonSerialize(message);
 //	std::cerr << ">> " << json << std::endl;
 	NetString::WriteStringToStream(stream, json);
 }
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ Dictionary::Ptr JsonRpc::ReadMessage(const Stream::Ptr& stream)
 		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::runtime_error("ReadStringFromStream signalled EOF."));
 
 //	std::cerr << "<< " << jsonString << std::endl;
-	Value value = Value::Deserialize(jsonString);
+	Value value = JsonDeserialize(jsonString);
 
 	if (!value.IsObjectType<Dictionary>()) {
 		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::invalid_argument("JSON-RPC"

components/compat/checkresultreader.cpp

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(CheckResultReader);
 REGISTER_TYPE(CheckResultReader);
 
 /**

components/compat/compatlogger.cpp

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(CompatLogger);
 REGISTER_TYPE(CompatLogger);
 REGISTER_SCRIPTFUNCTION(ValidateRotationMethod, &CompatLogger::ValidateRotationMethod);
 

components/compat/externalcommandlistener.cpp

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(ExternalCommandListener);
 REGISTER_TYPE(ExternalCommandListener);
 
 /**

components/compat/statusdatawriter.cpp

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(StatusDataWriter);
 REGISTER_TYPE(StatusDataWriter);
 
 /**

components/db_ido_mysql/idomysqlconnection.cpp

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(IdoMysqlConnection);
 REGISTER_TYPE(IdoMysqlConnection);
 
 #define SCHEMA_VERSION "1.10.0"

components/db_ido_pgsql/idopgsqlconnection.cpp

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(IdoPgsqlConnection);
 REGISTER_TYPE(IdoPgsqlConnection);
 
 #define SCHEMA_VERSION "1.10.0"

components/demo/demo.cpp

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Demo);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Demo);
 
 /**

components/livestatus/listener.cpp

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 using namespace icinga;
 using namespace livestatus;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(LivestatusListener);
 REGISTER_TYPE(LivestatusListener);
 REGISTER_SCRIPTFUNCTION(ValidateSocketType, &LivestatusListener::ValidateSocketType);
 

components/livestatus/query.cpp

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "base/logger_fwd.h"
 #include "base/exception.h"
 #include "base/utility.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/classification.hpp>
 #include <boost/foreach.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/split.hpp>
@@ -370,7 +371,7 @@ void Query::PrintResultSet(std::ostream& fp, const std::vector<String>& columns,
 			fp << m_Separators[0];
 		}
 	} else if (m_OutputFormat == "json") {
-		fp << Value(rs).Serialize();
+		fp << JsonSerialize(rs);
 	}
 }
 

components/notification/notificationcomponent.cpp

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(NotificationComponent);
 REGISTER_TYPE(NotificationComponent);
 
 /**

components/perfdata/graphitewriter.cpp

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(GraphiteWriter);
 REGISTER_TYPE(GraphiteWriter);
 
 void GraphiteWriter::Start(void)

components/perfdata/perfdatawriter.cpp

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(PerfdataWriter);
 REGISTER_TYPE(PerfdataWriter);
 
 void PerfdataWriter::Start(void)

lib/base/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ add_library(base SHARED
   scriptinterpreter.cpp scriptlanguage.cpp scriptvariable.cpp serializer.cpp
   socket.cpp stacktrace.cpp stdiostream.cpp stream_bio.cpp stream.cpp
   streamlogger.cpp streamlogger.th sysloglogger.cpp sysloglogger.th tcpsocket.cpp
-  threadpool.cpp timer.cpp tlsstream.cpp tlsutility.cpp unixsocket.cpp
+  threadpool.cpp timer.cpp tlsstream.cpp tlsutility.cpp type.cpp unixsocket.cpp
   utility.cpp value.cpp workqueue.cpp zlibstream.cpp
 )
 

lib/base/application.cpp

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "base/objectlock.h"
 #include "base/utility.h"
 #include "base/debug.h"
+#include "base/type.h"
 #include "base/scriptvariable.h"
 #include "icinga-version.h"
 #include <sstream>
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Application);
+
 Application *Application::m_Instance = NULL;
 bool Application::m_ShuttingDown = false;
 bool Application::m_Restarting = false;

lib/base/application.ti

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-class Application : DynamicObject
+abstract class Application : DynamicObject
 {
 };
 

lib/base/consolelogger.cpp

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(ConsoleLogger);
 REGISTER_TYPE(ConsoleLogger);
 
