src/pkg/gob/type.go - go - Git at Google

 // Copyright 2009 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
 // license that can be found in the LICENSE file.

 package gob

 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"sync"
 )

 // Reflection types are themselves interface values holding structs
 // describing the type.  Each type has a different struct so that struct can
 // be the kind.  For example, if typ is the reflect type for an int8, typ is
 // a pointer to a reflect.Int8Type struct; if typ is the reflect type for a
 // function, typ is a pointer to a reflect.FuncType struct; we use the type
 // of that pointer as the kind.

 // A typeId represents a gob Type as an integer that can be passed on the wire.
 // Internally, typeIds are used as keys to a map to recover the underlying type info.
 type typeId int32

 var nextId typeId       // incremented for each new type we build
 var typeLock sync.Mutex // set while building a type
 const firstUserId = 64  // lowest id number granted to user

 type gobType interface {
 	id() typeId
 	setId(id typeId)
 	Name() string
 	string() string // not public; only for debugging
 	safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string
 }

 var types = make(map[reflect.Type]gobType)
 var idToType = make(map[typeId]gobType)
 var builtinIdToType map[typeId]gobType // set in init() after builtins are established

 func setTypeId(typ gobType) {
 	nextId++
 	typ.setId(nextId)
 	idToType[nextId] = typ
 }

 func (t typeId) gobType() gobType {
 	if t == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return idToType[t]
 }

 // string returns the string representation of the type associated with the typeId.
 func (t typeId) string() string {
 	if t.gobType() == nil {
 		return "<nil>"
 	}
 	return t.gobType().string()
 }

 // Name returns the name of the type associated with the typeId.
 func (t typeId) Name() string {
 	if t.gobType() == nil {
 		return "<nil>"
 	}
 	return t.gobType().Name()
 }

 // Common elements of all types.
 type commonType struct {
 	name string
 	_id  typeId
 }

 func (t *commonType) id() typeId { return t._id }

 func (t *commonType) setId(id typeId) { t._id = id }

 func (t *commonType) string() string { return t.name }

 func (t *commonType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
 	return t.name
 }

 func (t *commonType) Name() string { return t.name }

 // Create and check predefined types
 // The string for tBytes is "bytes" not "[]byte" to signify its specialness.

 var (
 	// Primordial types, needed during initialization.
 	tBool      = bootstrapType("bool", false, 1)
 	tInt       = bootstrapType("int", int(0), 2)
 	tUint      = bootstrapType("uint", uint(0), 3)
 	tFloat     = bootstrapType("float", float64(0), 4)
 	tBytes     = bootstrapType("bytes", make([]byte, 0), 5)
 	tString    = bootstrapType("string", "", 6)
 	tComplex   = bootstrapType("complex", 0+0i, 7)
 	tInterface = bootstrapType("interface", interface{}(nil), 8)
 	// Reserve some Ids for compatible expansion
 	tReserved7 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r7 int }{}, 9)
 	tReserved6 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r6 int }{}, 10)
 	tReserved5 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r5 int }{}, 11)
 	tReserved4 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r4 int }{}, 12)
 	tReserved3 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r3 int }{}, 13)
 	tReserved2 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r2 int }{}, 14)
 	tReserved1 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r1 int }{}, 15)
 )

 // Predefined because it's needed by the Decoder
 var tWireType = mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(wireType{})).id

 func init() {
 	// Some magic numbers to make sure there are no surprises.
 	checkId(16, tWireType)
 	checkId(17, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(arrayType{})).id)
 	checkId(18, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(commonType{})).id)
 	checkId(19, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(sliceType{})).id)
 	checkId(20, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(structType{})).id)
 	checkId(21, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(fieldType{})).id)
 	checkId(23, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(mapType{})).id)

 	builtinIdToType = make(map[typeId]gobType)
 	for k, v := range idToType {
 		builtinIdToType[k] = v
 	}

 	// Move the id space upwards to allow for growth in the predefined world
 	// without breaking existing files.
 	if nextId > firstUserId {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintln("nextId too large:", nextId))
 	}
 	nextId = firstUserId
 	registerBasics()
 }

