Merge pull request #118 from tiqi-group/feat/sio_server_client

Feat/sio server client

README.md

@@ -11,12 +11,17 @@
   - [Defining a DataService](#defining-a-dataservice)
   - [Running the Server](#running-the-server)
   - [Accessing the Web Interface](#accessing-the-web-interface)
-  - [Connecting to the Service using rpyc](#connecting-to-the-service-using-rpyc)
+  - [Connecting to the Service via Python Client](#connecting-to-the-service-via-python-client)
+    - [Tab Completion Support](#tab-completion-support)
+    - [Integration within Another Service](#integration-within-another-service)
 - [Understanding the Component System](#understanding-the-component-system)
   - [Built-in Type and Enum Components](#built-in-type-and-enum-components)
   - [Method Components](#method-components)
   - [DataService Instances (Nested Classes)](#dataservice-instances-nested-classes)
   - [Custom Components (`pydase.components`)](#custom-components-pydasecomponents)
+    - [`DeviceConnection`](#deviceconnection)
+      - [Customizing Connection Logic](#customizing-connection-logic)
+      - [Reconnection Interval](#reconnection-interval)
     - [`Image`](#image)
     - [`NumberSlider`](#numberslider)
     - [`ColouredEnum`](#colouredenum)
@@ -29,6 +34,7 @@
 - [Customizing the Web Interface](#customizing-the-web-interface)
   - [Enhancing the Web Interface Style with Custom CSS](#enhancing-the-web-interface-style-with-custom-css)
   - [Tailoring Frontend Component Layout](#tailoring-frontend-component-layout)
+  - [Specifying a Custom Frontend Source](#specifying-a-custom-frontend-source)
 - [Logging in pydase](#logging-in-pydase)
   - [Changing the Log Level](#changing-the-log-level)
 - [Documentation](#documentation)
@@ -40,7 +46,7 @@
 <!-- no toc -->
 - [Simple data service definition through class-based interface](#defining-a-dataService)
 - [Integrated web interface for interactive access and control of your data service](#accessing-the-web-interface)
-- [Support for `rpyc` connections, allowing for programmatic control and interaction with your service](#connecting-to-the-service-using-rpyc)
+- [Support for programmatic control and interaction with your service](#connecting-to-the-service-via-python-client)
 - [Component system bridging Python backend with frontend visual representation](#understanding-the-component-system)
 - [Customizable styling for the web interface through user-defined CSS](#customizing-web-interface-style)
 - [Saving and restoring the service state for service persistence](#understanding-service-persistence)
@@ -52,7 +58,7 @@
 
 <!--installation-start-->
 
-Install pydase using [`poetry`](https://python-poetry.org/):
+Install `pydase` using [`poetry`](https://python-poetry.org/):
 
 ```bash
 poetry add pydase
@@ -70,16 +76,17 @@ pip install pydase
 
 <!--usage-start-->
 
-Using `pydase` involves three main steps: defining a `DataService` subclass, running the server, and then connecting to the service either programmatically using `rpyc` or through the web interface.
+Using `pydase` involves three main steps: defining a `DataService` subclass, running the server, and then connecting to the service either programmatically using `pydase.Client` or through the web interface.
 
 ### Defining a DataService
 
-To use pydase, you'll first need to create a class that inherits from `DataService`. This class represents your custom data service, which will be exposed via RPC (using rpyc) and a web server. Your class can implement class / instance attributes and synchronous and asynchronous tasks.
+To use pydase, you'll first need to create a class that inherits from `DataService`. This class represents your custom data service, which will be exposed via a web server. Your class can implement class / instance attributes and synchronous and asynchronous tasks.
 
 Here's an example:
 
 ```python
 from pydase import DataService, Server
+from pydase.utils.decorators import frontend
 
 
 class Device(DataService):
@@ -117,6 +124,7 @@ class Device(DataService):
         # run code to set power state
         self._power = value
 
+    @frontend
     def reset(self) -> None:
         self.current = 0.0
         self.voltage = 0.0
@@ -153,23 +161,51 @@ Once the server is running, you can access the web interface in a browser:
 
 In this interface, you can interact with the properties of your `Device` service.
 
-### Connecting to the Service using rpyc
+### Connecting to the Service via Python Client
 
-You can also connect to the service using `rpyc`. Here's an example on how to establish a connection and interact with the service:
+You can connect to the service using the `pydase.Client`. Below is an example of how to establish a connection to a service and interact with it:
 
 ```python
-import rpyc
+import pydase
 
-# Connect to the service
-conn = rpyc.connect("<ip_addr>", 18871)
-client = conn.root
+# Replace the hostname and port with the IP address and the port of the machine where 
+# the service is running, respectively
+client_proxy = pydase.Client(hostname="<ip_addr>", port=8001).proxy
 
-# Interact with the service
-client.voltage = 5.0
-print(client.voltage)  # prints 5.0
+# After the connection, interact with the service attributes as if they were local
+client_proxy.voltage = 5.0
+print(client_proxy.voltage)  # Expected output: 5.0
 ```
 
-In this example, replace `<ip_addr>` with the IP address of the machine where the service is running. After establishing a connection, you can interact with the service attributes as if they were local attributes.
+This example demonstrates setting and retrieving the `voltage` attribute through the client proxy.
+The proxy acts as a local representative of the remote service, enabling straightforward interaction.
+
+The proxy class dynamically synchronizes with the server's exposed attributes. This synchronization allows the proxy to be automatically updated with any attributes or methods that the server exposes, essentially mirroring the server's API. This dynamic updating enables users to interact with the remote service as if they were working with a local object.
+
+#### Tab Completion Support
+
+In interactive environments such as Python interpreters and Jupyter notebooks, the proxy class supports tab completion, which allows users to explore available methods and attributes.
+
+#### Integration within Another Service
+
+You can also integrate a client proxy within another service. Here's how you can set it up:
+
+```python
+import pydase
+
+class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+    # Initialize the client without blocking the constructor
+    proxy = pydase.Client(hostname="<ip_addr>", port=8001, block_until_connected=False).proxy
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    service = MyService()
+    # Create a server that exposes this service; adjust the web_port as needed
+    server = pydase.Server(service, web_port=8002). run()
+```
+
+In this setup, the `MyService` class has a `proxy` attribute that connects to a `pydase` service located at `<ip_addr>:8001`.
+The `block_until_connected=False` argument allows the service to start up even if the initial connection attempt fails.
+This configuration is particularly useful in distributed systems where services may start in any order.
 
 <!--usage-end-->
 
@@ -190,11 +226,35 @@ In `pydase`, components are fundamental building blocks that bridge the Python b
 - `enum.Enum`: Presented as an `EnumComponent`, facilitating dropdown selection.
 
 ### Method Components
+Within the `DataService` class of `pydase`, only methods devoid of arguments can be represented in the frontend, classified into two distinct categories
 
-Methods within the `DataService` class have frontend representations:
+1. [**Tasks**](#understanding-tasks-in-pydase): Argument-free asynchronous functions, identified within `pydase` as tasks, are inherently designed for frontend interaction. These tasks are automatically rendered with a start/stop button, allowing users to initiate or halt the task execution directly from the web interface. 
+2. **Synchronous Methods with `@frontend` Decorator**: Synchronous methods without arguments can also be presented in the frontend. For this, they have to be decorated with the `@frontend` decorator.
 
-- Regular Methods: These are rendered as a `MethodComponent` in the frontend, allowing users to execute the method via an "execute" button.
-- Asynchronous Methods: These are manifested as the `AsyncMethodComponent` with "start"/"stop" buttons to manage the execution of [tasks](#understanding-tasks-in-pydase).
+```python
+import pydase
+import pydase.components
+import pydase.units as u
+from pydase.utils.decorators import frontend
+
+
+class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+    @frontend
+    def exposed_method(self) -> None:
+        ...
+
+    async def my_task(self) -> None:
+        while True:
+            # ...
+```
+
+![Method Components](docs/images/method_components.png)
+
+You can still define synchronous tasks with arguments and call them using a python client. However, decorating them with the `@frontend` decorator will raise a `FunctionDefinitionError`. Defining a task with arguments will raise a `TaskDefinitionError`.
+I decided against supporting function arguments for functions rendered in the frontend due to the following reasons:
+
+1. Feature Request Pitfall: supporting function arguments create a bottomless pit of feature requests. As users encounter the limitations of supported types, demands for extending support to more complex types would grow.
+2. Complexity in Supported Argument Types: while simple types like `int`, `float`, `bool` and `str` could be easily supported, more complicated types are not (representation, (de-)serialization).
 
 ### DataService Instances (Nested Classes)
 
@@ -208,9 +268,9 @@ from pydase import DataService, Server
 
 class Channel(DataService):
     def __init__(self, channel_id: int) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
         self._channel_id = channel_id
         self._current = 0.0
-        super().__init__()
 
     @property
     def current(self) -> float:
@@ -226,9 +286,8 @@ class Channel(DataService):
 
 class Device(DataService):
     def __init__(self) -> None:
-        self.channels = [Channel(i) for i in range(2)]
-
         super().__init__()
+        self.channels = [Channel(i) for i in range(2)]
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
@@ -249,6 +308,89 @@ The custom components in `pydase` have two main parts:
 
 Below are the components available in the `pydase.components` module, accompanied by their Python usage:
 
+#### `DeviceConnection`
+
+The `DeviceConnection` component acts as a base class within the `pydase` framework for managing device connections. It provides a structured approach to handle connections by offering a customizable `connect` method and a `connected` property. This setup facilitates the implementation of automatic reconnection logic, which periodically attempts reconnection whenever the connection is lost.
+
+In the frontend, this class abstracts away the direct interaction with the `connect` method and the `connected` property. Instead, it showcases user-defined attributes, methods, and properties. When the `connected` status is `False`, the frontend displays an overlay that prompts manual reconnection through the `connect()` method. Successful reconnection removes the overlay.
+
+```python
+import pydase.components
+import pydase.units as u
+
+
+class Device(pydase.components.DeviceConnection):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self._voltage = 10 * u.units.V
+
+    def connect(self) -> None:
+        if not self._connected:
+            self._connected = True
+
+    @property
+    def voltage(self) -> float:
+        return self._voltage
+
+
+class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.device = Device()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    service_instance = MyService()
+    pydase.Server(service_instance).run()
+```
+
+![DeviceConnection Component](docs/images/DeviceConnection_component.png)
+
+##### Customizing Connection Logic
+
+Users are encouraged to primarily override the `connect` method to tailor the connection process to their specific device. This method should adjust the `self._connected` attribute based on the outcome of the connection attempt:
+
+```python
+import pydase.components
+
+
+class MyDeviceConnection(pydase.components.DeviceConnection):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        # Add any necessary initialization code here
+
+    def connect(self) -> None:
+        # Implement device-specific connection logic here
+        # Update self._connected to `True` if the connection is successful,
+        # or `False` if unsuccessful
+        ...
+```
+
+Moreover, if the connection status requires additional logic, users can override the `connected` property:
+
+```python
+import pydase.components
+
+class MyDeviceConnection(pydase.components.DeviceConnection):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        # Add any necessary initialization code here
+
+    def connect(self) -> None:
+        # Implement device-specific connection logic here
+        # Ensure self._connected reflects the connection status accurately
+        ...
+
+    @property
+    def connected(self) -> bool:
+        # Implement custom logic to accurately report connection status
+        return self._connected
+```
+
+##### Reconnection Interval
+
+The `DeviceConnection` component automatically executes a task that checks for device availability at a default interval of 10 seconds. This interval is adjustable by modifying the `_reconnection_wait_time` attribute on the class instance.
+
 #### `Image`
 