 /**

lib/base/dynamicobject.cpp

@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(DynamicObject);
+
 boost::signals2::signal<void (const DynamicObject::Ptr&)> DynamicObject::OnStarted;
 boost::signals2::signal<void (const DynamicObject::Ptr&)> DynamicObject::OnStopped;
 boost::signals2::signal<void (const DynamicObject::Ptr&)> DynamicObject::OnStateChanged;
@@ -221,15 +223,14 @@ void DynamicObject::DumpObjects(const String& filename, int attributeTypes)
 			persistentObject->Set("type", type->GetName());
 			persistentObject->Set("name", object->GetName());
 
-			Dictionary::Ptr update = Serializer::Serialize(object, attributeTypes);
+			Dictionary::Ptr update = Serialize(object, attributeTypes);
 
 			if (!update)
 				continue;
 
 			persistentObject->Set("update", update);
 
-			Value value = persistentObject;
+			String json = JsonSerialize(persistentObject);
-			String json = value.Serialize();
 
 			NetString::WriteStringToStream(sfp, json);
 		}
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ void DynamicObject::RestoreObjects(const String& filename, int attributeTypes)
 
 	String message;
 	while (NetString::ReadStringFromStream(sfp, &message)) {
-		Dictionary::Ptr persistentObject = Value::Deserialize(message);
+		Dictionary::Ptr persistentObject = JsonDeserialize(message);
 
 		String type = persistentObject->Get("type");
 		String name = persistentObject->Get("name");
@@ -280,7 +281,7 @@ void DynamicObject::RestoreObjects(const String& filename, int attributeTypes)
 		if (object) {
 			ASSERT(!object->IsActive());
 			Log(LogDebug, "base", "Restoring object '" + name + "' of type '" + type + "'.");
-			Serializer::Deserialize(object, update, attributeTypes);
+			Deserialize(object, update, attributeTypes);
 			object->OnStateLoaded();
 		}
 

lib/base/dynamicobject.ti

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-class DynamicObject
+abstract class DynamicObject
 {
 	[config] String __name (Name);
 	[config, get_protected] String __type (TypeName);

lib/base/dynamictype.cpp

@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ DynamicObject::Ptr DynamicType::CreateObject(const Dictionary::Ptr& serializedUp
 
 	DynamicObject::Ptr object = factory();
 
-	Serializer::Deserialize(object, serializedUpdate, FAConfig);
+	Deserialize(object, serializedUpdate, FAConfig);
 
 	return object;
 }

lib/base/filelogger.cpp

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(FileLogger);
 REGISTER_TYPE(FileLogger);
 
 /**

lib/base/initialize.h

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ inline bool InitializeOnceHelper(InitializeFunc func)
 }
 
 #define INITIALIZE_ONCE(name, func) \
-	bool l_InitializeOnce ## name(InitializeOnceHelper(func));
+	I2_EXPORT bool l_InitializeOnce ## name(InitializeOnceHelper(func))
 
 }
 

lib/base/logger.cpp

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Logger);
+
 std::set<Logger::Ptr> Logger::m_Loggers;
 boost::mutex Logger::m_Mutex;
 

lib/base/logger.ti

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-class Logger : DynamicObject
+abstract class Logger : DynamicObject
 {
 	[config] String severity;
 };

lib/base/object.h

@@ -184,11 +184,6 @@ public:
 	}
 };
 
-template<typename T>
-class TypeImpl
-{
-};
-
 template<typename T>
 class ObjectImpl
 {

lib/base/script.cpp

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Script);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Script);
 
 void Script::Start(void)

lib/base/serializer.cpp

@@ -19,14 +19,93 @@
 
 #include "base/serializer.h"
 #include "base/type.h"
+#include "base/application.h"
+#include "base/objectlock.h"
+#include <boost/foreach.hpp>
+#include <boost/tuple/tuple.hpp>
+#include <cJSON.h>
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
-Dictionary::Ptr Serializer::Serialize(const Object::Ptr& object, int attributeTypes)
+/**
+ * Serializes a Value into a JSON string.
+ *
+ * @returns A string representing the Value.
+ */
+String icinga::JsonSerialize(const Value& value)
 {
-	const Type *type = object->GetReflectionType();
+	cJSON *json = value.ToJson();
 