 // Array type
 type arrayType struct {
 	commonType
 	Elem typeId
 	Len  int
 }

 func newArrayType(name string, elem gobType, length int) *arrayType {
 	a := &arrayType{commonType{name: name}, elem.id(), length}
 	setTypeId(a)
 	return a
 }

 func (a *arrayType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
 	if seen[a._id] {
 		return a.name
 	}
 	seen[a._id] = true
 	return fmt.Sprintf("[%d]%s", a.Len, a.Elem.gobType().safeString(seen))
 }

 func (a *arrayType) string() string { return a.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

 // Map type
 type mapType struct {
 	commonType
 	Key  typeId
 	Elem typeId
 }

 func newMapType(name string, key, elem gobType) *mapType {
 	m := &mapType{commonType{name: name}, key.id(), elem.id()}
 	setTypeId(m)
 	return m
 }

 func (m *mapType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
 	if seen[m._id] {
 		return m.name
 	}
 	seen[m._id] = true
 	key := m.Key.gobType().safeString(seen)
 	elem := m.Elem.gobType().safeString(seen)
 	return fmt.Sprintf("map[%s]%s", key, elem)
 }

 func (m *mapType) string() string { return m.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

 // Slice type
 type sliceType struct {
 	commonType
 	Elem typeId
 }

 func newSliceType(name string, elem gobType) *sliceType {
 	s := &sliceType{commonType{name: name}, elem.id()}
 	setTypeId(s)
 	return s
 }

 func (s *sliceType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
 	if seen[s._id] {
 		return s.name
 	}
 	seen[s._id] = true
 	return fmt.Sprintf("[]%s", s.Elem.gobType().safeString(seen))
 }

 func (s *sliceType) string() string { return s.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

 // Struct type
 type fieldType struct {
 	name string
 	id   typeId
 }

 type structType struct {
 	commonType
 	field []*fieldType
 }

 func (s *structType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
 	if s == nil {
 		return "<nil>"
 	}
 	if _, ok := seen[s._id]; ok {
 		return s.name
 	}
 	seen[s._id] = true
 	str := s.name + " = struct { "
 	for _, f := range s.field {
 		str += fmt.Sprintf("%s %s; ", f.name, f.id.gobType().safeString(seen))
 	}
 	str += "}"
 	return str
 }

 func (s *structType) string() string { return s.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

 func newStructType(name string) *structType {
 	s := &structType{commonType{name: name}, nil}
 	setTypeId(s)
 	return s
 }

 // Step through the indirections on a type to discover the base type.
 // Return the base type and the number of indirections.
 func indirect(t reflect.Type) (rt reflect.Type, count int) {
 	rt = t
 	for {
 		pt, ok := rt.(*reflect.PtrType)
 		if !ok {
 			break
 		}
 		rt = pt.Elem()
 		count++
 	}
 	return
 }

 func newTypeObject(name string, rt reflect.Type) (gobType, os.Error) {
 	switch t := rt.(type) {
 	// All basic types are easy: they are predefined.
 	case *reflect.BoolType:
 		return tBool.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.IntType:
 		return tInt.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.UintType:
 		return tUint.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.FloatType:
 		return tFloat.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.ComplexType:
 		return tComplex.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.StringType:
 		return tString.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.InterfaceType:
 		return tInterface.gobType(), nil

 	case *reflect.ArrayType:
 		gt, err := getType("", t.Elem())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		return newArrayType(name, gt, t.Len()), nil

 	case *reflect.MapType:
 		kt, err := getType("", t.Key())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		vt, err := getType("", t.Elem())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		return newMapType(name, kt, vt), nil

 	case *reflect.SliceType:
 		// []byte == []uint8 is a special case
 		if t.Elem().Kind() == reflect.Uint8 {
 			return tBytes.gobType(), nil
 		}
 		gt, err := getType(t.Elem().Name(), t.Elem())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		return newSliceType(name, gt), nil

 	case *reflect.StructType:
 		// Install the struct type itself before the fields so recursive
 		// structures can be constructed safely.
 		strType := newStructType(name)
 		types[rt] = strType
 		idToType[strType.id()] = strType
 		field := make([]*fieldType, t.NumField())
 		for i := 0; i < t.NumField(); i++ {
 			f := t.Field(i)
 			typ, _ := indirect(f.Type)
 			tname := typ.Name()
 			if tname == "" {
 				t, _ := indirect(f.Type)
 				tname = t.String()
 			}
 			gt, err := getType(tname, f.Type)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 			field[i] = &fieldType{f.Name, gt.id()}
 		}
 		strType.field = field
 		return strType, nil

 	default:
 		return nil, os.ErrorString("gob NewTypeObject can't handle type: " + rt.String())
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }

 // getType returns the Gob type describing the given reflect.Type.
 // typeLock must be held.
 func getType(name string, rt reflect.Type) (gobType, os.Error) {
 	rt, _ = indirect(rt)
 	typ, present := types[rt]
 	if present {
 		return typ, nil
 	}
 	typ, err := newTypeObject(name, rt)
 	if err == nil {
 		types[rt] = typ
 	}
 	return typ, err
 }

 func checkId(want, got typeId) {
 	if want != got {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "checkId: %d should be %d\n", int(want), int(got))
 		panic("bootstrap type wrong id: " + got.Name() + " " + got.string() + " not " + want.string())
 	}
 }

 // used for building the basic types; called only from init()
 func bootstrapType(name string, e interface{}, expect typeId) typeId {
 	rt := reflect.Typeof(e)
 	_, present := types[rt]
 	if present {
 		panic("bootstrap type already present: " + name + ", " + rt.String())
 	}
 	typ := &commonType{name: name}
 	types[rt] = typ
 	setTypeId(typ)
 	checkId(expect, nextId)
 	return nextId
 }

 // Representation of the information we send and receive about this type.
 // Each value we send is preceded by its type definition: an encoded int.
 // However, the very first time we send the value, we first send the pair
 // (-id, wireType).
 // For bootstrapping purposes, we assume that the recipient knows how
 // to decode a wireType; it is exactly the wireType struct here, interpreted
 // using the gob rules for sending a structure, except that we assume the
 // ids for wireType and structType are known.  The relevant pieces
 // are built in encode.go's init() function.
 // To maintain binary compatibility, if you extend this type, always put
 // the new fields last.
 type wireType struct {
 	arrayT  *arrayType
 	sliceT  *sliceType
 	structT *structType
 	mapT    *mapType
 }

 func (w *wireType) name() string {
 	if w.structT != nil {
 		return w.structT.name
 	}
 	return "unknown"
 }

 type typeInfo struct {
 	id      typeId
 	encoder *encEngine
 	wire    *wireType
 }

 var typeInfoMap = make(map[reflect.Type]*typeInfo) // protected by typeLock

 // The reflection type must have all its indirections processed out.
 // typeLock must be held.
 func getTypeInfo(rt reflect.Type) (*typeInfo, os.Error) {
 	if rt.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
 		panic("pointer type in getTypeInfo: " + rt.String())
 	}
 	info, ok := typeInfoMap[rt]
 	if !ok {
 		info = new(typeInfo)
 		name := rt.Name()
 		gt, err := getType(name, rt)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		info.id = gt.id()
 		t := info.id.gobType()
 		switch typ := rt.(type) {
 		case *reflect.ArrayType:
 			info.wire = &wireType{arrayT: t.(*arrayType)}
 		case *reflect.MapType:
 			info.wire = &wireType{mapT: t.(*mapType)}
 		case *reflect.SliceType:
 			// []byte == []uint8 is a special case handled separately
 			if typ.Elem().Kind() != reflect.Uint8 {
 				info.wire = &wireType{sliceT: t.(*sliceType)}
 			}
 		case *reflect.StructType:
 			info.wire = &wireType{structT: t.(*structType)}
 		}
 		typeInfoMap[rt] = info
 	}
 	return info, nil
 }

 // Called only when a panic is acceptable and unexpected.
 func mustGetTypeInfo(rt reflect.Type) *typeInfo {
 	t, err := getTypeInfo(rt)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic("getTypeInfo: " + err.String())
 	}
 	return t
 }

 var (
 	nameToConcreteType = make(map[string]reflect.Type)
 	concreteTypeToName = make(map[reflect.Type]string)
 )

