VarDump is a highly customizable utility for serialization runtime objects to C# or Visual Basic string.

Developed as a free alternative to ObjectDumper.NET, which is not free for commercial use.

Actively used as a part of Object Dumper Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code extension

C# & VB Dumper:

Run .NET fiddle

using System;
using VarDump;

var anonymousObject = new { Name = "Name", Surname = "Surname" };
var cs = new CSharpDumper().Dump(anonymousObject);
Console.WriteLine(cs);
var vb = new VisualBasicDumper().Dump(anonymousObject);
Console.WriteLine(vb);

C# & VB Dumper, how to use DumpOptions:

Run .NET fiddle

using System;
using System.ComponentModel;
using VarDump;
using VarDump.Visitor;

var person = new Person { Name = "Nick", Age = 23 };
var options = new DumpOptions { SortDirection = ListSortDirection.Ascending };

var csDumper = new CSharpDumper(options);
var cs = csDumper.Dump(person);

var vbDumper = new VisualBasicDumper(options);
var vb = vbDumper.Dump(person);

// C# string
Console.WriteLine(cs);
// VB string
Console.WriteLine(vb);

class Person
{
    public string Name {get; set;}
    public int Age {get; set;}
}

To dump with extension methods, please install a separate VarDump.Extensions package.

Dump Extension methods:

Run .NET fiddle

using System;
using System.Linq;

var dictionary = new[]
{
    new
    {
        Name = "Name1",
        Surname = "Surname1"
    }
}.ToDictionary(x => x.Name, x => x);

Console.WriteLine(dictionary.Dump());

Dump Extension methods, how to switch default dumper to VB:

Run .NET fiddle

using System;
using System.Linq;

VarDumpExtensions.VarDumpFactory = VarDumpFactories.VisualBasic;

var dictionary = new[]
{
    new
    {
        Name = "Name1",
        Surname = "Surname1"
    }
}.ToDictionary(x => x.Name, x => x);

Console.WriteLine(dictionary.Dump());

Extensibility:

With middleware:

Run .NET fiddle

using System;
using VarDump;
using VarDump.Visitor;
using VarDump.Visitor.Descriptors;
using VarDump.Visitor.Descriptors.Specific;

// For more examples see https://github.com/ycherkes/VarDump/blob/main/test/VarDump.UnitTests/ObjectDescriptorMiddlewareSpec.cs

var obj = new
{
    FullName = "BRUCE LEE",
    CardNumber = "4953089013607",
    OtherInfo = new 
    {
        CardNumber = "5201294442453002",
    }
};

var options = new DumpOptions
{
    Descriptors = 
    { 
        new ObjectContentReplacer { Replacement = MaskCardNumber }
    }
};

var csDumper = new CSharpDumper(options);
var cs = csDumper.Dump(obj);

var vbDumper = new VisualBasicDumper(options);
var vb = vbDumper.Dump(obj);

// C# string
Console.WriteLine(cs);

// VB string
Console.WriteLine(vb);

static ReflectionDescription MaskCardNumber(ReflectionDescription description)
{
    if (!IsCardNumber(description) || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace((string)description.Value))
    {
        return description;
    }

    var stringValue = (string)description.Value;

    var maskedValue = stringValue.Length - 4 > 0
        ? new string('*', stringValue.Length - 4) + stringValue.Substring(stringValue.Length - 4)
        : stringValue;

    return description with
    {
        Value = maskedValue
    };

    static bool IsCardNumber(ReflectionDescription description)
    {
        return description.Type == typeof(string)
               && description.Name?.EndsWith("cardnumber", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) == true;
    }
}

With KnownObjectVisitor:

Run .NET fiddle

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using VarDump;
using VarDump.CodeDom.Compiler;
using VarDump.Visitor;

// For more examples see https://github.com/ycherkes/VarDump/blob/main/test/VarDump.UnitTests/KnownObjectsSpec.cs

const string name = "World";
FormattableString str = $"Hello, {name}";

var options = new DumpOptions
{
    ConfigureKnownObjects = (knownObjects, nextDepthVisitor, _, codeWriter) =>
    {
        knownObjects.Add(new FormattableStringVisitor(nextDepthVisitor, codeWriter));
    }
};

var dumper = new CSharpDumper(options);
var result = dumper.Dump(str);
Console.WriteLine(result);

return;

class FormattableStringVisitor(INextDepthVisitor nextDepthVisitor, ICodeWriter codeWriter) : IKnownObjectVisitor
{
    public string Id => nameof(FormattableString);

    public bool IsSuitableFor(object obj, Type objectType)
    {
        return obj is FormattableString;
    }

    public void ConfigureOptions(Action<DumpOptions> configure)
    {
    }

    public void Visit(object obj, Type objectType, VisitContext context)
    {
        var formattableString = (FormattableString)obj;

        IEnumerable<Action> arguments =
        [
            () => codeWriter.WritePrimitive(formattableString.Format)
        ];

        arguments = arguments.Concat(formattableString.GetArguments().Select(a => (Action)(() => nextDepthVisitor.Visit(a, context))));

        codeWriter.WriteMethodInvoke(() =>
            codeWriter.WriteMethodReference(
                () => codeWriter.WriteType(typeof(FormattableStringFactory)),
                nameof(FormattableStringFactory.Create)),
            arguments);
    }
}

For more examples see Unit Tests

Compare VarDump with ObjectDumper.NET - Run .NET fiddle

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Heavily customized version of System.CodeDom

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This tool has been working well for my personal needs, but outside that its future depends on your feedback. Feel free to open an issue.

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