-	Dictionary::Ptr update = make_shared<Dictionary>();
+	char *jsonString;
+
+	if (Application::IsDebugging())
+		jsonString = cJSON_Print(json);
+	else
+		jsonString = cJSON_PrintUnformatted(json);
+
+	cJSON_Delete(json);
+
+	String result = jsonString;
+
+	free(jsonString);
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deserializes the string representation of a Value.
+ *
+ * @param data A JSON string obtained from JsonSerialize
+ * @returns The newly deserialized Value.
+ */
+Value icinga::JsonDeserialize(const String& data)
+{
+	cJSON *json = cJSON_Parse(data.CStr());
+
+	if (!json)
+		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::runtime_error("Invalid JSON String: " + data));
+
+	Value value = Value::FromJson(json);
+	cJSON_Delete(json);
+
+	return value;
+}
+
+static Array::Ptr SerializeArray(const Array::Ptr& input, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	Array::Ptr result = make_shared<Array>();
+
+	ObjectLock olock(input);
+
+	BOOST_FOREACH(const Value& value, input) {
+		result->Add(Serialize(value, attributeTypes));
+	}
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+static Dictionary::Ptr SerializeDictionary(const Dictionary::Ptr& input, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	Dictionary::Ptr result = make_shared<Dictionary>();
+
+	ObjectLock olock(input);
+
+	String key;
+	Value value;
+	BOOST_FOREACH(boost::tie(key, value), input) {
+		result->Set(key, Serialize(value, attributeTypes));
+	}
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+static Object::Ptr SerializeObject(const Object::Ptr& input, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	const Type *type = input->GetReflectionType();
+
+	VERIFY(type);
+
+	Dictionary::Ptr fields = make_shared<Dictionary>();
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < type->GetFieldCount(); i++) {
 		Field field = type->GetFieldInfo(i);
@@ -34,15 +113,58 @@ Dictionary::Ptr Serializer::Serialize(const Object::Ptr& object, int attributeTy
 		if ((field.Attributes & attributeTypes) == 0)
 			continue;
 
-		update->Set(field.Name, object->GetField(i));
+		fields->Set(field.Name, Serialize(input->GetField(i), attributeTypes));
 	}
 
-	return update;
+	fields->Set("__type", type->GetName());
+
+	return fields;
 }
 
-void Serializer::Deserialize(const Object::Ptr& object, const Dictionary::Ptr& update, int attributeTypes)
+static Array::Ptr DeserializeArray(const Array::Ptr& input, int attributeTypes)
 {
-	const Type *type = object->GetReflectionType();
+	Array::Ptr result = make_shared<Array>();
+
+	ObjectLock olock(input);
+
+	BOOST_FOREACH(const Value& value, input) {
+		result->Add(Deserialize(value, attributeTypes));
+	}
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+static Dictionary::Ptr DeserializeDictionary(const Dictionary::Ptr& input, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	Dictionary::Ptr result = make_shared<Dictionary>();
+
+	ObjectLock olock(input);
+
+	String key;
+	Value value;
+	BOOST_FOREACH(boost::tie(key, value), input) {
+		result->Set(key, Deserialize(value, attributeTypes));
+	}
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+static Object::Ptr DeserializeObject(const Object::Ptr& object, const Dictionary::Ptr& input, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	const Type *type;
+
+	if (object)
+		type = object->GetReflectionType();
+	else
+		type = Type::GetByName(input->Get("__type"));
+
+	if (!type)
+		return object;
+
+	Object::Ptr instance = object;
+
+	if (!instance)
+		instance = type->Instantiate();
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < type->GetFieldCount(); i++) {
 		Field field = type->GetFieldInfo(i);
@@ -50,9 +172,58 @@ void Serializer::Deserialize(const Object::Ptr& object, const Dictionary::Ptr& u
 		if ((field.Attributes & attributeTypes) == 0)
 			continue;
 
-		if (!update->Contains(field.Name))
+		if (!input->Contains(field.Name))
 			continue;
 
-		object->SetField(i, update->Get(field.Name));
+		instance->SetField(i, Deserialize(input->Get(field.Name), attributeTypes));
 	}
+
+	return instance;
+}
+
+Value icinga::Serialize(const Value& value, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	if (!value.IsObject())
+		return value;
+
+	Object::Ptr input = value;
+
+	Array::Ptr array = dynamic_pointer_cast<Array>(input);
+
+	if (array != NULL)
+		return SerializeArray(array, attributeTypes);
+
+	Dictionary::Ptr dict = dynamic_pointer_cast<Dictionary>(input);
+
+	if (dict != NULL)
+		return SerializeDictionary(dict, attributeTypes);
+
+	return SerializeObject(input, attributeTypes);
+}
+
+Value icinga::Deserialize(const Value& value, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	return Deserialize(Object::Ptr(), value, attributeTypes);
+}
+
+Value icinga::Deserialize(const Object::Ptr& object, const Value& value, int attributeTypes)
+{
+	if (!value.IsObject())
+		return value;
+
+	Object::Ptr input = value;
+
+	Array::Ptr array = dynamic_pointer_cast<Array>(input);
+
+	if (array != NULL)
+		return DeserializeArray(array, attributeTypes);
+
+	Dictionary::Ptr dict = dynamic_pointer_cast<Dictionary>(input);
+
+	ASSERT(dict != NULL);
+
+	if (!dict->Contains("__type"))
+		return DeserializeDictionary(dict, attributeTypes);
+
+	return DeserializeObject(object, dict, attributeTypes);
 }