 // RegisterName is like Register but uses the provided name rather than the
 // type's default.
 func RegisterName(name string, value interface{}) {
 	if name == "" {
 		// reserved for nil
 		panic("attempt to register empty name")
 	}
 	rt, _ := indirect(reflect.Typeof(value))
 	// Check for incompatible duplicates.
 	if t, ok := nameToConcreteType[name]; ok && t != rt {
 		panic("gob: registering duplicate types for " + name)
 	}
 	if n, ok := concreteTypeToName[rt]; ok && n != name {
 		panic("gob: registering duplicate names for " + rt.String())
 	}
 	nameToConcreteType[name] = rt
 	concreteTypeToName[rt] = name
 }

 // Register records a type, identified by a value for that type, under its
 // internal type name.  That name will identify the concrete type of a value
 // sent or received as an interface variable.  Only types that will be
 // transferred as implementations of interface values need to be registered.
 // Expecting to be used only during initialization, it panics if the mapping
 // between types and names is not a bijection.
 func Register(value interface{}) {
 	// Default to printed representation for unnamed types
 	rt := reflect.Typeof(value)
 	name := rt.String()

 	// But for named types (or pointers to them), qualify with import path.
 	// Dereference one pointer looking for a named type.
 	star := ""
 	if rt.Name() == "" {
 		if pt, ok := rt.(*reflect.PtrType); ok {
 			star = "*"
 			rt = pt
 		}
 	}
 	if rt.Name() != "" {
 		if rt.PkgPath() == "" {
 			name = star + rt.Name()
 		} else {
 			name = star + rt.PkgPath() + "." + rt.Name()
 		}
 	}

 	RegisterName(name, value)
 }

 func registerBasics() {
 	Register(int(0))
 	Register(int8(0))
 	Register(int16(0))
 	Register(int32(0))
 	Register(int64(0))
 	Register(uint(0))
 	Register(uint8(0))
 	Register(uint16(0))
 	Register(uint32(0))
 	Register(uint64(0))
 	Register(float(0))
 	Register(float32(0))
 	Register(float64(0))
 	Register(complex(0i))
 	Register(complex64(0i))
 	Register(complex128(0i))
 	Register(false)
 	Register("")
 	Register([]byte(nil))
 }
	// Copyright 2009 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
	// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
	// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.

	package gob

	import (
	"fmt"
	"os"
	"reflect"
	"sync"
	)

	// Reflection types are themselves interface values holding structs
	// describing the type. Each type has a different struct so that struct can
	// be the kind. For example, if typ is the reflect type for an int8, typ is
	// a pointer to a reflect.Int8Type struct; if typ is the reflect type for a
	// function, typ is a pointer to a reflect.FuncType struct; we use the type
	// of that pointer as the kind.

	// A typeId represents a gob Type as an integer that can be passed on the wire.
	// Internally, typeIds are used as keys to a map to recover the underlying type info.
	type typeId int32

	var nextId typeId // incremented for each new type we build
	var typeLock sync.Mutex // set while building a type
	const firstUserId = 64 // lowest id number granted to user

	type gobType interface {
	id() typeId
	setId(id typeId)
	Name() string
	string() string // not public; only for debugging
	safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string
	}

	var types = make(map[reflect.Type]gobType)
	var idToType = make(map[typeId]gobType)
	var builtinIdToType map[typeId]gobType // set in init() after builtins are established

	func setTypeId(typ gobType) {
	nextId++
	typ.setId(nextId)
	idToType[nextId] = typ
	}

	func (t typeId) gobType() gobType {
	if t == 0 {
	return nil
	}
	return idToType[t]
	}

	// string returns the string representation of the type associated with the typeId.
	func (t typeId) string() string {
	if t.gobType() == nil {
	return "<nil>"
	}
	return t.gobType().string()
	}

	// Name returns the name of the type associated with the typeId.
	func (t typeId) Name() string {
	if t.gobType() == nil {
	return "<nil>"
	}
	return t.gobType().Name()
	}

	// Common elements of all types.
	type commonType struct {
	name string
	_id typeId
	}

	func (t *commonType) id() typeId { return t._id }

	func (t *commonType) setId(id typeId) { t._id = id }

	func (t *commonType) string() string { return t.name }

	func (t *commonType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
	return t.name
	}

	func (t *commonType) Name() string { return t.name }

	// Create and check predefined types
	// The string for tBytes is "bytes" not "[]byte" to signify its specialness.