 This component provides a versatile interface for displaying images within the application. Users can update and manage images from various sources, including local paths, URLs, and even matplotlib figures.
@@ -258,7 +400,6 @@ The component offers methods to load images seamlessly, ensuring that visual con
 ```python
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
-
 import pydase
 from pydase.components.image import Image
 
@@ -336,12 +477,14 @@ class MySlider(pydase.components.NumberSlider):
 
     @property
     def value(self) -> float:
+        """Slider value."""
         return self._value
 
     @value.setter
     def value(self, value: float) -> None:
         if value < self._min or value > self._max:
             raise ValueError("Value is either below allowed min or above max value.")
+
         self._value = value
 
 
@@ -417,7 +560,7 @@ In this example, `MySlider` overrides the `min`, `max`, `step_size`, and `value`
 
 - Incorporating units in `NumberSlider`
 
-  The `NumberSlider` is capable of displaying units alongside values, enhancing its usability in contexts where unit representation is crucial. When utilizing `pydase.units`, you can specify units for the slider's value, allowing the component to reflect these units in the frontend.
+  The `NumberSlider` is capable of [displaying units](#understanding-units-in-pydase) alongside values, enhancing its usability in contexts where unit representation is crucial. When utilizing `pydase.units`, you can specify units for the slider's value, allowing the component to reflect these units in the frontend.
 
   Here's how to implement a `NumberSlider` with unit display:
 
@@ -552,9 +695,9 @@ Note: If the service class structure has changed since the last time its state w
 
 ## Understanding Tasks in pydase
 
-In `pydase`, a task is defined as an asynchronous function contained in a class that inherits from `DataService`. These tasks usually contain a while loop and are designed to carry out periodic functions.
+In `pydase`, a task is defined as an asynchronous function without arguments contained in a class that inherits from `DataService`. These tasks usually contain a while loop and are designed to carry out periodic functions.
 
-For example, a task might be used to periodically read sensor data, update a database, or perform any other recurring job. The core feature of `pydase` is its ability to automatically generate start and stop functions for these tasks. This allows you to control task execution via both the frontend and an `rpyc` client, giving you flexible and powerful control over your service's operation.
+For example, a task might be used to periodically read sensor data, update a database, or perform any other recurring job. One core feature of `pydase` is its ability to automatically generate start and stop functions for these tasks. This allows you to control task execution via both the frontend and python clients, giving you flexible and powerful control over your service's operation.
 
 Another powerful feature of `pydase` is its ability to automatically start tasks upon initialization of the service. By specifying the tasks and their arguments in the `_autostart_tasks` dictionary in your service class's `__init__` method, `pydase` will automatically start these tasks when the server is started. Here's an example:
 
@@ -563,9 +706,9 @@ from pydase import DataService, Server
 
 class SensorService(DataService):
     def __init__(self):
-        self.readout_frequency = 1.0
-        self._autostart_tasks = {"read_sensor_data": ()}  # args passed to the function go there
         super().__init__()
+        self.readout_frequency = 1.0
+        self._autostart_tasks["read_sensor_data"] = ()
 
     def _process_data(self, data: ...) -> None:
         ...
@@ -585,22 +728,22 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     Server(service).run()
 ```
 
-In this example, `read_sensor_data` is a task that continuously reads data from a sensor. The readout frequency can be updated using the `readout_frequency` attribute.
-By listing it in the `_autostart_tasks` dictionary, it will automatically start running when `Server(service).run()` is executed.
-As with all tasks, `pydase` will also generate `start_read_sensor_data` and `stop_read_sensor_data` methods, which can be called to manually start and stop the data reading task.
+In this example, `read_sensor_data` is a task that continuously reads data from a sensor. By adding it to the `_autostart_tasks` dictionary, it will automatically start running when `Server(service).run()` is executed.
+As with all tasks, `pydase` will generate `start_read_sensor_data` and `stop_read_sensor_data` methods, which can be called to manually start and stop the data reading task. The readout frequency can be updated using the `readout_frequency` attribute.
 
 ## Understanding Units in pydase
 
 `pydase` integrates with the [`pint`](https://pint.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) package to allow you to work with physical quantities within your service. This enables you to define attributes with units, making your service more expressive and ensuring consistency in the handling of physical quantities.
 
-You can define quantities in your `DataService` subclass using `pydase`'s `units` functionality. These quantities can be set and accessed like regular attributes, and `pydase` will automatically handle the conversion between floats and quantities with units.
+You can define quantities in your `DataService` subclass using `pydase`'s `units` functionality.
 
 Here's an example:
 
 ```python
 from typing import Any
-from pydase import DataService, Server
+
 import pydase.units as u
+from pydase import DataService, Server
 
 
 class ServiceClass(DataService):
@@ -612,17 +755,15 @@ class ServiceClass(DataService):
         return self._current
 
     @current.setter
-    def current(self, value: Any) -> None:
+    def current(self, value: u.Quantity) -> None:
         self._current = value
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     service = ServiceClass()
 
-    # You can just set floats to the Quantity objects. The DataService __setattr__ will
-    # automatically convert this
-    service.voltage = 10.0
-    service.current = 1.5
+    service.voltage = 10.0 * u.units.V
+    service.current = 1.5 * u.units.mA
 
     Server(service).run()
 ```
@@ -723,10 +864,33 @@ Please ensure that the CSS file path is accessible from the server's running loc
 `pydase` enables users to customize the frontend layout via the `web_settings.json` file. Each key in the file corresponds to the full access path of public attributes, properties, and methods of the exposed service, using dot-notation.
 
 - **Custom Display Names**: Modify the `"displayName"` value in the file to change how each component appears in the frontend.
-<!-- - **Adjustable Component Order**: The `"index"` values determine the order of components. Alter these values to rearrange the components as desired. -->
+- **Control Component Visibility**: Utilize the `"display"` key-value pair to control whether a component is rendered in the frontend. Set the value to `true` to make the component visible or `false` to hide it.
+<!-- - **Adjustable Component Order**: The `"displayOrder"` values determine the order of components. Alter these values to rearrange the components as desired. -->
 
 The `web_settings.json` file will be stored in the directory specified by `SERVICE_CONFIG_DIR`. You can generate a `web_settings.json` file by setting the `GENERATE_WEB_SETTINGS` to `True`. For more information, see the [configuration section](#configuring-pydase-via-environment-variables).
 
+### Specifying a Custom Frontend Source
+
+To further personalize your web interface, you can provide `pydase` with a custom frontend GUI. To do so, you can use the `frontend_src` keyword in the `pydase.Server`:
+
+```python
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pydase
+
+
+class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+    # Service definition
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    service = MyService()
+    pydase.Server(
+        service,
+        frontend_src=Path("path/to/your/frontend/directory"),
+    ).run()
+```
+
 ## Logging in pydase
 
 The `pydase` library organizes its loggers on a per-module basis, mirroring the Python package hierarchy. This structured approach allows for granular control over logging levels and behaviour across different parts of the library.

docs/dev-guide/Adding_Components.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ For example, for a `Image` component, create a file named `image.py`.
 
 ### Step 2: Define the Backend Class
 
-Within the newly created file, define a Python class representing the component. This class should inherit from `DataService` and contains the attributes that the frontend needs to render the component. Every public attribute defined in this class will synchronise across the clients. It can also contain methods which can be used to interact with the component from the backend.
+Within the newly created file, define a Python class representing the component. This class should inherit from `DataService` and contains the attributes that the frontend needs to render the component. Every public attribute defined in this class will synchronise across the clients. It can also contain (public) methods which you can provide for the user to interact with the component from the backend (or python clients).
 
 For the `Image` component, the class may look like this:
 
@@ -31,21 +31,25 @@ from pydase.data_service.data_service import DataService
 class Image(DataService):
     def __init__(
         self,
-        image_representation: bytes = b"",
     ) -> None:
-        self.image_representation = image_representation
         super().__init__()
+        self._value: str = ""
+        self._format: str = ""
 
-    # need to decode the bytes
-    def __setattr__(self, __name: str, __value: Any) -> None:
-        if __name == "value":
-            if isinstance(__value, bytes):
-                __value = __value.decode()
-        return super().__setattr__(__name, __value)
+    @property
+    def value(self) -> str:
+        return self._value
 
+    @property
+    def format(self) -> str:
+        return self._format
+
+    def load_from_path(self, path: Path | str) -> None:
+        # changing self._value and self._format
+        ...
 ```
 
-So, changing the `image_representation` will push the updated value to the browsers connected to the service.
+So, calling `load_from_path` will push the updated value and format to the browsers clients connected to the service.
 
 ### Step 3: Register the Backend Class
 
@@ -85,10 +89,11 @@ def test_Image(capsys: CaptureFixture) -> None:
     class ServiceClass(DataService):
         image = Image()
 
-    service = ServiceClass()
-    # ...
-```
+    service_instance = ServiceClass()
 
+    service_instance.image.load_from_path("<path/to/image>.png")
+    assert service_instance.image.format == "PNG"
+```
 
 ## Adding a Frontend Component to `pydase`
 
@@ -107,43 +112,41 @@ Write the React component code, following the structure and patterns used in exi
 For example, for the `Image` component, a template could look like this:
 
 ```tsx
-import { setAttribute, runMethod } from '../socket';  // use this when your component should sets values of attributes
-                                                      // or runs a method, respectively
-import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
 import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
 import { Card, Collapse, Image } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
 import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight } from 'react-bootstrap-icons';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
 
-interface ImageComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath?: string;
-  readOnly: boolean;
-  docString: string;
+type ImageComponentProps = {
+  name: string;  // needed to create the fullAccessPath
+  parentPath: string;  // needed to create the fullAccessPath
+  readOnly: boolean;  // component changable through frontend?
+  docString: string;  // contains docstring of your component
+  displayName: string;  // name defined in the web_settings.json
+  id: string;  // unique identifier - created from fullAccessPath
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-  // Define your component specific props here
+  changeCallback?: (  // function used to communicate changes to the backend
+    value: unknown,
+    attributeName?: string,
+    prefix?: string,
+    callback?: (ack: unknown) => void
+  ) => void;
+  // component-specific properties 
   value: string;
   format: string;
-}
+};
 
 export const ImageComponent = React.memo((props: ImageComponentProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, value, docString, format, addNotification } = props;
+  const { value, docString, format, addNotification, displayName, id } = props;
 
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(true);  // add this if you want to expand/collapse your component
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
+  const fullAccessPath = [props.parentPath, props.name]
+    .filter((element) => element)
+    .join('.');
 
-  // Web settings contain the user-defined display name of the components (and possibly more later)
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
+  // Your component logic here
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
@@ -151,13 +154,11 @@ export const ImageComponent = React.memo((props: ImageComponentProps) => {
 