lib/base/serializer.h

@@ -21,26 +21,24 @@
 #define SERIALIZER_H
 
 #include "base/i2-base.h"
-#include "base/dictionary.h"
+#include "base/value.h"
 
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-/**
+enum FieldAttribute
- * Serializer utilities.
- *
- * @ingroup base
- */
-class I2_BASE_API Serializer
 {
-public:
+	FAConfig = 1,
-	static Dictionary::Ptr Serialize(const Object::Ptr& object, int attributeTypes);
+	FAState = 2
-	static void Deserialize(const Object::Ptr& object, const Dictionary::Ptr& update, int attributeTypes);
-
-private:
-	Serializer(void);
 };
 
+I2_BASE_API String JsonSerialize(const Value& value);
+I2_BASE_API Value JsonDeserialize(const String& data);
+
+I2_BASE_API Value Serialize(const Value& value, int attributeTypes = FAState);
+I2_BASE_API Value Deserialize(const Value& value, int attributeTypes = FAState);
+I2_BASE_API Value Deserialize(const Object::Ptr& object, const Value& value, int attributeTypes = FAState);
+
 }
 
 #endif /* SERIALIZER_H */

lib/base/streamlogger.cpp

@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(StreamLogger);
+
 boost::mutex StreamLogger::m_Mutex;
 
 /**

lib/base/sysloglogger.cpp

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #ifndef _WIN32
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(SyslogLogger);
 REGISTER_TYPE(SyslogLogger);
 
 /**

lib/base/type.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/******************************************************************************
+ * Icinga 2                                                                   *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012-2013 Icinga Development Team (http://www.icinga.org/)   *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or              *
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License                *
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2             *
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.                     *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,            *
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of             *
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the              *
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.                               *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License          *
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation     *
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.             *
+ ******************************************************************************/
+
+#include "base/type.h"
+
+using namespace icinga;
+
+Type::TypeMap& Type::GetTypes(void)
+{
+	static TypeMap types;
+
+	return types;
+}
+
+void Type::Register(const Type *type)
+{
+	VERIFY(GetByName(type->GetName()) == NULL);
+
+	GetTypes()[type->GetName()] = type;
+}
+
+const Type *Type::GetByName(const String& name)
+{
+	std::map<String, const Type *>::const_iterator it;
+
+	it = GetTypes().find(name);
+
+	if (it == GetTypes().end())
+		return NULL;
+
+	return it->second;
+}
+
+Object::Ptr Type::Instantiate(void) const
+{
+	return m_Factory();
+}
+
+bool Type::IsAssignableFrom(const Type *other) const
+{
+	for (const Type *t = other; t; t = t->GetBaseType())
+		if (t == this)
+			return true;
+
+	return false;
+}
+
+void Type::SetFactory(const Type::Factory& factory)
+{
+	m_Factory = factory;
+}

lib/base/type.h

@@ -22,16 +22,13 @@
 
 #include "base/i2-base.h"
 #include "base/qstring.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
+#include "base/initialize.h"
+#include <boost/function.hpp>
 
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-enum FieldAttribute
-{
-	FAConfig = 1,
-	FAState = 2
-};
-
 struct Field
 {
 	int ID;
@@ -46,12 +43,70 @@ struct Field
 class I2_BASE_API Type
 {
 public:
-	virtual Type *GetBaseType(void) const = 0;
+	typedef boost::function<Object::Ptr (void)> Factory;
+
+	virtual String GetName(void) const = 0;
+	virtual const Type *GetBaseType(void) const = 0;
+	virtual bool IsAbstract(void) const = 0;
 	virtual int GetFieldId(const String& name) const = 0;
 	virtual Field GetFieldInfo(int id) const = 0;
 	virtual int GetFieldCount(void) const = 0;
+
+	Object::Ptr Instantiate(void) const;
+
+	bool IsAssignableFrom(const Type *other) const;
+
+	static void Register(const Type *type);
+	static const Type *GetByName(const String& name);
+
+	void SetFactory(const Factory& factory);
+
+private:
+	typedef std::map<String, const Type *> TypeMap;
+
+	static TypeMap& GetTypes(void);
+
+	Factory m_Factory;
 };
 