	var (
	// Primordial types, needed during initialization.
	tBool = bootstrapType("bool", false, 1)
	tInt = bootstrapType("int", int(0), 2)
	tUint = bootstrapType("uint", uint(0), 3)
	tFloat = bootstrapType("float", float64(0), 4)
	tBytes = bootstrapType("bytes", make([]byte, 0), 5)
	tString = bootstrapType("string", "", 6)
	tComplex = bootstrapType("complex", 0+0i, 7)
	tInterface = bootstrapType("interface", interface{}(nil), 8)
	// Reserve some Ids for compatible expansion
	tReserved7 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r7 int }{}, 9)
	tReserved6 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r6 int }{}, 10)
	tReserved5 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r5 int }{}, 11)
	tReserved4 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r4 int }{}, 12)
	tReserved3 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r3 int }{}, 13)
	tReserved2 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r2 int }{}, 14)
	tReserved1 = bootstrapType("_reserved1", struct{ r1 int }{}, 15)
	)

	// Predefined because it's needed by the Decoder
	var tWireType = mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(wireType{})).id

	func init() {
	// Some magic numbers to make sure there are no surprises.
	checkId(16, tWireType)
	checkId(17, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(arrayType{})).id)
	checkId(18, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(commonType{})).id)
	checkId(19, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(sliceType{})).id)
	checkId(20, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(structType{})).id)
	checkId(21, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(fieldType{})).id)
	checkId(23, mustGetTypeInfo(reflect.Typeof(mapType{})).id)

	builtinIdToType = make(map[typeId]gobType)
	for k, v := range idToType {
	builtinIdToType[k] = v
	}

	// Move the id space upwards to allow for growth in the predefined world
	// without breaking existing files.
	if nextId > firstUserId {
	panic(fmt.Sprintln("nextId too large:", nextId))
	}
	nextId = firstUserId
	registerBasics()
	}

	// Array type
	type arrayType struct {
	commonType
	Elem typeId
	Len int
	}

	func newArrayType(name string, elem gobType, length int) *arrayType {
	a := &arrayType{commonType{name: name}, elem.id(), length}
	setTypeId(a)
	return a
	}

	func (a *arrayType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
	if seen[a._id] {
	return a.name
	}
	seen[a._id] = true
	return fmt.Sprintf("[%d]%s", a.Len, a.Elem.gobType().safeString(seen))
	}

	func (a *arrayType) string() string { return a.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

	// Map type
	type mapType struct {
	commonType
	Key typeId
	Elem typeId
	}

	func newMapType(name string, key, elem gobType) *mapType {
	m := &mapType{commonType{name: name}, key.id(), elem.id()}
	setTypeId(m)
	return m
	}

	func (m *mapType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
	if seen[m._id] {
	return m.name
	}
	seen[m._id] = true
	key := m.Key.gobType().safeString(seen)
	elem := m.Elem.gobType().safeString(seen)
	return fmt.Sprintf("map[%s]%s", key, elem)
	}

	func (m *mapType) string() string { return m.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

	// Slice type
	type sliceType struct {
	commonType
	Elem typeId
	}

	func newSliceType(name string, elem gobType) *sliceType {
	s := &sliceType{commonType{name: name}, elem.id()}
	setTypeId(s)
	return s
	}

	func (s *sliceType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
	if seen[s._id] {
	return s.name
	}
	seen[s._id] = true
	return fmt.Sprintf("[]%s", s.Elem.gobType().safeString(seen))
	}

	func (s *sliceType) string() string { return s.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

	// Struct type
	type fieldType struct {
	name string
	id typeId
	}

	type structType struct {
	commonType
	field []*fieldType
	}

	func (s *structType) safeString(seen map[typeId]bool) string {
	if s == nil {
	return "<nil>"
	}
	if _, ok := seen[s._id]; ok {
	return s.name
	}
	seen[s._id] = true
	str := s.name + " = struct { "
	for _, f := range s.field {
	str += fmt.Sprintf("%s %s; ", f.name, f.id.gobType().safeString(seen))
	}
	str += "}"
	return str
	}

	func (s *structType) string() string { return s.safeString(make(map[typeId]bool)) }

	func newStructType(name string) *structType {
	s := &structType{commonType{name: name}, nil}
	setTypeId(s)
	return s
	}