   // This will trigger a notification if notifications are enabled.
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${value}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed.`);
   }, [props.value]);
 
-  // Your component logic here
-
   return (
-    <div className={'imageComponent'} id={id}>
+    <div className="component imageComponent" id={id}>
       {/* Add the Card and Collapse components here if you want to be able to expand and
        collapse your component.  */}
       <Card>
@@ -165,14 +166,15 @@ export const ImageComponent = React.memo((props: ImageComponentProps) => {
           onClick={() => setOpen(!open)}
           style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }} // Change cursor style on hover
         >
-          {displayName} {open ? <ChevronDown /> : <ChevronRight />}
+          {displayName}
+          <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+          {open ? <ChevronDown /> : <ChevronRight />}
         </Card.Header>
         <Collapse in={open}>
           <Card.Body>
             {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
               <p>Render count: {renderCount.current}</p>
             )}
-            <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
             {/* Your component TSX here */}
           </Card.Body>
         </Collapse>
@@ -184,57 +186,98 @@ export const ImageComponent = React.memo((props: ImageComponentProps) => {
 
 ### Step 3: Emitting Updates to the Backend
 
-React components in the frontend often need to send updates to the backend, particularly when user interactions modify the component's state or data. In `pydase`, we use `socketio` for smooth communication of these changes. To handle updates, we primarily use two events: `setAttribute` for updating attributes, and `runMethod` for executing backend methods. Below is a detailed guide on how to emit these events from your frontend component:
+React components in the frontend often need to send updates to the backend, particularly when user interactions modify the component's state or data. In `pydase`, we use `socketio` for communicating these changes.<br>
+There are two different events a component might want to trigger: updating an attribute or triggering a method. Below is a guide on how to emit these events from your frontend component:
 
-1. **Setup for emitting events**:
-    First, ensure you've imported the necessary functions from the `socket` module for both updating attributes and executing methods:
+1. **Updating Attributes**
 
-    ```tsx
-    import { setAttribute, runMethod } from '../socket';
-    ```
+    Updating the value of an attribute or property in the backend is a very common requirement. However, we want to define components in a reusable way, i.e. they can be linked to the backend but also be used without emitting change events.<br>
+    This is why we pass a `changeCallback` function as a prop to the component which it can use to communicate changes. If no function is passed, the component can be used in forms, for example.
 
-2. **Event Parameters**:
+    The `changeCallback` function takes the following arguments:
 
-    - When using **`setAttribute`**, we send three main pieces of data:
-        - `name`: The name of the attribute within the `DataService` instance to update.
-        - `parentPath`: The access path for the parent object of the attribute to be updated.
-        - `value`: The new value for the attribute, which must match the backend attribute type.
-    - For **`runMethod`**, the parameters are slightly different:
-        - `name`: The name of the method to be executed in the backend.
-        - `parentPath`: Similar to `setAttribute`, it's the access path to the object containing the method.
-        - `kwargs`: A dictionary of keyword arguments that the method requires.
-
-3. **Implementation**:
-
-    For illustation, take the `ButtonComponent`. When the button state changes, we want to send this update to the backend:
-
-    ```tsx
-    import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
-    // ... (other imports)
+    - `value`: the new value for the attribute, which must match the backend attribute type.
+    - `attributeName`: the name of the attribute within the `DataService` instance to update. Defaults to the `name` prop of the component.
+    - `prefix`: the access path for the parent object of the attribute to be updated. Defaults to the `parentPath` prop of the component.
+    - `callback`: the function that will be called when the server sends an acknowledgement. Defaults to `undefined`
     
+    For illustration, take the `ButtonComponent`. When the button state changes, we want to send this update to the backend:
+
+    ```tsx
+    // file: frontend/src/components/ButtonComponent.tsx
+    // ... (import statements)
+    
+    type ButtonComponentProps = {
+      // ...
+      changeCallback?: (
+        value: unknown,
+        attributeName?: string,
+        prefix?: string,
+        callback?: (ack: unknown) => void
+      ) => void;
+    };
+
     export const ButtonComponent = React.memo((props: ButtonComponentProps) => {
-      // ... 
-      const { name, parentPath, value } = props;
-      let displayName = ...  // to access the user-defined display name
+      const {
+        // ...
+        changeCallback = () => {},
+      } = props;
 
       const setChecked = (checked: boolean) => {
-        setAttribute(name, parentPath, checked);
+        changeCallback(checked);
       };
 
       return (
         <ToggleButton
-          checked={value}
-          value={parentPath}
           // ... other props
           onChange={(e) => setChecked(e.currentTarget.checked)}>
-          {displayName}
+          {/* component TSX */}
         </ToggleButton>
       );
     });
     ```
 
-    In this example, whenever the button's checked state changes (`onChange` event), we invoke the `setChecked` method, which in turn emits the new state to the backend using `setAttribute`.
+    In this example, whenever the button's checked state changes (`onChange` event), we invoke the `setChecked` method, which in turn emits the new state to the backend using `changeCallback`.
 
+2. **Triggering Methods**
+
+    To trigger method through your component, you can either use the `MethodComponent` (which will render a button in the frontend), or use the low-level `runMethod` function. Its parameters are slightly different to the `changeCallback` function:
+
+    - `name`: the name of the method to be executed in the backend.
+    - `parentPath`: the access path to the object containing the method.
+    - `kwargs`: a dictionary of keyword arguments that the method requires.
+
+    To see how to use the `MethodComponent` in your component, have a look at the `DeviceConnection.tsx` file. Here is an example that demonstrates the usage of the `runMethod` function (also, have a look at the `MethodComponent.tsx` file):
+
+    ```tsx
+    import { runMethod } from '../socket';
+    // ... (other imports)
+
+    type ComponentProps = {
+      name: string;
+      parentPath: string;
+      // ...
+    };
+
+    export const Component = React.memo((props: ComponentProps) => {
+      const {
+        name,
+        parentPath,
+        // ...
+      } = props;
+
+      // ...
+
+      const someFunction = () => {
+        // ...
+        runMethod(name, parentPath, {});
+      };
+
+      return (
+        {/* component TSX */}
+      );
+    });
+    ```
 
 ### Step 4: Add the New Component to the GenericComponent
 
@@ -281,15 +324,17 @@ Inside the `GenericComponent` function, add a new conditional branch to render t
     <ImageComponent
       name={name}
       parentPath={parentPath}
-      readOnly={attribute.readonly}
-      docString={attribute.doc}
+      docString={attribute.value['value'].doc}
+      displayName={displayName}
+      id={id}
       addNotification={addNotification}
+      changeCallback={changeCallback}
       // Add any other specific props for the ImageComponent here
       value={attribute.value['value']['value'] as string}
       format={attribute.value['format']['value'] as string}
     />
   );
-} else {
+} else if (...) {
   // other code
 ```
 
@@ -304,12 +349,14 @@ For example, updating an `Image` component corresponds to setting a very long st
 To create a custom notification message, you can update the message passed to the `addNotification` method in the `useEffect` hook in the component file file. For the `ImageComponent`, this could look like this:
 
