edsl 0.1.46__py3-none-any.whl → 0.1.48__py3-none-any.whl

edsl/base/base_class.py

@@ -0,0 +1,1303 @@
+"""Base class for all classes in the package.
+
+This module provides the foundation for all classes in the EDSL framework, implementing core
+functionality such as serialization, persistence, rich representation, and object comparison.
+The Base class combines several mixins that provide different aspects of functionality:
+    - RepresentationMixin: Handles object display and visualization
+    - PersistenceMixin: Manages saving/loading objects and cloud operations
+    - DiffMethodsMixin: Enables object comparison and differencing
+    - HashingMixin: Provides consistent hashing and equality operations
+
+Classes inheriting from Base get a rich set of capabilities "for free" including
+JSON/YAML serialization, file persistence, pretty printing, and object comparison.
+"""
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod, ABCMeta
+import gzip
+import json
+from typing import Any, Optional, Union
+from uuid import UUID
+import difflib
+import json
+from typing import Any, Dict, Tuple
+from collections import UserList
+import inspect
+
+class BaseException(Exception):
+    """Base exception class for all EDSL exceptions.
+    
+    This class extends the standard Python Exception class to provide more helpful error messages
+    by including links to relevant documentation and example notebooks when available.
+    
+    Attributes:
+        relevant_doc: URL to documentation explaining this type of exception
+        relevant_notebook: Optional URL to a notebook with usage examples
+    """
+    relevant_doc = "https://docs.expectedparrot.com/"
+
+    def __init__(self, message, *, show_docs=True):
+        """Initialize a new BaseException with formatted error message.
+        
+        Args:
+            message: The primary error message
+            show_docs: If True, append documentation links to the error message
+        """
+        # Format main error message
+        formatted_message = [message.strip()]
+
+        # Add documentation links if requested
+        if show_docs:
+            if hasattr(self, "relevant_doc"):
+                formatted_message.append(
+                    f"\nFor more information, see:\n{self.relevant_doc}"
+                )
+            if hasattr(self, "relevant_notebook"):
+                formatted_message.append(
+                    f"\nFor a usage example, see:\n{self.relevant_notebook}"
+                )
+
+        # Join with double newlines for clear separation
+        final_message = "\n\n".join(formatted_message)
+        super().__init__(final_message)
+
+
+class DisplayJSON:
+    """Display a dictionary as JSON."""
+
+    def __init__(self, input_dict: dict):
+        self.text = json.dumps(input_dict, indent=4)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return self.text
+
+
+class DisplayYAML:
+    """Display a dictionary as YAML."""
+
+    def __init__(self, input_dict: dict):
+        import yaml
+
+        self.text = yaml.dump(input_dict)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return self.text
+
+
+class PersistenceMixin:
+    """Mixin for saving and loading objects to and from files.
+    
+    This mixin provides methods for serializing objects to various formats (JSON, YAML),
+    saving to and loading from files, and interacting with cloud storage. It enables
+    persistence operations like duplicating objects and uploading/downloading from the
+    EDSL cooperative platform.
+    """
+
+    def duplicate(self, add_edsl_version=False):
+        """Create and return a deep copy of the object.
+        
+        Args:
+            add_edsl_version: Whether to include EDSL version information in the duplicated object
+            
+        Returns:
+            A new instance of the same class with identical properties
+        """
+        return self.from_dict(self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=False))
+    
+    @classmethod
+    def help(cls):
+        """Display the class documentation string.
+        
+        This is a convenience method to quickly access the docstring of the class.
+        
+        Returns:
+            None, but prints the class docstring to stdout
+        """
+        print(cls.__doc__)
+
+    def push(
+        self,
+        description: Optional[str] = None,
+        alias: Optional[str] = None,
+        visibility: Optional[str] = "unlisted",
+        expected_parrot_url: Optional[str] = None,
+    ):
+        """Upload this object to the EDSL cooperative platform.
+        
+        This method serializes the object and posts it to the EDSL coop service,
+        making it accessible to others or for your own use across sessions.
+        
+        Args:
+            description: Optional text description of the object
+            alias: Optional human-readable identifier for the object
+            visibility: Access level setting ("private", "unlisted", or "public")
+            expected_parrot_url: Optional custom URL for the coop service
+            
+        Returns:
+            The response from the coop service containing the object's unique identifier
+        """
+        from edsl.coop import Coop
+
+        c = Coop(url=expected_parrot_url)
+        return c.create(self, description, alias, visibility)
+
+    def to_yaml(self, add_edsl_version=False, filename: str = None) -> Union[str, None]:
+        """Convert the object to YAML format.