+template<typename T>
+class TypeImpl
+{
+};
+
+template<typename T>
+Type *GetType(void)
+{
+	return TypeImpl<T>::GetInstance();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+shared_ptr<T> ObjectFactory(void)
+{
+	return make_shared<T>();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+struct FactoryHelper
+{
+	Type::Factory GetFactory(void)
+	{
+		return ObjectFactory<T>;
+	}
+};
+
+#define REGISTER_NTYPE(type) \
+	namespace { \
+		void RegisterType(void) \
+		{ \
+			icinga::Type *t = icinga::GetType<type>(); \
+			t->SetFactory(FactoryHelper<type>().GetFactory()); \
+			icinga::Type::Register(GetType<type>()); \
+		} \
+		\
+		INITIALIZE_ONCE(type, RegisterType); \
+	}
+
 }
 
 #endif /* TYPE_H */

lib/base/value.cpp

@@ -153,31 +153,6 @@ Value Value::FromJson(cJSON *json)
 		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::invalid_argument("Unsupported JSON type."));
 }
 
-/**
- * Serializes a variant into a string.
- *
- * @returns A string representing this variant.
- */
-String Value::Serialize(void) const
-{
-	cJSON *json = ToJson();
-
-	char *jsonString;
-
-	if (Application::IsDebugging())
-		jsonString = cJSON_Print(json);
-	else
-		jsonString = cJSON_PrintUnformatted(json);
-
-	cJSON_Delete(json);
-
-	String result = jsonString;
-
-	free(jsonString);
-
-	return result;
-}
-
 /**
  * Serializes the variant.
  *
@@ -199,9 +174,10 @@ cJSON *Value::ToJson(void) const
 			} else if (IsObjectType<Array>()) {
 				Array::Ptr array = *this;
 				return array->ToJson();
-			} else {
+			} else if (IsEmpty()) {
-				Log(LogDebug, "base", "Ignoring unknown object while converting variant to JSON.");
 				return cJSON_CreateNull();
+			} else {
+				BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::runtime_error("Unknown object type."));
 			}
 
 		case ValueEmpty:
@@ -212,25 +188,6 @@ cJSON *Value::ToJson(void) const
 	}
 }
 
-/**
- * Deserializes the string representation of a variant.
- *
- * @param jsonString A JSON string obtained from Value::Serialize
- * @returns The newly deserialized variant.
- */
-Value Value::Deserialize(const String& jsonString)
-{
-	cJSON *json = cJSON_Parse(jsonString.CStr());
-
-	if (!json)
-		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::runtime_error("Invalid JSON String: " + jsonString));
-
-	Value value = FromJson(json);
-	cJSON_Delete(json);
-
-	return value;
-}
-
 /**
  * Returns the type of the value.
  *

lib/base/value.h

@@ -118,9 +118,6 @@ public:
 	static Value FromJson(cJSON *json);
 	cJSON *ToJson(void) const;
 
-	String Serialize(void) const;
-	static Value Deserialize(const String& jsonString);
-
 	ValueType GetType(void) const;
 
 private:

lib/db_ido/dbconnection.cpp

@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(DbConnection);
+
 Timer::Ptr DbConnection::m_ProgramStatusTimer;
 
 INITIALIZE_ONCE(DbConnection, &DbConnection::StaticInitialize);

lib/db_ido/dbconnection.ti

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-class DbConnection : DynamicObject
+abstract class DbConnection : DynamicObject
 {
 	[config] String table_prefix {
 		default {{{ return "icinga_"; }}}

lib/hello/hello.cpp

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Hello);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Hello);
 
 /**

lib/icinga/checkcommand.cpp

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(CheckCommand);
 REGISTER_TYPE(CheckCommand);
 