 ```tsx
+const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
+
 useEffect(() => {
-  addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed.`);
+  addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed.`);
 }, [props.value]);
 ```
 
-However, you might want to use the `addNotification` at different places. For an example, see the [MethodComponent](../../frontend/src/components/MethodComponent.tsx).
+However, you might want to use the `addNotification` at different places. For an example, see the `MethodComponent`.
 **Note**: you can specify the notification level by passing a string of type `LevelName` (one of 'CRITICAL', 'ERROR', 'WARNING', 'INFO', 'DEBUG'). The default value is 'DEBUG'.
 
 ### Step 6: Write Tests for the Component (TODO)

frontend/src/App.css

@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@ body {
 input.instantUpdate {
   background-color: rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.1);
 }
-
-.numberComponentButton {
-  padding: 0.15em 6px !important;
-  font-size: 0.70rem !important;
-}
 .navbarOffset {
   padding-top: 60px !important;
 }
@@ -17,26 +12,41 @@ input.instantUpdate {
   position: fixed !important;
   padding: 5px;
 }
-.debugToast, .infoToast {
+.debugToast,
+.infoToast {
   background-color: rgba(114, 214, 253, 0.5) !important;
 }
 .warningToast {
   background-color: rgba(255, 181, 44, 0.603) !important;
 }
-.errorToast, .criticalToast {
+.errorToast,
+.criticalToast {
   background-color: rgba(216, 41, 18, 0.678) !important;
 }
-.buttonComponent {
+.component {
+  position: relative;
   float: left !important;
-  margin-right: 10px !important;
+  padding: 5px !important;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
-.stringComponent {
+.dataServiceComponent {
+  width: 100%;
+}
+.deviceConnectionComponent {
+  position: relative;
   float: left !important;
-  margin-right: 10px !important;
+  width: 100%;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
-.numberComponent {
-    float: left !important;
-    margin-right: 10px !important;
-    width: 270px !important;
+.overlayContent {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 5px; /* (see https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/inset) */
+  background: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.75);
+  z-index: 2;
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  align-items: center;
+  flex-direction: column; /* Stack children vertically */
+  border-radius: var(--bs-border-radius);
+  border: var(--bs-border-width) solid var(--bs-border-color-translucent)
 }
-

frontend/src/App.tsx

@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useReducer, useState } from 'react';
 import { Navbar, Form, Offcanvas, Container } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import { hostname, port, socket } from './socket';
-import {
-  DataServiceComponent,
-  DataServiceJSON
-} from './components/DataServiceComponent';
 import './App.css';
 import {
   Notifications,
@@ -12,8 +8,9 @@ import {
   LevelName
 } from './components/NotificationsComponent';
 import { ConnectionToast } from './components/ConnectionToast';
-import { SerializedValue, setNestedValueByPath, State } from './utils/stateUtils';
+import { setNestedValueByPath, State } from './utils/stateUtils';
 import { WebSettingsContext, WebSetting } from './WebSettings';
+import { SerializedValue, GenericComponent } from './components/GenericComponent';
 
 type Action =
   | { type: 'SET_DATA'; data: State }
@@ -35,7 +32,13 @@ const reducer = (state: State, action: Action): State => {
     case 'SET_DATA':
       return action.data;
     case 'UPDATE_ATTRIBUTE': {
-      return setNestedValueByPath(state, action.fullAccessPath, action.newValue);
+      if (state === null) {
+        return null;
+      }
+      return {
+        ...state,
+        value: setNestedValueByPath(state.value, action.fullAccessPath, action.newValue)
+      };
     }
     default:
       throw new Error();
@@ -184,9 +187,8 @@ const App = () => {
 
       <div className="App navbarOffset">
         <WebSettingsContext.Provider value={webSettings}>
-          <DataServiceComponent
-            name={''}
-            props={state as DataServiceJSON}
+          <GenericComponent
+            attribute={state as SerializedValue}
             isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
             addNotification={addNotification}
           />

frontend/src/WebSettings.tsx

@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@ export const WebSettingsContext = createContext<Record<string, WebSetting>>({});
 
 export type WebSetting = {
   displayName: string;
+  display: boolean;
   index: number;
 };

frontend/src/components/AsyncMethodComponent.tsx

@@ -1,63 +1,48 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { runMethod } from '../socket';
-import { InputGroup, Form, Button } from 'react-bootstrap';
+import { Form, Button, InputGroup } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
 
-interface AsyncMethodProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath: string;
-  parameters: Record<string, string>;
-  value: Record<string, string>;
+type AsyncMethodProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
+  value: 'RUNNING' | null;
   docString?: string;
   hideOutput?: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+  render: boolean;
+};
 
 export const AsyncMethodComponent = React.memo((props: AsyncMethodProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, docString, value: runningTask, addNotification } = props;
+  const {
+    fullAccessPath,
+    docString,
+    value: runningTask,
+    addNotification,
+    displayName,
+    id
+  } = props;
+
+  // Conditional rendering based on the 'render' prop.
+  if (!props.render) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
   const formRef = useRef(null);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
+  const name = fullAccessPath.split('.').at(-1);
+  const parentPath = fullAccessPath.slice(0, -(name.length + 1));
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
-
-    // updates the value of each form control that has a matching name in the
-    // runningTask object
-    if (runningTask) {
-      const formElement = formRef.current;
-      if (formElement) {
-        Object.entries(runningTask).forEach(([name, value]) => {
-          const inputElement = formElement.elements.namedItem(name);
-          if (inputElement) {
-            inputElement.value = value;
-          }
-        });
-      }
-    }
-  }, [runningTask]);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
     let message: string;
 
     if (runningTask === null) {
-      message = `${parentPath}.${name} task was stopped.`;
+      message = `${fullAccessPath} task was stopped.`;
     } else {
-      const runningTaskEntries = Object.entries(runningTask)
-        .map(([key, value]) => `${key}: "${value}"`)
-        .join(', ');
-
-      message = `${parentPath}.${name} was started with parameters { ${runningTaskEntries} }.`;
+      message = `${fullAccessPath} was started.`;
     }
     addNotification(message);
   }, [props.value]);
@@ -65,52 +50,32 @@ export const AsyncMethodComponent = React.memo((props: AsyncMethodProps) => {
   const execute = async (event: React.FormEvent) => {
     event.preventDefault();
     let method_name: string;
-    const kwargs: Record<string, unknown> = {};
 
     if (runningTask !== undefined && runningTask !== null) {
       method_name = `stop_${name}`;
     } else {
-      Object.keys(props.parameters).forEach(
-        (name) => (kwargs[name] = event.target[name].value)
-      );
       method_name = `start_${name}`;
     }
 
-    runMethod(method_name, parentPath, kwargs);
+    const accessPath = [parentPath, method_name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
+    runMethod(accessPath);
   };
 
-  const args = Object.entries(props.parameters).map(([name, type], index) => {
-    const form_name = `${name} (${type})`;
-    const value = runningTask && runningTask[name];
-    const isRunning = value !== undefined && value !== null;
-
-    return (
-      <InputGroup key={index}>
-        <InputGroup.Text className="component-label">{form_name}</InputGroup.Text>
-        <Form.Control
-          type="text"
-          name={name}
-          defaultValue={isRunning ? value : ''}
-          disabled={isRunning}
-        />
-      </InputGroup>
-    );
-  });
-
   return (
-    <div className="align-items-center asyncMethodComponent" id={id}>
+    <div className="component asyncMethodComponent" id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
-      <h5>
-        Function: {displayName}
-        <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
-      </h5>
       <Form onSubmit={execute} ref={formRef}>
-        {args}
-        <Button id={`button-${id}`} name={name} value={parentPath} type="submit">
-          {runningTask ? 'Stop' : 'Start'}
-        </Button>
+        <InputGroup>
+          <InputGroup.Text>
+            {displayName}
+            <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+          </InputGroup.Text>
+          <Button id={`button-${id}`} type="submit">
+            {runningTask === 'RUNNING' ? 'Stop ' : 'Start '}
+          </Button>
+        </InputGroup>
       </Form>
     </div>
   );

frontend/src/components/ButtonComponent.tsx

@@ -1,32 +1,33 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { ToggleButton } from 'react-bootstrap';
-import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
+import { SerializedValue } from './GenericComponent';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
 
-interface ButtonComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath?: string;
+type ButtonComponentProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
   value: boolean;
   readOnly: boolean;
   docString: string;
   mapping?: [string, string]; // Enforce a tuple of two strings
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  changeCallback?: (value: SerializedValue, callback?: (ack: unknown) => void) => void;
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+};
 
 export const ButtonComponent = React.memo((props: ButtonComponentProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, value, readOnly, docString, addNotification } = props;
+  const {
+    value,
+    fullAccessPath,
+    readOnly,
+    docString,
+    addNotification,
+    changeCallback = () => {},
+    displayName,
+    id
+  } = props;
   // const buttonName = props.mapping ? (value ? props.mapping[0] : props.mapping[1]) : name;
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
 
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
 
@@ -35,29 +36,29 @@ export const ButtonComponent = React.memo((props: ButtonComponentProps) => {
   });
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${value}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed to ${value}.`);
   }, [props.value]);
 
   const setChecked = (checked: boolean) => {
-    setAttribute(name, parentPath, checked);
+    changeCallback(checked);
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className={'buttonComponent'} id={id}>
+    <div className={'component buttonComponent'} id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
 
-      <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
       <ToggleButton
         id={`toggle-check-${id}`}
         type="checkbox"
         variant={value ? 'success' : 'secondary'}
         checked={value}
-        value={parentPath}
+        value={displayName}
         disabled={readOnly}
         onChange={(e) => setChecked(e.currentTarget.checked)}>
         {displayName}
+        <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
       </ToggleButton>
     </div>
   );

frontend/src/components/ColouredEnumComponent.tsx

@@ -1,85 +0,0 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
-import { InputGroup, Form, Row, Col } from 'react-bootstrap';
-import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
-import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
-import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
-
-interface ColouredEnumComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath: string;
-  value: string;
-  docString?: string;
-  readOnly: boolean;
-  enumDict: Record<string, string>;
-  addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
-
-export const ColouredEnumComponent = React.memo((props: ColouredEnumComponentProps) => {
-  const {
-    name,
-    parentPath: parentPath,
-    value,
-    docString,
-    enumDict,
-    readOnly,
-    addNotification
-  } = props;
-  const renderCount = useRef(0);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    renderCount.current++;
-  });
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${value}.`);
-  }, [props.value]);
-
-  const handleValueChange = (newValue: string) => {
-    setAttribute(name, parentPath, newValue);
-  };
-
-  return (
-    <div className={'enumComponent'} id={id}>
-      {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
-        <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
-      )}
-      <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
-      <Row>
-        <Col className="d-flex align-items-center">
-          <InputGroup.Text>{displayName}</InputGroup.Text>
-          {readOnly ? (
-            // Display the Form.Control when readOnly is true
-            <Form.Control
-              value={value}
-              disabled={true}
-              style={{ backgroundColor: enumDict[value] }}
-            />
-          ) : (
-            // Display the Form.Select when readOnly is false
-            <Form.Select
-              aria-label="coloured-enum-select"
-              value={value}
-              style={{ backgroundColor: enumDict[value] }}
-              onChange={(event) => handleValueChange(event.target.value)}>
-              {Object.entries(enumDict).map(([key]) => (
-                <option key={key} value={key}>
-                  {key}
-                </option>
-              ))}
-            </Form.Select>
-          )}
-        </Col>
-      </Row>
-    </div>
-  );
-});

frontend/src/components/DataServiceComponent.tsx

@@ -1,71 +1,59 @@
-import { useContext, useState } from 'react';
+import { useState } from 'react';
 import React from 'react';
 import { Card, Collapse } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight } from 'react-bootstrap-icons';
-import { Attribute, GenericComponent } from './GenericComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
+import { SerializedValue, GenericComponent } from './GenericComponent';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
 