+        
+        Serializes the object to YAML format and optionally writes it to a file.
+        
+        Args:
+            add_edsl_version: Whether to include EDSL version information
+            filename: If provided, write the YAML to this file path
+            
+        Returns:
+            str: The YAML string representation if no filename is provided
+            None: If written to file
+        """
+        import yaml
+
+        output = yaml.dump(self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=add_edsl_version))
+        if not filename:
+            return output
+
+        with open(filename, "w") as f:
+            f.write(output)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_yaml(cls, yaml_str: Optional[str] = None, filename: Optional[str] = None):
+        """Create an instance from YAML data.
+        
+        Deserializes a YAML string or file into a new instance of the class.
+        
+        Args:
+            yaml_str: YAML string containing object data
+            filename: Path to a YAML file containing object data
+            
+        Returns:
+            A new instance of the class populated with the deserialized data
+            
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: If neither yaml_str nor filename is provided
+        """
+        if yaml_str is None and filename is not None:
+            with open(filename, "r") as f:
+                yaml_str = f.read()
+                return cls.from_yaml(yaml_str=yaml_str)
+        elif yaml_str and filename is None:
+            import yaml
+
+            d = yaml.load(yaml_str, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
+            return cls.from_dict(d)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Either yaml_str or filename must be provided.")
+
+    def create_download_link(self):
+        """Generate a downloadable link for this object.
+        
+        Creates a temporary file containing the serialized object and generates
+        a download link that can be shared with others.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: A URL that can be used to download the object
+        """
+        from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
+        from edsl.scenarios import FileStore
+
+        with NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".json.gz") as f:
+            self.save(f.name)
+            print(f.name)
+            fs = FileStore(path=f.name)
+        return fs.create_link()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def pull(
+        cls,
+        url_or_uuid: Optional[Union[str, UUID]] = None,
+    ):
+        """Pull the object from coop.
+
+        Args:
+            url_or_uuid: Either a UUID string or a URL pointing to the object
+        """
+        from edsl.coop import Coop
+        from edsl.coop import ObjectRegistry
+
+        object_type = ObjectRegistry.get_object_type_by_edsl_class(cls)
+        coop = Coop()
+
+        return coop.get(url_or_uuid, expected_object_type=object_type)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def delete(cls, url_or_uuid: Union[str, UUID]) -> None:
+        """Delete the object from coop."""
+        from edsl.coop import Coop
+
+        coop = Coop()
+
+        return coop.delete(url_or_uuid)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def patch_cls(
+        cls,
+        url_or_uuid: Union[str, UUID],
+        description: Optional[str] = None,
+        value: Optional[Any] = None,
+        visibility: Optional[str] = None,
+    ):
+        """
+        Patch an uploaded object's attributes (class method version).
+        - `description` changes the description of the object on Coop
+        - `value` changes the value of the object on Coop. **has to be an EDSL object**
+        - `visibility` changes the visibility of the object on Coop
+        """
+        from edsl.coop import Coop
+
+        coop = Coop()
+
+        return coop.patch(
+            url_or_uuid=url_or_uuid,
+            description=description,
+            value=value,
+            visibility=visibility,
+        )
+
+    class ClassOrInstanceMethod:
+        """Descriptor that allows a method to be called as both a class method and an instance method."""
+
+        def __init__(self, func):
+            self.func = func
+
+        def __get__(self, obj, objtype=None):
+            if obj is None:
+                # Called as a class method
+                def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+                    return self.func(objtype, *args, **kwargs)
+
+                return wrapper
+            else:
+                # Called as an instance method
+                def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+                    return self.func(obj, *args, **kwargs)
+
+                return wrapper
+
+    @ClassOrInstanceMethod
+    def patch(
+        self_or_cls,
+        url_or_uuid: Union[str, UUID],
+        description: Optional[str] = None,
+        value: Optional[Any] = None,
+        visibility: Optional[str] = None,
+    ):
+        """
+        Patch an uploaded object's attributes.
+
+        When called as a class method:
+        - Requires explicit `value` parameter
+
+        When called as an instance method:
+        - Uses the instance itself as the `value` parameter
+
+        Parameters:
+        - `id_or_url`: ID or URL of the object to patch
+        - `description`: changes the description of the object on Coop
+        - `value`: changes the value of the object on Coop (required for class method)
+        - `visibility`: changes the visibility of the object on Coop
+        """
+
+        # Check if this is being called as a class method
+        if isinstance(self_or_cls, type):
+            # This is a class method call
+            cls = self_or_cls
+            return cls.patch_cls(
+                url_or_uuid=url_or_uuid,
+                description=description,
+                value=value,
+                visibility=visibility,
+            )
+        else:
+            # This is an instance method call
+            instance = self_or_cls
+            cls_type = instance.__class__
+
+            # Use the instance as the value if not explicitly provided
+            if value is None:
+                value = instance
+            else:
+                pass
+
+            return cls_type.patch_cls(
+                url_or_uuid=url_or_uuid,
+                description=description,
+                value=value,
+                visibility=visibility,
+            )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def search(cls, query):
+        """Search for objects on coop."""