 Dictionary::Ptr CheckCommand::Execute(const Service::Ptr& service)

lib/icinga/command.cpp

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Command);
+
 bool Command::ResolveMacro(const String& macro, const Dictionary::Ptr&, String *result) const
 {
 	Dictionary::Ptr macros = GetMacros();

lib/icinga/command.ti

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 namespace icinga
 {
 
-class Command : DynamicObject
+abstract class Command : DynamicObject
 {
 	[config] Value command (CommandLine);
 	[config] Value timeout {

lib/icinga/domain.cpp

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Domain);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Domain);
 
 int Domain::GetPrivileges(const String& instance) const

lib/icinga/eventcommand.cpp

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(EventCommand);
 REGISTER_TYPE(EventCommand);
 
 void EventCommand::Execute(const Service::Ptr& service)

lib/icinga/host.cpp

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "base/utility.h"
 #include "base/scriptfunction.h"
 #include "base/debug.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
 #include "config/configitembuilder.h"
 #include "config/configcompilercontext.h"
 #include <boost/tuple/tuple.hpp>
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Host);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Host);
 
 void Host::Start(void)
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ Service::Ptr Host::GetServiceByShortName(const Value& name) const
 
 		return Service::GetByNamePair(dict->Get("host"), dict->Get("service"));
 	} else {
-		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::invalid_argument("Host/Service name pair is invalid: " + name.Serialize()));
+		BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(std::invalid_argument("Host/Service name pair is invalid: " + JsonSerialize(name)));
 	}
 }
 

lib/icinga/hostgroup.cpp

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(HostGroup);
 REGISTER_TYPE(HostGroup);
 
 std::set<Host::Ptr> HostGroup::GetMembers(void) const

lib/icinga/icingaapplication.cpp

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ using namespace icinga;
 
 static Timer::Ptr l_RetentionTimer;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(IcingaApplication);
 REGISTER_TYPE(IcingaApplication);
 INITIALIZE_ONCE(IcingaApplication, &IcingaApplication::StaticInitialize);
 

lib/icinga/notification.cpp

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Notification);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Notification);
 
 boost::signals2::signal<void (const Notification::Ptr&, double, const String&)> Notification::OnNextNotificationChanged;

lib/icinga/notificationcommand.cpp

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(NotificationCommand);
 REGISTER_TYPE(NotificationCommand);
 
 Dictionary::Ptr NotificationCommand::Execute(const Notification::Ptr& notification,

lib/icinga/perfdatavalue.cpp

@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(PerfdataValue);
+
+PerfdataValue::PerfdataValue(void)
+{ }
+
 PerfdataValue::PerfdataValue(double value, bool counter, const String& unit,
     const Value& warn, const Value& crit, const Value& min, const Value& max)
 {

lib/icinga/perfdatavalue.h

@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ class I2_ICINGA_API PerfdataValue : public ObjectImpl<PerfdataValue>
 public:
 	DECLARE_PTR_TYPEDEFS(PerfdataValue);
 
-	PerfdataValue(double value, bool counter, const String& unit,
+	PerfdataValue(void);
+
+	PerfdataValue(double value, bool counter = false, const String& unit = "",
 	    const Value& warn = Empty, const Value& crit = Empty,
 	    const Value& min = Empty, const Value& max = Empty);
 

lib/icinga/perfdatavalue.ti

@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ namespace icinga
 
 class PerfdataValue
 {
-	[state] double Value;
+	[state] double value;
-	[state] bool Counter;
+	[state] bool counter;
-	[state] String Unit;
+	[state] String unit;
-	[state] Value Crit;
+	[state] Value crit;
-	[state] Value Warn;
+	[state] Value warn;
-	[state] Value Min;
+	[state] Value min;
-	[state] Value Max;
+	[state] Value max;
 };
 
 }

lib/icinga/service.cpp

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(Service);
 REGISTER_TYPE(Service);
 
 boost::signals2::signal<void (const Service::Ptr&, const String&, const String&, AcknowledgementType, double, const String&)> Service::OnAcknowledgementSet;

lib/icinga/servicegroup.cpp

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(ServiceGroup);
 REGISTER_TYPE(ServiceGroup);
 
 std::set<Service::Ptr> ServiceGroup::GetMembers(void) const

lib/icinga/timeperiod.cpp

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(TimePeriod);
 REGISTER_TYPE(TimePeriod);
 REGISTER_SCRIPTFUNCTION(EmptyTimePeriod, &TimePeriod::EmptyTimePeriodUpdate);
 REGISTER_SCRIPTFUNCTION(EvenMinutesTimePeriod, &TimePeriod::EvenMinutesTimePeriodUpdate);

lib/icinga/user.cpp

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(User);
 REGISTER_TYPE(User);
 
 void User::OnConfigLoaded(void)

lib/icinga/usergroup.cpp

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 using namespace icinga;
 