 type DataServiceProps = {
-  name: string;
   props: DataServiceJSON;
-  parentPath?: string;
   isInstantUpdate: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
 };
 
-export type DataServiceJSON = Record<string, Attribute>;
+export type DataServiceJSON = Record<string, SerializedValue>;
 
 export const DataServiceComponent = React.memo(
-  ({
-    name,
-    props,
-    parentPath = '',
-    isInstantUpdate,
-    addNotification
-  }: DataServiceProps) => {
+  ({ props, isInstantUpdate, addNotification, displayName, id }: DataServiceProps) => {
     const [open, setOpen] = useState(true);
-    let fullAccessPath = parentPath;
-    if (name) {
-      fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-    }
-    const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
 
-    const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-    let displayName = fullAccessPath;
-
-    if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-      displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-    }
-
-    return (
-      <div className="dataServiceComponent" id={id}>
-        <Card className="mb-3">
-          <Card.Header
-            onClick={() => setOpen(!open)}
-            style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }} // Change cursor style on hover
-          >
-            {displayName} {open ? <ChevronDown /> : <ChevronRight />}
-          </Card.Header>
-          <Collapse in={open}>
-            <Card.Body>
-              {Object.entries(props).map(([key, value]) => {
-                return (
+    if (displayName !== '') {
+      return (
+        <div className="component dataServiceComponent" id={id}>
+          <Card>
+            <Card.Header onClick={() => setOpen(!open)} style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }}>
+              {displayName} {open ? <ChevronDown /> : <ChevronRight />}
+            </Card.Header>
+            <Collapse in={open}>
+              <Card.Body>
+                {Object.entries(props).map(([key, value]) => (
                   <GenericComponent
                     key={key}
                     attribute={value}
-                    name={key}
-                    parentPath={fullAccessPath}
                     isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
                     addNotification={addNotification}
                   />
-                );
-              })}
-            </Card.Body>
-          </Collapse>
-        </Card>
-      </div>
-    );
+                ))}
+              </Card.Body>
+            </Collapse>
+          </Card>
+        </div>
+      );
+    } else {
+      return (
+        <div className="component dataServiceComponent" id={id}>
+          {Object.entries(props).map(([key, value]) => (
+            <GenericComponent
+              key={key}
+              attribute={value}
+              isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
+              addNotification={addNotification}
+            />
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      );
+    }
   }
 );

frontend/src/components/DeviceConnection.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
+import { DataServiceComponent, DataServiceJSON } from './DataServiceComponent';
+import { MethodComponent } from './MethodComponent';
+
+type DeviceConnectionProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
+  props: DataServiceJSON;
+  isInstantUpdate: boolean;
+  addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+};
+
+export const DeviceConnectionComponent = React.memo(
+  ({
+    fullAccessPath,
+    props,
+    isInstantUpdate,
+    addNotification,
+    displayName,
+    id
+  }: DeviceConnectionProps) => {
+    const { connected, connect, ...updatedProps } = props;
+    const connectedVal = connected.value;
+
+    return (
+      <div className="deviceConnectionComponent" id={id}>
+        {!connectedVal && (
+          <div className="overlayContent">
+            <div>
+              {displayName != '' ? displayName : 'Device'} is currently not available!
+            </div>
+            <MethodComponent
+              fullAccessPath={`${fullAccessPath}.connect`}
+              docString={connect.doc}
+              addNotification={addNotification}
+              displayName={'reconnect'}
+              id={id + '-connect'}
+              render={true}
+            />
+          </div>
+        )}
+        <DataServiceComponent
+          props={updatedProps}
+          isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
+          addNotification={addNotification}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
+        />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+);

frontend/src/components/DocStringComponent.tsx

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { Badge, Tooltip, OverlayTrigger } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import React from 'react';
 
-interface DocStringProps {
+type DocStringProps = {
   docString?: string;
-}
+};
 
 export const DocStringComponent = React.memo((props: DocStringProps) => {
   const { docString } = props;

frontend/src/components/EnumComponent.tsx

@@ -1,71 +1,107 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { InputGroup, Form, Row, Col } from 'react-bootstrap';
-import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
+import { SerializedValue } from './GenericComponent';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
 
-interface EnumComponentProps {
+export type EnumSerialization = {
+  type: 'Enum' | 'ColouredEnum';
+  full_access_path: string;
   name: string;
-  parentPath: string;
   value: string;
-  docString?: string;
-  enumDict: Record<string, string>;
+  readonly: boolean;
+  doc?: string | null;
+  enum: Record<string, string>;
+};
+
+type EnumComponentProps = {
+  attribute: EnumSerialization;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+  changeCallback?: (value: SerializedValue, callback?: (ack: unknown) => void) => void;
+};
 
 export const EnumComponent = React.memo((props: EnumComponentProps) => {
+  const { attribute, addNotification, displayName, id } = props;
   const {
-    name,
-    parentPath: parentPath,
+    full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
     value,
-    docString,
-    enumDict,
-    addNotification
-  } = props;
+    doc: docString,
+    enum: enumDict,
+    readonly: readOnly
+  } = attribute;
 
-  const renderCount = useRef(0);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
+  let { changeCallback } = props;
+  if (changeCallback === undefined) {
+    changeCallback = (value: SerializedValue) => {
+      setEnumValue(() => {
+        return String(value.value);
+      });
+    };
   }
+  const renderCount = useRef(0);
+  const [enumValue, setEnumValue] = useState(value);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
   });
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${value}.`);
-  }, [props.value]);
-
-  const handleValueChange = (newValue: string) => {
-    setAttribute(name, parentPath, newValue);
-  };
+    setEnumValue(() => {
+      return value;
+    });
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed to ${value}.`);
+  }, [value]);
 
   return (
-    <div className={'enumComponent'} id={id}>
+    <div className={'component enumComponent'} id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
-      <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
       <Row>
         <Col className="d-flex align-items-center">
-          <InputGroup.Text>{displayName}</InputGroup.Text>
-          <Form.Select
-            aria-label="Default select example"
-            value={value}
-            onChange={(event) => handleValueChange(event.target.value)}>
-            {Object.entries(enumDict).map(([key, val]) => (
-              <option key={key} value={key}>
-                {key} - {val}
-              </option>
-            ))}
-          </Form.Select>
+          <InputGroup.Text>
+            {displayName}
+            <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+          </InputGroup.Text>
+
+          {readOnly ? (
+            // Display the Form.Control when readOnly is true
+            <Form.Control
+              value={enumDict[enumValue]}
+              name={fullAccessPath}
+              disabled={true}
+            />
+          ) : (
+            // Display the Form.Select when readOnly is false
+            <Form.Select
+              aria-label="example-select"
+              value={enumValue}
+              name={fullAccessPath}
+              style={
+                attribute.type == 'ColouredEnum'
+                  ? { backgroundColor: enumDict[enumValue] }
+                  : {}
+              }
+              onChange={(event) =>
+                changeCallback({
+                  type: attribute.type,
+                  name: attribute.name,
+                  enum: enumDict,
+                  value: event.target.value,
+                  full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
+                  readonly: attribute.readonly,
+                  doc: attribute.doc
+                })
+              }>
+              {Object.entries(enumDict).map(([key, val]) => (
+                <option key={key} value={key}>
+                  {attribute.type == 'ColouredEnum' ? key : val}
+                </option>
+              ))}
+            </Form.Select>
+          )}
         </Col>
       </Row>
     </div>

frontend/src/components/GenericComponent.tsx

@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useContext } from 'react';
 import { ButtonComponent } from './ButtonComponent';
 import { NumberComponent } from './NumberComponent';
 import { SliderComponent } from './SliderComponent';
-import { EnumComponent } from './EnumComponent';
+import { EnumComponent, EnumSerialization } from './EnumComponent';
 import { MethodComponent } from './MethodComponent';
 import { AsyncMethodComponent } from './AsyncMethodComponent';
 import { StringComponent } from './StringComponent';
 import { ListComponent } from './ListComponent';
 import { DataServiceComponent, DataServiceJSON } from './DataServiceComponent';
+import { DeviceConnectionComponent } from './DeviceConnection';
 import { ImageComponent } from './ImageComponent';
-import { ColouredEnumComponent } from './ColouredEnumComponent';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
+import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
+import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import { updateValue } from '../socket';
 
 type AttributeType =
   | 'str'
@@ -21,81 +24,102 @@ type AttributeType =
   | 'list'
   | 'method'
   | 'DataService'
+  | 'DeviceConnection'
   | 'Enum'
   | 'NumberSlider'
   | 'Image'
   | 'ColouredEnum';
 
-type ValueType = boolean | string | number | object;
-export interface Attribute {
+type ValueType = boolean | string | number | Record<string, unknown>;
+export type SerializedValue = {
   type: AttributeType;
+  full_access_path: string;
+  name?: string;
   value?: ValueType | ValueType[];
   readonly: boolean;
   doc?: string | null;
-  parameters?: Record<string, string>;
   async?: boolean;
+  frontend_render?: boolean;
   enum?: Record<string, string>;
-}
+};
 type GenericComponentProps = {
-  attribute: Attribute;
-  name: string;
-  parentPath: string;
+  attribute: SerializedValue;
   isInstantUpdate: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
 };
 
 export const GenericComponent = React.memo(
-  ({
-    attribute,
-    name,
-    parentPath,
-    isInstantUpdate,
-    addNotification
-  }: GenericComponentProps) => {
+  ({ attribute, isInstantUpdate, addNotification }: GenericComponentProps) => {
+    const { full_access_path: fullAccessPath } = attribute;
+    const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
+    const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
+    let displayName = fullAccessPath.split('.').at(-1);
+
+    if (webSettings[fullAccessPath]) {
+      if (webSettings[fullAccessPath].display === false) {
+        return null;
+      }
+      if (webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
+        displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
+      }
+    }
+
+    function changeCallback(
+      value: SerializedValue,
+      callback: (ack: unknown) => void = undefined
+    ) {
+      updateValue(value, callback);
+    }
+
     if (attribute.type === 'bool') {
       return (
         <ButtonComponent
-          name={name}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
           docString={attribute.doc}
           readOnly={attribute.readonly}
           value={Boolean(attribute.value)}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          changeCallback={changeCallback}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'float' || attribute.type === 'int') {
       return (
         <NumberComponent
-          name={name}
           type={attribute.type}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
           docString={attribute.doc}
           readOnly={attribute.readonly}
           value={Number(attribute.value)}
           isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          changeCallback={changeCallback}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'Quantity') {
       return (
         <NumberComponent
-          name={name}
-          type="float"
-          parentPath={parentPath}
+          type="Quantity"
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
           docString={attribute.doc}
           readOnly={attribute.readonly}
           value={Number(attribute.value['magnitude'])}
           unit={attribute.value['unit']}
           isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          changeCallback={changeCallback}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'NumberSlider') {
       return (
         <SliderComponent
-          name={name}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
-          docString={attribute.doc}
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
+          docString={attribute.value['value'].doc}
           readOnly={attribute.readonly}
           value={attribute.value['value']}
           min={attribute.value['min']}
@@ -103,102 +127,106 @@ export const GenericComponent = React.memo(
           stepSize={attribute.value['step_size']}
           isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          changeCallback={changeCallback}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
-    } else if (attribute.type === 'Enum') {
+    } else if (attribute.type === 'Enum' || attribute.type === 'ColouredEnum') {