+        from edsl.coop import Coop
+
+        c = Coop()
+        return c.search(cls, query)
+
+    def store(self, d: dict, key_name: Optional[str] = None):
+        if key_name is None:
+            index = len(d)
+        else:
+            index = key_name
+        d[index] = self
+
+    def save(self, filename, compress=True):
+        """Save the object to a file as JSON with optional compression.
+
+        Serializes the object to JSON and writes it to the specified file.
+        By default, the file will be compressed using gzip. File extensions
+        are handled automatically.
+        
+        Args:
+            filename: Path where the file should be saved
+            compress: If True, compress the file using gzip (default: True)
+            
+        Returns:
+            None
+            
+        Examples:
+            >>> obj.save("my_object.json.gz")  # Compressed
+            >>> obj.save("my_object.json", compress=False)  # Uncompressed
+        """
+        if filename.endswith("json.gz"):
+            import warnings
+
+            filename = filename[:-8]
+        if filename.endswith("json"):
+            filename = filename[:-5]
+
+        if compress:
+            full_file_name = filename + ".json.gz"
+            with gzip.open(full_file_name, "wb") as f:
+                f.write(json.dumps(self.to_dict()).encode("utf-8"))
+        else:
+            full_file_name = filename + ".json"
+            with open(filename + ".json", "w") as f:
+                f.write(json.dumps(self.to_dict()))
+
+        print("Saved to", full_file_name)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def open_compressed_file(filename):
+        """Read and parse a compressed JSON file.
+        
+        Args:
+            filename: Path to a gzipped JSON file
+            
+        Returns:
+            dict: The parsed JSON content
+        """
+        with gzip.open(filename, "rb") as f:
+            file_contents = f.read()
+            file_contents_decoded = file_contents.decode("utf-8")
+            d = json.loads(file_contents_decoded)
+        return d
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def open_regular_file(filename):
+        """Read and parse an uncompressed JSON file.
+        
+        Args:
+            filename: Path to a JSON file
+            
+        Returns:
+            dict: The parsed JSON content
+        """
+        with open(filename, "r") as f:
+            d = json.loads(f.read())
+        return d
+
+    @classmethod
+    def load(cls, filename):
+        """Load the object from a JSON file (compressed or uncompressed).
+        
+        This method deserializes an object from a file, automatically detecting
+        whether the file is compressed with gzip or not.
+        
+        Args:
+            filename: Path to the file to load
+            
+        Returns:
+            An instance of the class populated with data from the file
+            
+        Raises:
+            Various exceptions may be raised if the file doesn't exist or contains invalid data
+        """
+        if filename.endswith("json.gz"):
+            d = cls.open_compressed_file(filename)
+        elif filename.endswith("json"):
+            d = cls.open_regular_file(filename)
+        else:
+            try:
+                d = cls.open_compressed_file(filename + ".json.gz")
+            except:
+                d = cls.open_regular_file(filename + ".json")
+            # finally:
+            #    raise ValueError("File must be a json or json.gz file")
+
+        return cls.from_dict(d)
+
+
+class RegisterSubclassesMeta(ABCMeta):
+    """Metaclass for automatically registering all subclasses.
+    
+    This metaclass maintains a registry of all classes that inherit from Base,
+    allowing for dynamic discovery of available classes and capabilities like
+    automatic deserialization. When a new class is defined with Base as its
+    parent, this metaclass automatically adds it to the registry.
+    """
+
+    _registry = {}
+
+    def __init__(cls, name, bases, nmspc):
+        """Register the class in the registry upon creation.
+        
+        Args:
+            name: The name of the class being created
+            bases: The base classes of the class being created
+            nmspc: The namespace of the class being created
+        """
+        super(RegisterSubclassesMeta, cls).__init__(name, bases, nmspc)
+        if cls.__name__ != "Base":
+            RegisterSubclassesMeta._registry[cls.__name__] = cls
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_registry(exclude_classes: Optional[list] = None):
+        """Get the registry of all registered subclasses.