	// Step through the indirections on a type to discover the base type.
	// Return the base type and the number of indirections.
	func indirect(t reflect.Type) (rt reflect.Type, count int) {
	rt = t
	for {
	pt, ok := rt.(*reflect.PtrType)
	if !ok {
	break
	}
	rt = pt.Elem()
	count++
	}
	return
	}

	func newTypeObject(name string, rt reflect.Type) (gobType, os.Error) {
	switch t := rt.(type) {
	// All basic types are easy: they are predefined.
	case *reflect.BoolType:
	return tBool.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.IntType:
	return tInt.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.UintType:
	return tUint.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.FloatType:
	return tFloat.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.ComplexType:
	return tComplex.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.StringType:
	return tString.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.InterfaceType:
	return tInterface.gobType(), nil

	case *reflect.ArrayType:
	gt, err := getType("", t.Elem())
	if err != nil {
	return nil, err
	}
	return newArrayType(name, gt, t.Len()), nil

	case *reflect.MapType:
	kt, err := getType("", t.Key())
	if err != nil {
	return nil, err
	}
	vt, err := getType("", t.Elem())
	if err != nil {
	return nil, err
	}
	return newMapType(name, kt, vt), nil

	case *reflect.SliceType:
	// []byte == []uint8 is a special case
	if t.Elem().Kind() == reflect.Uint8 {
	return tBytes.gobType(), nil
	}
	gt, err := getType(t.Elem().Name(), t.Elem())
	if err != nil {
	return nil, err
	}
	return newSliceType(name, gt), nil

	case *reflect.StructType:
	// Install the struct type itself before the fields so recursive
	// structures can be constructed safely.
	strType := newStructType(name)
	types[rt] = strType
	idToType[strType.id()] = strType
	field := make([]*fieldType, t.NumField())
	for i := 0; i < t.NumField(); i++ {
	f := t.Field(i)
	typ, _ := indirect(f.Type)
	tname := typ.Name()
	if tname == "" {
	t, _ := indirect(f.Type)
	tname = t.String()
	}
	gt, err := getType(tname, f.Type)
	if err != nil {
	return nil, err
	}
	field[i] = &fieldType{f.Name, gt.id()}
	}
	strType.field = field
	return strType, nil

	default:
	return nil, os.ErrorString("gob NewTypeObject can't handle type: " + rt.String())
	}
	return nil, nil
	}

	// getType returns the Gob type describing the given reflect.Type.
	// typeLock must be held.
	func getType(name string, rt reflect.Type) (gobType, os.Error) {
	rt, _ = indirect(rt)
	typ, present := types[rt]
	if present {
	return typ, nil
	}
	typ, err := newTypeObject(name, rt)
	if err == nil {
	types[rt] = typ
	}
	return typ, err
	}

	func checkId(want, got typeId) {
	if want != got {
	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "checkId: %d should be %d\n", int(want), int(got))
	panic("bootstrap type wrong id: " + got.Name() + " " + got.string() + " not " + want.string())
	}
	}

	// used for building the basic types; called only from init()
	func bootstrapType(name string, e interface{}, expect typeId) typeId {
	rt := reflect.Typeof(e)
	_, present := types[rt]
	if present {
	panic("bootstrap type already present: " + name + ", " + rt.String())
	}
	typ := &commonType{name: name}
	types[rt] = typ
	setTypeId(typ)
	checkId(expect, nextId)
	return nextId
	}