       return (
         <EnumComponent
-          name={name}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
-          docString={attribute.doc}
-          value={String(attribute.value)}
-          enumDict={attribute.enum}
+          attribute={attribute as EnumSerialization}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          changeCallback={changeCallback}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'method') {
       if (!attribute.async) {
         return (
           <MethodComponent
-            name={name}
-            parentPath={parentPath}
+            fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
             docString={attribute.doc}
-            parameters={attribute.parameters}
             addNotification={addNotification}
+            displayName={displayName}
+            id={id}
+            render={attribute.frontend_render}
           />
         );
       } else {
         return (
           <AsyncMethodComponent
-            name={name}
-            parentPath={parentPath}
+            fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
             docString={attribute.doc}
-            parameters={attribute.parameters}
-            value={attribute.value as Record<string, string>}
+            value={attribute.value as 'RUNNING' | null}
             addNotification={addNotification}
+            displayName={displayName}
+            id={id}
+            render={attribute.frontend_render}
           />
         );
       }
     } else if (attribute.type === 'str') {
       return (
         <StringComponent
-          name={name}
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
           value={attribute.value as string}
           readOnly={attribute.readonly}
           docString={attribute.doc}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
           isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          changeCallback={changeCallback}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'DataService') {
       return (
         <DataServiceComponent
-          name={name}
           props={attribute.value as DataServiceJSON}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
           isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
+        />
+      );
+    } else if (attribute.type === 'DeviceConnection') {
+      return (
+        <DeviceConnectionComponent
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
+          props={attribute.value as DataServiceJSON}
+          isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
+          addNotification={addNotification}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'list') {
       return (
         <ListComponent
-          name={name}
-          value={attribute.value as Attribute[]}
+          value={attribute.value as SerializedValue[]}
           docString={attribute.doc}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
           isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
           addNotification={addNotification}
+          id={id}
         />
       );
     } else if (attribute.type === 'Image') {
       return (
         <ImageComponent
-          name={name}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
-          value={attribute.value['value']['value'] as string}
-          readOnly={attribute.readonly}
-          docString={attribute.doc}
+          fullAccessPath={fullAccessPath}
+          docString={attribute.value['value'].doc}
+          displayName={displayName}
+          id={id}
+          addNotification={addNotification}
           // Add any other specific props for the ImageComponent here
+          value={attribute.value['value']['value'] as string}
           format={attribute.value['format']['value'] as string}
-          addNotification={addNotification}
-        />
-      );
-    } else if (attribute.type === 'ColouredEnum') {
-      return (
-        <ColouredEnumComponent
-          name={name}
-          parentPath={parentPath}
-          docString={attribute.doc}
-          value={String(attribute.value)}
-          readOnly={attribute.readonly}
-          enumDict={attribute.enum}
-          addNotification={addNotification}
         />
       );
     } else {
-      return <div key={name}>{name}</div>;
+      return <div key={fullAccessPath}>{fullAccessPath}</div>;
     }
   }
 );

frontend/src/components/ImageComponent.tsx

@@ -1,62 +1,50 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { Card, Collapse, Image } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
 import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight } from 'react-bootstrap-icons';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
 
-interface ImageComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath: string;
+type ImageComponentProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
   value: string;
-  readOnly: boolean;
   docString: string;
   format: string;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+};
 
 export const ImageComponent = React.memo((props: ImageComponentProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, value, docString, format, addNotification } = props;
+  const { fullAccessPath, value, docString, format, addNotification, displayName, id } =
+    props;
 
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(true);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
   });
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed.`);
   }, [props.value]);
 
   return (
-    <div className={'imageComponent'} id={id}>
-      {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
-        <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
-      )}
+    <div className="component imageComponent" id={id}>
       <Card>
         <Card.Header
           onClick={() => setOpen(!open)}
           style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }} // Change cursor style on hover
         >
-          {displayName} {open ? <ChevronDown /> : <ChevronRight />}
+          {displayName}
+          <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+          {open ? <ChevronDown /> : <ChevronRight />}
         </Card.Header>
         <Collapse in={open}>
           <Card.Body>
             {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
               <p>Render count: {renderCount.current}</p>
             )}
-            <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
-            {/* Your component JSX here */}
             {format === '' && value === '' ? (
               <p>No image set in the backend.</p>
             ) : (

frontend/src/components/ListComponent.tsx

@@ -1,25 +1,20 @@
 import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
-import { Attribute, GenericComponent } from './GenericComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
+import { SerializedValue, GenericComponent } from './GenericComponent';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
 
-interface ListComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath?: string;
-  value: Attribute[];
+type ListComponentProps = {
+  value: SerializedValue[];
   docString: string;
   isInstantUpdate: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  id: string;
+};
 
 export const ListComponent = React.memo((props: ListComponentProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, value, docString, isInstantUpdate, addNotification } =
-    props;
+  const { value, docString, isInstantUpdate, addNotification, id } = props;
 
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
@@ -36,8 +31,6 @@ export const ListComponent = React.memo((props: ListComponentProps) => {
           <GenericComponent
             key={`${name}[${index}]`}
             attribute={item}
-            name={`${name}[${index}]`}
-            parentPath={parentPath}
             isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
             addNotification={addNotification}
           />

frontend/src/components/MethodComponent.tsx

@@ -1,118 +1,57 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { runMethod } from '../socket';
-import { Button, InputGroup, Form, Collapse } from 'react-bootstrap';
+import { Button, Form } from 'react-bootstrap';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
 
-interface MethodProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath: string;
-  parameters: Record<string, string>;
+type MethodProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
   docString?: string;
-  hideOutput?: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+  render: boolean;
+};
 
 export const MethodComponent = React.memo((props: MethodProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, docString, addNotification } = props;
+  const { fullAccessPath, docString, addNotification, displayName, id } = props;
 
-  const renderCount = useRef(0);
-  const [hideOutput, setHideOutput] = useState(false);
-  // Add a new state variable to hold the list of function calls
-  const [functionCalls, setFunctionCalls] = useState([]);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
+  // Conditional rendering based on the 'render' prop.
+  if (!props.render) {
+    return null;
   }
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    renderCount.current++;
-    if (props.hideOutput !== undefined) {
-      setHideOutput(props.hideOutput);
-    }
-  });
+  const renderCount = useRef(0);
+  const formRef = useRef(null);
 
-  const triggerNotification = (args: Record<string, string>) => {
-    const argsString = Object.entries(args)
-      .map(([key, value]) => `${key}: "${value}"`)
-      .join(', ');
-    let message = `Method ${parentPath}.${name} was triggered`;
+  const triggerNotification = () => {
+    const message = `Method ${fullAccessPath} was triggered.`;
 
-    if (argsString === '') {
-      message += '.';
-    } else {
-      message += ` with arguments {${argsString}}.`;
-    }
     addNotification(message);
   };
 
   const execute = async (event: React.FormEvent) => {
     event.preventDefault();
+    runMethod(fullAccessPath);
 
-    const kwargs = {};
-    Object.keys(props.parameters).forEach(
-      (name) => (kwargs[name] = event.target[name].value)
-    );
-    runMethod(name, parentPath, kwargs, (ack) => {
-      // Update the functionCalls state with the new call if we get an acknowledge msg
-      if (ack !== undefined) {
-        setFunctionCalls((prevCalls) => [
-          ...prevCalls,
-          { name, args: kwargs, result: ack }
-        ]);
-      }
-    });
-
-    triggerNotification(kwargs);
+    triggerNotification();
   };
 
-  const args = Object.entries(props.parameters).map(([name, type], index) => {
-    const form_name = `${name} (${type})`;
-    return (
-      <InputGroup key={index}>
-        <InputGroup.Text className="component-label">{form_name}</InputGroup.Text>
-        <Form.Control type="text" name={name} />
-      </InputGroup>
-    );
+  useEffect(() => {
+    renderCount.current++;
   });
 
   return (
-    <div className="align-items-center methodComponent" id={id}>
+    <div className="component methodComponent" id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
-      <h5 onClick={() => setHideOutput(!hideOutput)} style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }}>
-        Function: {displayName}
-        <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
-      </h5>
-      <Form onSubmit={execute}>
-        {args}
-        <Button variant="primary" type="submit">
-          Execute
+      <Form onSubmit={execute} ref={formRef}>
+        <Button className="component" variant="primary" type="submit">
+          {`${displayName} `}
+          <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
         </Button>
       </Form>
-
-      <Collapse in={!hideOutput}>
-        <div id="function-output">
-          {functionCalls.map((call, index) => (
-            <div key={index}>
-              <div style={{ color: 'grey', fontSize: 'small' }}>
-                {Object.entries(call.args)
-                  .map(([key, val]) => `${key}=${JSON.stringify(val)}`)
-                  .join(', ') +
-                  ' => ' +
-                  JSON.stringify(call.result)}
-              </div>
-            </div>
-          ))}
-        </div>
-      </Collapse>
     </div>
   );
 });

frontend/src/components/NumberComponent.tsx

@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import React, { useEffect, useState, useRef } from 'react';
 import { Form, InputGroup } from 'react-bootstrap';
-import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
 import '../App.css';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
+import { SerializedValue } from './GenericComponent';
 
 // TODO: add button functionality
 
@@ -32,18 +30,19 @@ export type FloatObject = {
 };
 export type NumberObject = IntObject | FloatObject | QuantityObject;
 
-interface NumberComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  type: 'float' | 'int';
-  parentPath?: string;
+type NumberComponentProps = {
+  type: 'float' | 'int' | 'Quantity';
+  fullAccessPath: string;
   value: number;
   readOnly: boolean;
   docString: string;
   isInstantUpdate: boolean;
   unit?: string;
-  showName?: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  changeCallback?: (value: SerializedValue, callback?: (ack: unknown) => void) => void;
+  displayName?: string;
+  id: string;
+};
 
 // TODO: highlight the digit that is being changed by setting both selectionStart and
 // selectionEnd
@@ -128,92 +127,55 @@ const handleDeleteKey = (
   return { value, selectionStart };
 };
 
+const handleNumericKey = (
+  key: string,
+  value: string,
+  selectionStart: number,
+  selectionEnd: number
+) => {
+  // Check if a number key or a decimal point key is pressed
+  if (key === '.' && value.includes('.')) {
+    // Check if value already contains a decimal. If so, ignore input.
+    console.warn('Invalid input! Ignoring...');
+    return { value, selectionStart };
+  }
+
+  let newValue = value;
+
+  // Add the new key at the cursor's position
+  if (selectionEnd > selectionStart) {
+    // If there is a selection, replace it with the key
+    newValue = value.slice(0, selectionStart) + key + value.slice(selectionEnd);
+  } else {
+    // otherwise, append the key after the selection start
+    newValue = value.slice(0, selectionStart) + key + value.slice(selectionStart);
+  }
+
+  return { value: newValue, selectionStart: selectionStart + 1 };
+};
+
 export const NumberComponent = React.memo((props: NumberComponentProps) => {
   const {
-    name,
-    parentPath,
+    fullAccessPath,
+    value,
     readOnly,