+        
+        Args:
+            exclude_classes: Optional list of class names to exclude from the result
+            
+        Returns:
+            dict: A dictionary mapping class names to class objects
+        """
+        if exclude_classes is None:
+            exclude_classes = []
+        return {
+            k: v
+            for k, v in dict(RegisterSubclassesMeta._registry).items()
+            if k not in exclude_classes
+        }
+
+
+class DiffMethodsMixin:
+    """Mixin that adds the ability to compute differences between objects.
+    
+    This mixin provides operator overloads that enable convenient comparison and
+    differencing between objects of the same class.
+    """
+    
+    def __sub__(self, other):
+        """Calculate the difference between this object and another.
+        
+        This overloads the subtraction operator (-) to provide an intuitive way
+        to compare objects and find their differences.
+        
+        Args:
+            other: Another object to compare against this one
+            
+        Returns:
+            BaseDiff: An object representing the differences between the two objects
+        """
+        from edsl.base import BaseDiff
+
+        return BaseDiff(self, other)
+
+
+def is_iterable(obj):
+    """Check if an object is iterable.
+    
+    Args:
+        obj: The object to check
+        
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if the object is iterable, False otherwise
+    """
+    try:
+        iter(obj)
+    except TypeError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+class RepresentationMixin:
+    """Mixin that provides rich display and representation capabilities.
+    
+    This mixin enhances objects with methods for displaying their contents in various
+    formats including JSON, HTML tables, and rich terminal output. It improves the
+    user experience when working with EDSL objects in notebooks and terminals.
+    """
+    
+    def json(self):
+        """Get a parsed JSON representation of this object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: The object's data as a Python dictionary
+        """
+        return json.loads(json.dumps(self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=False)))
+
+    def to_dataset(self):
+        """Convert this object to a Dataset for advanced data operations.
+        
+        Returns:
+            Dataset: A Dataset object containing this object's data
+        """
+        from edsl.dataset import Dataset
+
+        return Dataset.from_edsl_object(self)
+
+    def view(self):
+        """Display an interactive visualization of this object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            The result of the dataset's view method
+        """
+        return self.to_dataset().view()
+
+    # def print(self, format="rich"):
+    #     return self.to_dataset().table()
+
+    def display_dict(self):
+        """Create a flattened dictionary representation for display purposes.
+        
+        This method creates a flattened view of nested structures using colon notation
+        in keys to represent hierarchy.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: A flattened dictionary suitable for display
+        """
+        display_dict = {}
+        d = self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=False)
+        for key, value in d.items():
+            if isinstance(value, dict):
+                for k, v in value.items():
+                    display_dict[f"{key}:{k}"] = v
+            elif isinstance(value, list):
+                for i, v in enumerate(value):
+                    display_dict[f"{key}:{i}"] = v
+            else:
+                display_dict[key] = value
+        return display_dict
+
+    def print(self, format="rich"):
+        """Print a formatted table representation of this object.
+        
+        Args:
+            format: The output format (currently only 'rich' is supported)
+            
+        Returns:
+            None, but prints a formatted table to the console
+        """
+        from rich.table import Table
+        from rich.console import Console
+
+        table = Table(title=self.__class__.__name__)
+        table.add_column("Key", style="bold")
+        table.add_column("Value", style="bold")
+
+        for key, value in self.display_dict().items():
+            table.add_row(key, str(value))
+
+        console = Console(record=True)
+        console.print(table)
+
+    def _repr_html_(self):
+        """Generate an HTML representation for Jupyter notebooks.
+        
+        This method is automatically called by Jupyter to render the object
+        as HTML in notebook cells.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: HTML representation of the object
+        """
+        from edsl.dataset.display.table_display import TableDisplay
+        
+        if hasattr(self, "_summary"):
+            summary_dict = self._summary()
+            summary_line = "".join([f" {k}: {v};" for k, v in summary_dict.items()])
+            class_name = self.__class__.__name__
+            docs = getattr(self, "__documentation__", "")
+            return (
+                "<p>"
+                + f"<a href='{docs}'>{class_name}</a>"
+                + summary_line
+                + "</p>"
+                + self.table()._repr_html_()
+            )
+        else:
+            class_name = self.__class__.__name__
+            documentation = getattr(self, "__documentation__", "")
+            summary_line = "<p>" + f"<a href='{documentation}'>{class_name}</a>" + "</p>"
+            display_dict = self.display_dict()
+            return (
+                summary_line
+                + TableDisplay.from_dictionary_wide(display_dict)._repr_html_()
+            )
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return the string representation of the object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: String representation of the object
+        """
+        return self.__repr__()
+
+
+class HashingMixin:
+    """Mixin that provides consistent hashing and equality operations.