+REGISTER_NTYPE(UserGroup);
 REGISTER_TYPE(UserGroup);
 
 std::set<User::Ptr> UserGroup::GetMembers(void) const

test/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -19,16 +19,16 @@ include(BoostTestTargets)
 
 add_boost_test(base
   SOURCES base-array.cpp base-convert.cpp base-dictionary.cpp base-fifo.cpp
-          base-match.cpp base-netstring.cpp base-object.cpp base-shellescape.cpp
+          base-match.cpp base-netstring.cpp base-object.cpp base-serialize.cpp
-          base-stacktrace.cpp base-string.cpp base-timer.cpp base-value.cpp
+          base-shellescape.cpp base-stacktrace.cpp base-string.cpp base-timer.cpp
-          icinga-perfdata.cpp test.cpp
+          base-type.cpp base-value.cpp icinga-perfdata.cpp test.cpp
   LIBRARIES base config icinga
   TESTS base_array/construct
         base_array/getset
         base_array/remove
         base_array/foreach
         base_array/clone
-        base_array/serialize
+        base_array/json
         base_convert/tolong
         base_convert/todouble
         base_convert/tostring
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ add_boost_test(base
         base_dictionary/foreach
         base_dictionary/remove
         base_dictionary/clone
-        base_dictionary/serialize
+        base_dictionary/json
         base_fifo/construct
         base_fifo/io
         base_match/tolong

test/base-array.cpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #include "base/array.h"
 #include "base/objectlock.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
 #include <boost/foreach.hpp>
 
@@ -104,17 +105,17 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(clone)
 	BOOST_CHECK(clone->Get(2) == 5);
 }
 
-BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(serialize)
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(json)
 {
 	Array::Ptr array = make_shared<Array>();
 	array->Add(7);
 	array->Add(2);
 	array->Add(5);
 
-	String json = Value(array).Serialize();
+	String json = JsonSerialize(array);
 	BOOST_CHECK(json.GetLength() > 0);
 
-	Array::Ptr deserialized = Value::Deserialize(json);
+	Array::Ptr deserialized = JsonDeserialize(json);
 	BOOST_CHECK(deserialized);
 	BOOST_CHECK(deserialized->GetLength() == 3);
 	BOOST_CHECK(deserialized->Get(0) == 7);

test/base-dictionary.cpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #include "base/dictionary.h"
 #include "base/objectlock.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
 #include <boost/foreach.hpp>
 #include <boost/tuple/tuple.hpp>
@@ -161,16 +162,16 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(clone)
 	BOOST_CHECK(dictionary->Get("test2") == "hello world");
 }
 
-BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(serialize)
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(json)
 {
 	Dictionary::Ptr dictionary = make_shared<Dictionary>();
 
 	dictionary->Set("test1", 7);
 	dictionary->Set("test2", "hello world");
 
-	String json = Value(dictionary).Serialize();
+	String json = JsonSerialize(dictionary);
 	BOOST_CHECK(json.GetLength() > 0);
-	Dictionary::Ptr deserialized = Value::Deserialize(json);
+	Dictionary::Ptr deserialized = JsonDeserialize(json);
 	BOOST_CHECK(deserialized->GetLength() == 2);
 	BOOST_CHECK(deserialized->Get("test1") == 7);
 	BOOST_CHECK(deserialized->Get("test2") == "hello world");