+    type,
     docString,
     isInstantUpdate,
     unit,
-    addNotification
+    addNotification,
+    changeCallback = () => {},
+    displayName,
+    id
   } = props;
 
-  // Whether to show the name infront of the component (false if used with a slider)
-  const showName = props.showName !== undefined ? props.showName : true;
-
-  const renderCount = useRef(0);
   // Create a state for the cursor position
   const [cursorPosition, setCursorPosition] = useState(null);
   // Create a state for the input string
-  const [inputString, setInputString] = useState(props.value.toString());
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
+  const [inputString, setInputString] = useState(value.toString());
+  const renderCount = useRef(0);
+  const name = fullAccessPath.split('.').at(-1);
 
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    renderCount.current++;
-
-    // Set the cursor position after the component re-renders
-    const inputElement = document.getElementsByName(
-      fullAccessPath
-    )[0] as HTMLInputElement;
-    if (inputElement && cursorPosition !== null) {
-      inputElement.setSelectionRange(cursorPosition, cursorPosition);
-    }
-  });
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    // Parse the input string to a number for comparison
-    const numericInputString =
-      props.type === 'int' ? parseInt(inputString) : parseFloat(inputString);
-    // Only update the inputString if it's different from the prop value
-    if (props.value !== numericInputString) {
-      setInputString(props.value.toString());
-    }
-
-    // emitting notification
-    let notificationMsg = `${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${props.value}`;
-    if (unit === undefined) {
-      notificationMsg += '.';
-    } else {
-      notificationMsg += ` ${unit}.`;
-    }
-    addNotification(notificationMsg);
-  }, [props.value]);
-
-  const handleNumericKey = (
-    key: string,
-    value: string,
-    selectionStart: number,
-    selectionEnd: number
-  ) => {
-    // Check if a number key or a decimal point key is pressed
-    if (key === '.' && (value.includes('.') || props.type === 'int')) {
-      // Check if value already contains a decimal. If so, ignore input.
-      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-      console.warn('Invalid input! Ignoring...');
-      return { value, selectionStart };
-    }
-
-    let newValue = value;
-
-    // Add the new key at the cursor's position
-    if (selectionEnd > selectionStart) {
-      // If there is a selection, replace it with the key
-      newValue = value.slice(0, selectionStart) + key + value.slice(selectionEnd);
-    } else {
-      // otherwise, append the key after the selection start
-      newValue = value.slice(0, selectionStart) + key + value.slice(selectionStart);
-    }
-
-    return { value: newValue, selectionStart: selectionStart + 1 };
-  };
   const handleKeyDown = (event) => {
     const { key, target } = event;
     if (
@@ -256,7 +218,7 @@ export const NumberComponent = React.memo((props: NumberComponentProps) => {
         selectionStart,
         selectionEnd
       ));
-    } else if (key === '.') {
+    } else if (key === '.' && (type === 'float' || type === 'Quantity')) {
       ({ value: newValue, selectionStart } = handleNumericKey(
         key,
         value,
@@ -283,7 +245,20 @@ export const NumberComponent = React.memo((props: NumberComponentProps) => {
         selectionEnd
       ));
     } else if (key === 'Enter' && !isInstantUpdate) {
-      setAttribute(name, parentPath, Number(newValue));
+      let updatedValue: number | Record<string, unknown> = Number(newValue);
+      if (type === 'Quantity') {
+        updatedValue = {
+          magnitude: Number(newValue),
+          unit: unit
+        };
+      }
+      changeCallback({
+        type: type,
+        value: updatedValue,
+        full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
+        readonly: readOnly,
+        doc: docString
+      });
       return;
     } else {
       console.debug(key);
@@ -292,7 +267,20 @@ export const NumberComponent = React.memo((props: NumberComponentProps) => {
 
     // Update the input value and maintain the cursor position
     if (isInstantUpdate) {
-      setAttribute(name, parentPath, Number(newValue));
+      let updatedValue: number | Record<string, unknown> = Number(newValue);
+      if (type === 'Quantity') {
+        updatedValue = {
+          magnitude: Number(newValue),
+          unit: unit
+        };
+      }
+      changeCallback({
+        type: type,
+        value: updatedValue,
+        full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
+        readonly: readOnly,
+        doc: docString
+      });
     }
 
     setInputString(newValue);
@@ -304,31 +292,72 @@ export const NumberComponent = React.memo((props: NumberComponentProps) => {
   const handleBlur = () => {
     if (!isInstantUpdate) {
       // If not in "instant update" mode, emit an update when the input field loses focus
-      setAttribute(name, parentPath, Number(inputString));
+      let updatedValue: number | Record<string, unknown> = Number(inputString);
+      if (type === 'Quantity') {
+        updatedValue = {
+          magnitude: Number(inputString),
+          unit: unit
+        };
+      }
+      changeCallback({
+        type: type,
+        value: updatedValue,
+        full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
+        readonly: readOnly,
+        doc: docString
+      });
     }
   };
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Parse the input string to a number for comparison
+    const numericInputString =
+      type === 'int' ? parseInt(inputString) : parseFloat(inputString);
+    // Only update the inputString if it's different from the prop value
+    if (value !== numericInputString) {
+      setInputString(value.toString());
+    }
+
+    // emitting notification
+    let notificationMsg = `${fullAccessPath} changed to ${props.value}`;
+    if (unit === undefined) {
+      notificationMsg += '.';
+    } else {
+      notificationMsg += ` ${unit}.`;
+    }
+    addNotification(notificationMsg);
+  }, [value]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Set the cursor position after the component re-renders
+    const inputElement = document.getElementsByName(name)[0] as HTMLInputElement;
+    if (inputElement && cursorPosition !== null) {
+      inputElement.setSelectionRange(cursorPosition, cursorPosition);
+    }
+  });
 
   return (
-    <div className="numberComponent" id={id}>
+    <div className="component numberComponent" id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
-      <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
-      <div className="d-flex">
-        <InputGroup>
-          {showName && <InputGroup.Text>{displayName}</InputGroup.Text>}
-          <Form.Control
-            type="text"
-            value={inputString}
-            disabled={readOnly}
-            name={fullAccessPath}
-            onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
-            onBlur={handleBlur}
-            className={isInstantUpdate && !readOnly ? 'instantUpdate' : ''}
-          />
-          {unit && <InputGroup.Text>{unit}</InputGroup.Text>}
-        </InputGroup>
-      </div>
+      <InputGroup>
+        {displayName && (
+          <InputGroup.Text>
+            {displayName}
+            <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+          </InputGroup.Text>
+        )}
+        <Form.Control
+          type="text"
+          value={inputString}
+          disabled={readOnly}
+          name={name}
+          onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+          onBlur={handleBlur}
+          className={isInstantUpdate && !readOnly ? 'instantUpdate' : ''}
+        />
+        {unit && <InputGroup.Text>{unit}</InputGroup.Text>}
+      </InputGroup>
     </div>
   );
 });

frontend/src/components/SliderComponent.tsx

@@ -1,67 +1,61 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { InputGroup, Form, Row, Col, Collapse, ToggleButton } from 'react-bootstrap';
-import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
 import { Slider } from '@mui/material';
 import { NumberComponent, NumberObject } from './NumberComponent';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
+import { SerializedValue } from './GenericComponent';
 
-interface SliderComponentProps {
-  name: string;
+type SliderComponentProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
   min: NumberObject;
   max: NumberObject;
-  parentPath?: string;
   value: NumberObject;
   readOnly: boolean;
   docString: string;
   stepSize: NumberObject;
   isInstantUpdate: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  changeCallback?: (value: SerializedValue, callback?: (ack: unknown) => void) => void;
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+};
 
 export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
   const {
-    name,
-    parentPath,
+    fullAccessPath,
     value,
     min,
     max,
     stepSize,
     docString,
     isInstantUpdate,
-    addNotification
+    addNotification,
+    changeCallback = () => {},
+    displayName,
+    id
   } = props;
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
   });
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${value}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed to ${value.value}.`);
   }, [props.value]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name}.min changed to ${min}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath}.min changed to ${min.value}.`);
   }, [props.min]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name}.max changed to ${max}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath}.max changed to ${max.value}.`);
   }, [props.max]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name}.stepSize changed to ${stepSize}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath}.stepSize changed to ${stepSize.value}.`);
   }, [props.stepSize]);
 
   const handleOnChange = (event, newNumber: number | number[]) => {
@@ -70,11 +64,26 @@ export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
     if (Array.isArray(newNumber)) {
       newNumber = newNumber[0];
     }
-    setAttribute(`${name}.value`, parentPath, newNumber);
+    changeCallback({
+      type: value.type,
+      value: newNumber,
+      full_access_path: `${fullAccessPath}.value`,
+      readonly: value.readonly,
+      doc: docString
+    });
   };
 
-  const handleValueChange = (newValue: number, valueType: string) => {
-    setAttribute(`${name}.${valueType}`, parentPath, newValue);
+  const handleValueChange = (
+    newValue: number,
+    name: string,
+    valueObject: NumberObject
+  ) => {
+    changeCallback({
+      type: valueObject.type,
+      value: newValue,
+      full_access_path: `${fullAccessPath}.${name}`,
+      readonly: valueObject.readonly
+    });
   };
 
   const deconstructNumberDict = (
@@ -100,15 +109,17 @@ export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
   const [stepSizeMagnitude, stepSizeReadOnly] = deconstructNumberDict(stepSize);
 
   return (
-    <div className="sliderComponent" id={id}>
+    <div className="component sliderComponent" id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
 
-      <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
       <Row>
         <Col xs="auto" xl="auto">
-          <InputGroup.Text>{displayName}</InputGroup.Text>
+          <InputGroup.Text>
+            {displayName}
+            <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+          </InputGroup.Text>
         </Col>
         <Col xs="5" xl>
           <Slider
@@ -130,15 +141,15 @@ export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
         <Col xs="3" xl>
           <NumberComponent
             isInstantUpdate={isInstantUpdate}
-            parentPath={parentPath}
-            name={`${name}.value`}
-            docString=""
+            fullAccessPath={`${fullAccessPath}.value`}
+            docString={docString}
             readOnly={valueReadOnly}
             type="float"
             value={valueMagnitude}
             unit={valueUnit}
-            showName={false}
-            addNotification={() => null}
+            addNotification={() => {}}
+            changeCallback={changeCallback}
+            id={id + '-value'}
           />
         </Col>
         <Col xs="auto">
@@ -175,7 +186,7 @@ export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
                 type="number"
                 value={minMagnitude}
                 disabled={minReadOnly}
-                onChange={(e) => handleValueChange(Number(e.target.value), 'min')}
+                onChange={(e) => handleValueChange(Number(e.target.value), 'min', min)}
               />
             </Col>
 
@@ -185,7 +196,7 @@ export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
                 type="number"
                 value={maxMagnitude}
                 disabled={maxReadOnly}
-                onChange={(e) => handleValueChange(Number(e.target.value), 'max')}
+                onChange={(e) => handleValueChange(Number(e.target.value), 'max', max)}
               />
             </Col>
 
@@ -195,7 +206,9 @@ export const SliderComponent = React.memo((props: SliderComponentProps) => {
                 type="number"
                 value={stepSizeMagnitude}
                 disabled={stepSizeReadOnly}
-                onChange={(e) => handleValueChange(Number(e.target.value), 'step_size')}
+                onChange={(e) =>
+                  handleValueChange(Number(e.target.value), 'step_size', stepSize)
+                }
               />
             </Col>
           </Row>

frontend/src/components/StringComponent.tsx

@@ -1,38 +1,38 @@
-import React, { useContext, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { Form, InputGroup } from 'react-bootstrap';
-import { setAttribute } from '../socket';
 import { DocStringComponent } from './DocStringComponent';
 import '../App.css';
-import { getIdFromFullAccessPath } from '../utils/stringUtils';
 import { LevelName } from './NotificationsComponent';
-import { WebSettingsContext } from '../WebSettings';
+import { SerializedValue } from './GenericComponent';
 
 // TODO: add button functionality
 
-interface StringComponentProps {
-  name: string;
-  parentPath?: string;
+type StringComponentProps = {
+  fullAccessPath: string;
   value: string;
   readOnly: boolean;
   docString: string;
   isInstantUpdate: boolean;
   addNotification: (message: string, levelname?: LevelName) => void;
-}