+    
+    This mixin implements __hash__ and __eq__ methods to enable using EDSL objects
+    in sets and as dictionary keys. The hash is based on the object's serialized content,
+    so two objects with identical content will be considered equal.
+    """
+    
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        """Generate a hash value for this object based on its content.
+        
+        The hash is computed from the serialized dictionary representation of the object,
+        excluding any version information.
+        
+        Returns:
+            int: A hash value for the object
+        """
+        from edsl.utilities.utilities import dict_hash
+
+        return dict_hash(self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=False))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        """Compare this object with another for equality.
+        
+        Two objects are considered equal if they have the same hash value,
+        which means they have identical content.
+        
+        Args:
+            other: Another object to compare with this one
+            
+        Returns:
+            bool: True if the objects are equal, False otherwise
+        """
+        return hash(self) == hash(other)
+
+
+class Base(
+    RepresentationMixin,
+    PersistenceMixin,
+    DiffMethodsMixin,
+    HashingMixin,
+    ABC,
+    metaclass=RegisterSubclassesMeta,
+):
+    """Base class for all classes in the EDSL package.
+    
+    This abstract base class combines several mixins to provide a rich set of functionality
+    to all EDSL objects. It defines the core interface that all EDSL objects must implement,
+    including serialization, deserialization, and code generation.
+    
+    All EDSL classes should inherit from this class to ensure consistent behavior
+    and capabilities across the framework.
+    """
+
+    def keys(self):
+        """Get the key names in the object's dictionary representation.
+        
+        This method returns all the keys in the serialized form of the object,
+        excluding metadata keys like version information.
+        
+        Returns:
+            list: A list of key names
+        """
+        _keys = list(self.to_dict().keys())
+        if "edsl_version" in _keys:
+            _keys.remove("edsl_version")
+        if "edsl_class_name" in _keys:
+            _keys.remove("edsl_class_name")
+        return _keys
+
+    def values(self):
+        """Get the values in the object's dictionary representation.
+        
+        Returns:
+            set: A set containing all the values in the object
+        """
+        data = self.to_dict()
+        keys = self.keys()
+        return {data[key] for key in keys}
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def example():
+        """Create an example instance of this class.
+        
+        This method should be implemented by all subclasses to provide
+        a convenient way to create example objects for testing and demonstration.
+        
+        Returns:
+            An instance of the class with sample data
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("This method is not implemented yet.")
+    
+    def json(self):
+        """Get a formatted JSON representation of this object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            DisplayJSON: A displayable JSON representation
+        """
+        return DisplayJSON(self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=False))
+
+    def yaml(self):
+        """Get a formatted YAML representation of this object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            DisplayYAML: A displayable YAML representation
+        """
+        import yaml
+        return DisplayYAML(self.to_dict(add_edsl_version=False))
+
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def to_dict():
+        """Serialize this object to a dictionary.
+        
+        This method must be implemented by all subclasses to provide a
+        standard way to serialize objects to dictionaries. The dictionary
+        should contain all the data needed to reconstruct the object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: A dictionary representation of the object
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("This method is not implemented yet.")
+
+    def to_json(self):
+        """Serialize this object to a JSON string.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: A JSON string representation of the object
+        """
+        return json.dumps(self.to_dict())
+
+    def store(self, d: dict, key_name: Optional[str] = None):
+        """Store this object in a dictionary with an optional key.
+        
+        Args:
+            d: The dictionary in which to store the object
+            key_name: Optional key to use (defaults to the length of the dictionary)
+            
+        Returns:
+            None
+        """
+        if key_name is None:
+            index = len(d)
+        else:
+            index = key_name
+        d[index] = self
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def from_dict():
+        """Create an instance from a dictionary.
+        
+        This class method must be implemented by all subclasses to provide a
+        standard way to deserialize objects from dictionaries.
+        
+        Returns:
+            An instance of the class populated with data from the dictionary
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("This method is not implemented yet.")
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def code():
+        """Generate Python code that recreates this object.
+        
+        This method must be implemented by all subclasses to provide a way to
+        generate executable Python code that can recreate the object.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: Python code that, when executed, creates an equivalent object
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("This method is not implemented yet.")
+
+    def show_methods(self, show_docstrings=True):
+        """Display all public methods available on this object.
+        
+        This utility method helps explore the capabilities of an object by listing
+        all its public methods and optionally their documentation.
+        
+        Args:
+            show_docstrings: If True, print method names with docstrings;
+                            if False, return the list of method names
+                            
+        Returns:
+            None or list: If show_docstrings is True, prints methods and returns None.