	// Representation of the information we send and receive about this type.
	// Each value we send is preceded by its type definition: an encoded int.
	// However, the very first time we send the value, we first send the pair
	// (-id, wireType).
	// For bootstrapping purposes, we assume that the recipient knows how
	// to decode a wireType; it is exactly the wireType struct here, interpreted
	// using the gob rules for sending a structure, except that we assume the
	// ids for wireType and structType are known. The relevant pieces
	// are built in encode.go's init() function.
	// To maintain binary compatibility, if you extend this type, always put
	// the new fields last.
	type wireType struct {
	arrayT *arrayType
	sliceT *sliceType
	structT *structType
	mapT *mapType
	}

	func (w *wireType) name() string {
	if w.structT != nil {
	return w.structT.name
	}
	return "unknown"
	}

	type typeInfo struct {
	id typeId
	encoder *encEngine
	wire *wireType
	}

	var typeInfoMap = make(map[reflect.Type]*typeInfo) // protected by typeLock

	// The reflection type must have all its indirections processed out.
	// typeLock must be held.
	func getTypeInfo(rt reflect.Type) (*typeInfo, os.Error) {
	if rt.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
	panic("pointer type in getTypeInfo: " + rt.String())
	}
	info, ok := typeInfoMap[rt]
	if !ok {
	info = new(typeInfo)
	name := rt.Name()
	gt, err := getType(name, rt)
	if err != nil {
	return nil, err
	}
	info.id = gt.id()
	t := info.id.gobType()
	switch typ := rt.(type) {
	case *reflect.ArrayType:
	info.wire = &wireType{arrayT: t.(*arrayType)}
	case *reflect.MapType:
	info.wire = &wireType{mapT: t.(*mapType)}
	case *reflect.SliceType:
	// []byte == []uint8 is a special case handled separately
	if typ.Elem().Kind() != reflect.Uint8 {
	info.wire = &wireType{sliceT: t.(*sliceType)}
	}
	case *reflect.StructType:
	info.wire = &wireType{structT: t.(*structType)}
	}
	typeInfoMap[rt] = info
	}
	return info, nil
	}

	// Called only when a panic is acceptable and unexpected.
	func mustGetTypeInfo(rt reflect.Type) *typeInfo {
	t, err := getTypeInfo(rt)
	if err != nil {
	panic("getTypeInfo: " + err.String())
	}
	return t
	}

	var (
	nameToConcreteType = make(map[string]reflect.Type)
	concreteTypeToName = make(map[reflect.Type]string)
	)

	// RegisterName is like Register but uses the provided name rather than the
	// type's default.
	func RegisterName(name string, value interface{}) {
	if name == "" {
	// reserved for nil
	panic("attempt to register empty name")
	}
	rt, _ := indirect(reflect.Typeof(value))
	// Check for incompatible duplicates.
	if t, ok := nameToConcreteType[name]; ok && t != rt {
	panic("gob: registering duplicate types for " + name)
	}
	if n, ok := concreteTypeToName[rt]; ok && n != name {
	panic("gob: registering duplicate names for " + rt.String())
	}
	nameToConcreteType[name] = rt
	concreteTypeToName[rt] = name
	}

	// Register records a type, identified by a value for that type, under its
	// internal type name. That name will identify the concrete type of a value
	// sent or received as an interface variable. Only types that will be
	// transferred as implementations of interface values need to be registered.
	// Expecting to be used only during initialization, it panics if the mapping
	// between types and names is not a bijection.
	func Register(value interface{}) {
	// Default to printed representation for unnamed types
	rt := reflect.Typeof(value)
	name := rt.String()

	// But for named types (or pointers to them), qualify with import path.
	// Dereference one pointer looking for a named type.
	star := ""
	if rt.Name() == "" {
	if pt, ok := rt.(*reflect.PtrType); ok {
	star = "*"
	rt = pt
	}
	}
	if rt.Name() != "" {
	if rt.PkgPath() == "" {
	name = star + rt.Name()
	} else {
	name = star + rt.PkgPath() + "." + rt.Name()
	}
	}

	RegisterName(name, value)
	}

	func registerBasics() {
	Register(int(0))
	Register(int8(0))
	Register(int16(0))
	Register(int32(0))
	Register(int64(0))
	Register(uint(0))
	Register(uint8(0))
	Register(uint16(0))
	Register(uint32(0))
	Register(uint64(0))
	Register(float(0))
	Register(float32(0))
	Register(float64(0))
	Register(complex(0i))
	Register(complex64(0i))
	Register(complex128(0i))
	Register(false)
	Register("")
	Register([]byte(nil))
	}