import datetime import json def json_debug_handler(obj): print("object received:") print type(obj) print("\n\n") if isinstance(obj, datetime.datetime): return obj.isoformat() elif isinstance(obj,mDict): return {'orig':obj , 'attrs': vars(obj)} elif isinstance(obj,mList): return {'orig':obj, 'attrs': vars(obj)} else: return None class mDict(dict): pass class mList(list): pass def test_debug_json(): games = mList(['mario','contra','tetris']) games.src = 'console' scores = mDict({'dp':10,'pk':45}) scores.processed = "qunprocessed" test_json = { 'games' : games , 'scores' : scores , 'date': datetime.datetime.now() } print(json.dumps(test_json,default=json_debug_handler)) if __name__ == '__main__': test_debug_json()