+                         If show_docstrings is False, returns a list of method names.
+        """
+        public_methods_with_docstrings = [
+            (method, getattr(self, method).__doc__)
+            for method in dir(self)
+            if callable(getattr(self, method)) and not method.startswith("_")
+        ]
+        if show_docstrings:
+            for method, documentation in public_methods_with_docstrings:
+                print(f"{method}: {documentation}")
+        else:
+            return [x[0] for x in public_methods_with_docstrings]
+
+
+class BaseDiffCollection(UserList):
+    """A collection of difference objects that can be applied in sequence.
+    
+    This class represents a series of differences between objects that can be
+    applied sequentially to transform one object into another through several steps.
+    """
+    
+    def __init__(self, diffs=None):
+        """Initialize a new BaseDiffCollection.
+        
+        Args:
+            diffs: Optional list of BaseDiff objects to include in the collection
+        """
+        if diffs is None:
+            diffs = []
+        super().__init__(diffs)
+
+    def apply(self, obj: Any):
+        """Apply all diffs in the collection to an object in sequence.
+        
+        Args:
+            obj: The object to transform
+            
+        Returns:
+            The transformed object after applying all diffs
+        """
+        for diff in self:
+            obj = diff.apply(obj)
+        return obj
+
+    def add_diff(self, diff) -> "BaseDiffCollection":
+        """Add a new diff to the collection.
+        
+        Args:
+            diff: The BaseDiff object to add
+            
+        Returns:
+            BaseDiffCollection: self, for method chaining
+        """
+        self.append(diff)
+        return self
+
+
+class DummyObject:
+    """A simple class that can be used to wrap a dictionary for diffing purposes.
+    
+    This utility class is used internally to compare dictionaries by adapting them
+    to the same interface as EDSL objects.
+    """
+    
+    def __init__(self, object_dict):
+        """Initialize a new DummyObject.
+        
+        Args:
+            object_dict: A dictionary to wrap
+        """
+        self.object_dict = object_dict
+
+    def to_dict(self):
+        """Get the wrapped dictionary.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: The wrapped dictionary
+        """
+        return self.object_dict
+
+
+class BaseDiff:
+    """Represents the differences between two EDSL objects.
+    
+    This class computes and stores the differences between two objects in terms of:
+    - Added keys/values (present in obj2 but not in obj1)
+    - Removed keys/values (present in obj1 but not in obj2)
+    - Modified keys/values (present in both but with different values)
+    
+    The differences can be displayed for inspection or applied to transform objects.
+    """
+    
+    def __init__(
+        self, obj1: Any, obj2: Any, added=None, removed=None, modified=None, level=0
+    ):
+        """Initialize a new BaseDiff between two objects.
+        
+        Args:
+            obj1: The first object (considered the "from" object)
+            obj2: The second object (considered the "to" object)
+            added: Optional pre-computed dict of added keys/values
+            removed: Optional pre-computed dict of removed keys/values
+            modified: Optional pre-computed dict of modified keys/values
+            level: Nesting level for diff display formatting
+        """
+        self.level = level
+
+        self.obj1 = obj1
+        self.obj2 = obj2
+
+        if "sort" in inspect.signature(obj1.to_dict).parameters:
+            self._dict1 = obj1.to_dict(sort=True)
+            self._dict2 = obj2.to_dict(sort=True)
+        else:
+            self._dict1 = obj1.to_dict()
+            self._dict2 = obj2.to_dict()
+        self._obj_class = type(obj1)
+
+        self.added = added
+        self.removed = removed
+        self.modified = modified
+
+    def __bool__(self):
+        """Determine if there are any differences between the objects.
+        
+        Returns:
+            bool: True if there are differences, False if objects are identical
+        """
+        return bool(self.added or self.removed or self.modified)
+
+    @property
+    def added(self):
+        """Get keys and values present in obj2 but not in obj1.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: Keys and values that were added
+        """
+        if self._added is None:
+            self._added = self._find_added()
+        return self._added
+
+    def __add__(self, other):
+        """Apply this diff to another object.
+        
+        This overloads the + operator to allow applying diffs with a natural syntax.
+        
+        Args:
+            other: The object to apply the diff to
+            
+        Returns:
+            The transformed object
+        """
+        return self.apply(other)
+
+    @added.setter
+    def added(self, value):
+        """Set the added keys/values.