test/base-serialize.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+/******************************************************************************
+ * Icinga 2                                                                   *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012-2013 Icinga Development Team (http://www.icinga.org/)   *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or              *
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License                *
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2             *
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.                     *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,            *
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of             *
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the              *
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.                               *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License          *
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation     *
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.             *
+ ******************************************************************************/
+
+#include "icinga/perfdatavalue.h"
+#include "base/dictionary.h"
+#include "base/objectlock.h"
+#include "base/serializer.h"
+#include "base/array.h"
+#include "base/dictionary.h"
+#include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
+#include <boost/foreach.hpp>
+#include <boost/tuple/tuple.hpp>
+
+using namespace icinga;
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(base_serialize)
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(scalar)
+{
+	BOOST_CHECK(Deserialize(Serialize(7)) == 7);
+	BOOST_CHECK(Deserialize(Serialize(7.3)) == 7.3);
+	BOOST_CHECK(Deserialize(Serialize(Empty)) == Empty);
+	BOOST_CHECK(Deserialize(Serialize("hello")) == "hello");
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(array)
+{
+	Array::Ptr array = make_shared<Array>();
+	array->Add(7);
+	array->Add(7.3);
+	array->Add(Empty);
+	array->Add("hello");
+
+	Array::Ptr result = Deserialize(Serialize(array));
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->GetLength() == array->GetLength());
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get(0) == 7);
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get(1) == 7.3);
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get(2) == Empty);
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get(3) == "hello");
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(dictionary)
+{
+	Dictionary::Ptr dict = make_shared<Dictionary>();
+	dict->Set("k1", 7);
+	dict->Set("k2", 7.3);
+	dict->Set("k3", Empty);
+	dict->Set("k4", "hello");
+
+	Dictionary::Ptr result = Deserialize(Serialize(dict));
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->GetLength() == dict->GetLength());
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get("k1") == 7);
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get("k2") == 7.3);
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get("k3") == Empty);
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->Get("k4") == "hello");
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(object)
+{
+	PerfdataValue::Ptr pdv = make_shared<PerfdataValue>(100, true, "bytes");
+
+	std::cout << JsonSerialize(Serialize(pdv)) << std::endl;
+
+	PerfdataValue::Ptr result = Deserialize(Serialize(pdv));
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(result->GetValue() == pdv->GetValue());
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()

test/base-type.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/******************************************************************************
+ * Icinga 2                                                                   *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012-2013 Icinga Development Team (http://www.icinga.org/)   *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or              *
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License                *
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2             *
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.                     *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,            *
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of             *
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the              *
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.                               *
+ *                                                                            *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License          *
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation     *
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.             *
+ ******************************************************************************/
+
+#include "icinga/perfdatavalue.h"
+#include "base/dictionary.h"
+#include "base/objectlock.h"
+#include "base/application.h"
+#include "base/type.h"
+#include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
+#include <boost/foreach.hpp>
+#include <boost/tuple/tuple.hpp>
+
+using namespace icinga;
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(base_type)
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(gettype)
+{
+	const Type *t = GetType<Application>();
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(t);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(assign)
+{
+	const Type *t1 = GetType<Application>();
+	const Type *t2 = GetType<DynamicObject>();
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(t1->IsAssignableFrom(t1));
+	BOOST_CHECK(t2->IsAssignableFrom(t1));
+	BOOST_CHECK(!t1->IsAssignableFrom(t2));
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(byname)
+{
+	const Type *t = Type::GetByName("Application");
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(t);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(instantiate)
+{
+	const Type *t = Type::GetByName("PerfdataValue");
+
+	Object::Ptr p = t->Instantiate();
+
+	BOOST_CHECK(p);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()

tools/mkclass/classcompiler.cpp

@@ -92,8 +92,20 @@ void ClassCompiler::HandleClass(const Klass& klass, const ClassDebugInfo& locp)
 		<< "{" << std::endl
 		<< "public:" << std::endl;
 
+	/* GetName */
+	std::cout << "\t" << "virtual String GetName(void) const" << std::endl
+		  << "\t" << "{" << std::endl
+		  << "\t\t" << "return \"" << klass.Name << "\";" << std::endl
+		  << "\t" << "}" << std::endl << std::endl;
+
+	/* IsAbstract */
+	std::cout << "\t" << "virtual bool IsAbstract(void) const" << std::endl
+		  << "\t" << "{" << std::endl
+		  << "\t\t" << "return " << (klass.Abstract ? "true" : "false") << ";" << std::endl
+		  << "\t" << "}" << std::endl << std::endl;
+
 	/* GetBaseType */
-	std::cout << "\t" << "virtual Type *GetBaseType(void) const" << std::endl
+	std::cout << "\t" << "virtual const Type *GetBaseType(void) const" << std::endl
 		<< "\t" << "{" << std::endl;
 
 	std::cout << "\t\t" << "return ";
@@ -365,6 +377,18 @@ void ClassCompiler::HandleClass(const Klass& klass, const ClassDebugInfo& locp)
 	}
 
 	std::cout << "};" << std::endl << std::endl;
+
+	/* FactoryHelper */
+	if (klass.Abstract) {
+		std::cout << "template<>" << std::endl
+			  << "struct FactoryHelper<" << klass.Name << ">" << std::endl
+			  << "{" << std::endl
+			  << "\t" << "Type::Factory GetFactory(void)" << std::endl
+			  << "\t" << "{" << std::endl
+			  << "\t\t" << "return Type::Factory();"
+			  << "\t" << "}"
+			  << "};" << std::endl << std::endl;
+	}
 }
 
 void ClassCompiler::CompileFile(const std::string& path)