+        
+        Args:
+            value: Dict of added keys/values or None to compute automatically
+        """
+        self._added = value if value is not None else self._find_added()
+
+    @property
+    def removed(self):
+        """Get keys and values present in obj1 but not in obj2.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: Keys and values that were removed
+        """
+        if self._removed is None:
+            self._removed = self._find_removed()
+        return self._removed
+
+    @removed.setter
+    def removed(self, value):
+        """Set the removed keys/values.
+        
+        Args:
+            value: Dict of removed keys/values or None to compute automatically
+        """
+        self._removed = value if value is not None else self._find_removed()
+
+    @property
+    def modified(self):
+        """Get keys present in both objects but with different values.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: Keys and their old/new values that were modified
+        """
+        if self._modified is None:
+            self._modified = self._find_modified()
+        return self._modified
+
+    @modified.setter
+    def modified(self, value):
+        """Set the modified keys/values.
+        
+        Args:
+            value: Dict of modified keys/values or None to compute automatically
+        """
+        self._modified = value if value is not None else self._find_modified()
+
+    def _find_added(self) -> Dict[Any, Any]:
+        """Find keys that exist in obj2 but not in obj1.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: Keys and values that were added
+        """
+        return {k: self._dict2[k] for k in self._dict2 if k not in self._dict1}
+
+    def _find_removed(self) -> Dict[Any, Any]:
+        """Find keys that exist in obj1 but not in obj2.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: Keys and values that were removed
+        """
+        return {k: self._dict1[k] for k in self._dict1 if k not in self._dict2}
+
+    def _find_modified(self) -> Dict[Any, Tuple[Any, Any, str]]:
+        """Find keys that exist in both objects but have different values.
+        
+        The difference calculation is type-aware and handles strings, dictionaries,
+        and lists specially to provide more detailed difference information.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: Keys mapped to tuples of (old_value, new_value, diff_details)
+        """
+        modified = {}
+        for k in self._dict1:
+            if k in self._dict2 and self._dict1[k] != self._dict2[k]:
+                if isinstance(self._dict1[k], str) and isinstance(self._dict2[k], str):
+                    diff = self._diff_strings(self._dict1[k], self._dict2[k])
+                    modified[k] = (self._dict1[k], self._dict2[k], diff)
+                elif isinstance(self._dict1[k], dict) and isinstance(
+                    self._dict2[k], dict
+                ):
+                    diff = self._diff_dicts(self._dict1[k], self._dict2[k])
+                    modified[k] = (self._dict1[k], self._dict2[k], diff)
+                elif isinstance(self._dict1[k], list) and isinstance(
+                    self._dict2[k], list
+                ):
+                    d1 = dict(zip(range(len(self._dict1[k])), self._dict1[k]))
+                    d2 = dict(zip(range(len(self._dict2[k])), self._dict2[k]))
+                    diff = BaseDiff(
+                        DummyObject(d1), DummyObject(d2), level=self.level + 1
+                    )
+                    modified[k] = (self._dict1[k], self._dict2[k], diff)
+                else:
+                    modified[k] = (self._dict1[k], self._dict2[k], "")
+        return modified
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def is_json(string_that_could_be_json: str) -> bool:
+        """Check if a string is valid JSON.
+        
+        Args:
+            string_that_could_be_json: The string to check
+            
+        Returns:
+            bool: True if the string is valid JSON, False otherwise
+        """
+        try:
+            json.loads(string_that_could_be_json)
+            return True
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            return False
+
+    def _diff_dicts(self, dict1: Dict[str, Any], dict2: Dict[str, Any]) -> "BaseDiff":
+        """Calculate the differences between two dictionaries.
+        
+        Args:
+            dict1: The first dictionary
+            dict2: The second dictionary
+            
+        Returns:
+            BaseDiff: A difference object between the dictionaries
+        """
+        diff = BaseDiff(DummyObject(dict1), DummyObject(dict2), level=self.level + 1)
+        return diff
+
+    def _diff_strings(self, str1: str, str2: str) -> str:
+        """Calculate the differences between two strings.
+        
+        If both strings are valid JSON, they are compared as dictionaries.
+        Otherwise, they are compared line by line.
+        
+        Args:
+            str1: The first string
+            str2: The second string
+            
+        Returns:
+            Union[BaseDiff, Iterable[str]]: A diff object or line-by-line differences
+        """
+        if self.is_json(str1) and self.is_json(str2):
+            diff = self._diff_dicts(json.loads(str1), json.loads(str2))
+            return diff
+        diff = difflib.ndiff(str1.splitlines(), str2.splitlines())
+        return diff
+
+    def apply(self, obj: Any):
+        """Apply this diff to transform an object.
+        
+        This method applies the computed differences to an object, adding new keys,
+        removing deleted keys, and updating modified values.
+        
+        Args:
+            obj: The object to transform
+            
+        Returns:
+            The transformed object
+        """
+        new_obj_dict = obj.to_dict()
+        for k, v in self.added.items():
+            new_obj_dict[k] = v
+        for k in self.removed.keys():
+            del new_obj_dict[k]
+        for k, (v1, v2, diff) in self.modified.items():
+            new_obj_dict[k] = v2
+
+        return obj.from_dict(new_obj_dict)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Serialize this difference object to a dictionary.
+        
+        Returns:
+            dict: A dictionary representation of the differences
+        """
+        return {
+            "added": self.added,
+            "removed": self.removed,
+            "modified": self.modified,
+            "obj1": self._dict1,
+            "obj2": self._dict2,
+            "obj_class": self._obj_class.__name__,
+            "level": self.level,
+        }
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, diff_dict: Dict[str, Any], obj1: Any, obj2: Any):
+        """Create a BaseDiff from a dictionary representation.
+        
+        Args:
+            diff_dict: Dictionary containing the difference data
+            obj1: The first object
+            obj2: The second object
+            
+        Returns:
+            BaseDiff: A new difference object
+        """
+        return cls(
+            obj1=obj1,
+            obj2=obj2,
+            added=diff_dict["added"],
+            removed=diff_dict["removed"],
+            modified=diff_dict["modified"],
+            level=diff_dict["level"],
+        )
+
+    class Results(UserList):
+        """Helper class for storing and formatting difference results.
+        
+        This class extends UserList to provide indentation and formatting
+        capabilities when displaying differences.
+        """
+        
+        def __init__(self, prepend=" ", level=0):
+            """Initialize a new Results collection.
+            
+            Args:
+                prepend: The string to use for indentation
+                level: The nesting level
+            """
+            super().__init__()
+            self.prepend = prepend
+            self.level = level
+
+        def append(self, item):
+            """Add an item to the results with proper indentation.
+            
+            Args:
+                item: The string to add
+            """
+            super().append(self.prepend * self.level + item)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Generate a human-readable string representation of the differences.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: A formatted string showing the differences
+        """
+        prepend = " "
+        result = self.Results(level=self.level, prepend="\t")
+        if self.added:
+            result.append("Added keys and values:")
+            for k, v in self.added.items():
+                result.append(prepend + f"  {k}: {v}")
+        if self.removed:
+            result.append("Removed keys and values:")
+            for k, v in self.removed.items():
+                result.append(f"  {k}: {v}")
+        if self.modified:
+            result.append("Modified keys and values:")
+            for k, (v1, v2, diff) in self.modified.items():
+                result.append(f"Key: {k}:")
+                result.append(f"    Old value: {v1}")
+                result.append(f"    New value: {v2}")
+                if diff:
+                    result.append(f"    Diff:")
+                    try:
+                        for line in diff:
+                            result.append(f"      {line}")
+                    except:
+                        result.append(f"      {diff}")
+        return "\n".join(result)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        """Generate a developer-friendly string representation.
+        
+        Returns:
+            str: A representation that can be used to recreate the object
+        """
+        return (
+            f"BaseDiff(obj1={self.obj1!r}, obj2={self.obj2!r}, added={self.added!r}, "
+            f"removed={self.removed!r}, modified={self.modified!r})"
+        )
+
+    def add_diff(self, diff) -> "BaseDiffCollection":
+        """Combine this diff with another into a collection.
+        
+        Args:
+            diff: Another BaseDiff object
+            
+        Returns:
+            BaseDiffCollection: A collection containing both diffs
+        """
+        from edsl.base import BaseDiffCollection
+        return BaseDiffCollection([self, diff])
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import doctest 
+    doctest.testmod()
+
+    from edsl import Question
+
+    q_ft = Question.example("free_text")
+    q_mc = Question.example("multiple_choice")
+
+    diff1 = q_ft - q_mc
+    assert q_ft == q_mc + diff1
+    assert q_ft == diff1.apply(q_mc)
+    
+    # ## Test chain of diffs
+    q0 = Question.example("free_text")
+    q1 = q0.copy()
+    q1.question_text = "Why is Buzzard's Bay so named?"
+    diff1 = q1 - q0
+    q2 = q1.copy()
+    q2.question_name = "buzzard_bay"
+    diff2 = q2 - q1
+
+    diff_chain = diff1.add_diff(diff2)
+
+    new_q2 = diff_chain.apply(q0)
+    assert new_q2 == q2
+
+    new_q2 = diff_chain + q0
+    assert new_q2 == q2