+  changeCallback?: (value: SerializedValue, callback?: (ack: unknown) => void) => void;
+  displayName: string;
+  id: string;
+};
 
 export const StringComponent = React.memo((props: StringComponentProps) => {
-  const { name, parentPath, readOnly, docString, isInstantUpdate, addNotification } =
-    props;
+  const {
+    fullAccessPath,
+    readOnly,
+    docString,
+    isInstantUpdate,
+    addNotification,
+    changeCallback = () => {},
+    displayName,
+    id
+  } = props;
 
   const renderCount = useRef(0);
   const [inputString, setInputString] = useState(props.value);
-  const fullAccessPath = [parentPath, name].filter((element) => element).join('.');
-  const id = getIdFromFullAccessPath(fullAccessPath);
-  const webSettings = useContext(WebSettingsContext);
-  let displayName = name;
-
-  if (webSettings[fullAccessPath] && webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName) {
-    displayName = webSettings[fullAccessPath].displayName;
-  }
 
   useEffect(() => {
     renderCount.current++;
@@ -43,41 +43,56 @@ export const StringComponent = React.memo((props: StringComponentProps) => {
     if (props.value !== inputString) {
       setInputString(props.value);
     }
-    addNotification(`${parentPath}.${name} changed to ${props.value}.`);
+    addNotification(`${fullAccessPath} changed to ${props.value}.`);
   }, [props.value]);
 
   const handleChange = (event) => {
     setInputString(event.target.value);
     if (isInstantUpdate) {
-      setAttribute(name, parentPath, event.target.value);
+      changeCallback(event.target.value);
     }
   };
 
   const handleKeyDown = (event) => {
     if (event.key === 'Enter' && !isInstantUpdate) {
-      setAttribute(name, parentPath, inputString);
+      changeCallback({
+        type: 'str',
+        value: inputString,
+        full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
+        readonly: readOnly,
+        doc: docString
+      });
+      event.preventDefault();
     }
   };
 
   const handleBlur = () => {
     if (!isInstantUpdate) {
-      setAttribute(name, parentPath, inputString);
+      changeCallback({
+        type: 'str',
+        value: inputString,
+        full_access_path: fullAccessPath,
+        readonly: readOnly,
+        doc: docString
+      });
     }
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className={'stringComponent'} id={id}>
+    <div className="component stringComponent" id={id}>
       {process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && (
         <div>Render count: {renderCount.current}</div>
       )}
-      <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
       <InputGroup>
-        <InputGroup.Text>{displayName}</InputGroup.Text>
+        <InputGroup.Text>
+          {displayName}
+          <DocStringComponent docString={docString} />
+        </InputGroup.Text>
         <Form.Control
           type="text"
+          name={fullAccessPath}
           value={inputString}
           disabled={readOnly}
-          name={name}
           onChange={handleChange}
           onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
           onBlur={handleBlur}

frontend/src/socket.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { io } from 'socket.io-client';
+import { SerializedValue } from './components/GenericComponent';
+import { serializeDict, serializeList } from './utils/serializationUtils';
 
 export const hostname =
   process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' ? `localhost` : window.location.hostname;
@@ -9,28 +11,44 @@ console.debug('Websocket: ', URL);
 
 export const socket = io(URL, { path: '/ws/socket.io', transports: ['websocket'] });
 
-export const setAttribute = (
-  name: string,
-  parentPath: string,
-  value: unknown,
+export const updateValue = (
+  serializedObject: SerializedValue,
   callback?: (ack: unknown) => void
 ) => {
   if (callback) {
-    socket.emit('set_attribute', { name, parent_path: parentPath, value }, callback);
+    socket.emit(
+      'update_value',
+      { access_path: serializedObject['full_access_path'], value: serializedObject },
+      callback
+    );
   } else {
-    socket.emit('set_attribute', { name, parent_path: parentPath, value });
+    socket.emit('update_value', {
+      access_path: serializedObject['full_access_path'],
+      value: serializedObject
+    });
   }
 };
 
 export const runMethod = (
-  name: string,
-  parentPath: string,
-  kwargs: Record<string, unknown>,
+  accessPath: string,
+  args: unknown[] = [],
+  kwargs: Record<string, unknown> = {},
   callback?: (ack: unknown) => void
 ) => {
+  const serializedArgs = serializeList(args);
+  const serializedKwargs = serializeDict(kwargs);
+
   if (callback) {
-    socket.emit('run_method', { name, parent_path: parentPath, kwargs }, callback);
+    socket.emit(
+      'trigger_method',
+      { access_path: accessPath, args: serializedArgs, kwargs: serializedKwargs },
+      callback
+    );
   } else {
-    socket.emit('run_method', { name, parent_path: parentPath, kwargs });
+    socket.emit('trigger_method', {
+      access_path: accessPath,
+      args: serializedArgs,
+      kwargs: serializedKwargs
+    });
   }
 };

frontend/src/utils/serializationUtils.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+const serializePrimitive = (
+  obj: number | boolean | string | null,
+  accessPath: string
+) => {
+  let type: string;
+
+  if (typeof obj === 'number') {
+    type = Number.isInteger(obj) ? 'int' : 'float';
+    return {
+      full_access_path: accessPath,
+      doc: null,
+      readonly: false,
+      type,
+      value: obj
+    };
+  } else if (typeof obj === 'boolean') {
+    type = 'bool';
+    return {
+      full_access_path: accessPath,
+      doc: null,
+      readonly: false,
+      type,
+      value: obj
+    };
+  } else if (typeof obj === 'string') {
+    type = 'str';
+    return {
+      full_access_path: accessPath,
+      doc: null,
+      readonly: false,
+      type,
+      value: obj
+    };
+  } else if (obj === null) {
+    type = 'NoneType';
+    return {
+      full_access_path: accessPath,
+      doc: null,
+      readonly: false,
+      type,
+      value: null
+    };
+  } else {
+    throw new Error('Unsupported type for serialization');
+  }
+};
+
+export const serializeList = (obj: unknown[], accessPath: string = '') => {
+  const doc = null;
+  const value = obj.map((item, index) => {
+    if (
+      typeof item === 'number' ||
+      typeof item === 'boolean' ||
+      typeof item === 'string' ||
+      item === null
+    ) {
+      serializePrimitive(
+        item as number | boolean | string | null,
+        `${accessPath}[${index}]`
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
+  return {
+    full_access_path: accessPath,
+    type: 'list',
+    value,
+    readonly: false,
+    doc
+  };
+};
+export const serializeDict = (
+  obj: Record<string, unknown>,
+  accessPath: string = ''
+) => {
+  const doc = null;
+  const value = Object.entries(obj).reduce((acc, [key, val]) => {
+    // Construct the new access path for nested properties
+    const newPath = `${accessPath}["${key}"]`;
+
+    // Serialize each value in the dictionary and assign to the accumulator
+    if (
+      typeof val === 'number' ||
+      typeof val === 'boolean' ||
+      typeof val === 'string' ||
+      val === null
+    ) {
+      acc[key] = serializePrimitive(val as number | boolean | string | null, newPath);
+    }
+
+    return acc;
+  }, {});
+
+  return {
+    full_access_path: accessPath,
+    type: 'dict',
+    value,
+    readonly: false,
+    doc
+  };
+};

frontend/src/utils/stateUtils.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-export interface SerializedValue {
+import { SerializedValue } from '../components/GenericComponent';
+
+export type State = {
   type: string;
-  value: Record<string, unknown> | Array<Record<string, unknown>>;
+  value: Record<string, SerializedValue> | null;
   readonly: boolean;
   doc: string | null;
-  async?: boolean;
-  parameters?: unknown;
-}
-export type State = Record<string, SerializedValue> | null;
+};
 
 export function setNestedValueByPath(
   serializationDict: Record<string, SerializedValue>,

pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "pydase"
-version = "0.5.0"
+version = "0.8.0"
 description = "A flexible and robust Python library for creating, managing, and interacting with data services, with built-in support for web and RPC servers, and customizable features for diverse use cases."
 authors = ["Mose Mueller <mosmuell@ethz.ch>"]
 readme = "README.md"
@@ -9,15 +9,15 @@ packages = [{ include = "pydase", from = "src" }]
 
 [tool.poetry.dependencies]
 python = "^3.10"
-rpyc = "^5.3.1"
-fastapi = "^0.100.0"
-uvicorn = "^0.22.0"
+fastapi = "^0.108.0"
+uvicorn = "^0.27.0"
 toml = "^0.10.2"
 python-socketio = "^5.8.0"
-websockets = "^11.0.3"
 confz = "^2.0.0"
 pint = "^0.22"
 pillow = "^10.0.0"
+websocket-client = "^1.7.0"
+aiohttp = "^3.9.3"
 
 [tool.poetry.group.dev]
 optional = true
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ mypy = "^1.4.1"
 matplotlib = "^3.7.2"
 pyright = "^1.1.323"
 pytest-mock = "^3.11.1"
-ruff = "^0.1.5"
+ruff = "^0.2.0"
 pytest-asyncio = "^0.23.2"
 
 [tool.poetry.group.docs]
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ build-backend = "poetry.core.masonry.api"
 
 [tool.ruff]
 target-version = "py310" # Always generate Python 3.10-compatible code
+extend-exclude = [
+  "docs", "frontend"
+]
+
+[tool.ruff.lint]
 select = [
     "ASYNC", # flake8-async
     "C4",    # flake8-comprehensions
@@ -78,13 +83,9 @@ select = [
     "W",     # pycodestyle warnings
 ]
 ignore = [
-    "E203",     # whitespace-before-punctuation
-    "W292",     # missing-newline-at-end-of-file
+    "RUF006",  # asyncio-dangling-task
     "PERF203",  # try-except-in-loop
 ]
-extend-exclude = [
-  "docs", "frontend"
-]
 
 [tool.ruff.lint.mccabe]
 max-complexity = 7

src/pydase/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from pydase.client.client import Client
 from pydase.data_service import DataService
 from pydase.server import Server
 from pydase.utils.logging import setup_logging
@@ -7,4 +8,5 @@ setup_logging()
 __all__ = [
     "DataService",
     "Server",
+    "Client",
 ]

src/pydase/client/__init__.py

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from pydase.client.client import Client
+
+__all__ = ["Client"]

src/pydase/client/client.py

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import threading
+from typing import TypedDict, cast
+
+import socketio  # type: ignore
+
+import pydase.components
+from pydase.client.proxy_loader import ProxyClassMixin, ProxyLoader
+from pydase.utils.serialization.deserializer import loads
+from pydase.utils.serialization.types import SerializedDataService, SerializedObject
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class NotifyDataDict(TypedDict):
+    full_access_path: str
+    value: SerializedObject
+
+
+class NotifyDict(TypedDict):
+    data: NotifyDataDict
+
+
+def asyncio_loop_thread(loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop) -> None:
+    asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
+    loop.run_forever()
+
+
+class ProxyClass(ProxyClassMixin, pydase.components.DeviceConnection):
+    """
+    A proxy class that serves as the interface for interacting with device connections
+    via a socket.io client in an asyncio environment.
+
+    Args:
+        sio_client (socketio.AsyncClient):
+            The socket.io client instance used for asynchronous communication with the
+            pydase service server.
+        loop (asyncio.AbstractEventLoop):
+            The event loop in which the client operations are managed and executed.
+
+    This class is used to create a proxy object that behaves like a local representation
+    of a remote pydase service, facilitating direct interaction as if it were local
+    while actually communicating over network protocols.
+    It can also be used as an attribute of a pydase service itself, e.g.
+
+        ```python
+        import pydase
+
+
+        class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+            proxy = pydase.Client(
+                hostname="...", port=8001, block_until_connected=False
+            ).proxy
+
+
+        if __name__ == "__main__":
+            service = MyService()
+            server = pydase.Server(service, web_port=8002).run()
+        ```
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self, sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient, loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self._initialise(sio_client=sio_client, loop=loop)
+
+
+class Client:
+    """
+    A client for connecting to a remote pydase service using socket.io. This client
+    handles asynchronous communication with a service, manages events such as
+    connection, disconnection, and updates, and ensures that the proxy object is
+    up-to-date with the server state.
+
+    Attributes:
+        proxy (ProxyClass):
+            A proxy object representing the remote service, facilitating interaction as
+            if it were local.
+
+    Args:
+        hostname (str):
+            Hostname of the exposed service this client attempts to connect to.
+            Default is "localhost".
+        port (int):
+            Port of the exposed service this client attempts to connect on.
+            Default is 8001.
+        block_until_connected (bool):
+            If set to True, the constructor will block until the connection to the
+            service has been established. This is useful for ensuring the client is
+            ready to use immediately after instantiation. Default is True.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        hostname: str,
+        port: int,
+        block_until_connected: bool = True,
+    ):
+        self._hostname = hostname
+        self._port = port
+        self._sio = socketio.AsyncClient()
+        self._loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+        self.proxy = ProxyClass(sio_client=self._sio, loop=self._loop)
+        self._thread = threading.Thread(
+            target=asyncio_loop_thread, args=(self._loop,), daemon=True
+        )
+        self._thread.start()
+        connection_future = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(
+            self._connect(), self._loop
+        )
+        if block_until_connected:
+            connection_future.result()
+
+    async def _connect(self) -> None:
+        logger.debug("Connecting to server '%s:%s' ...", self._hostname, self._port)
+        await self._setup_events()
+        await self._sio.connect(
+            f"ws://{self._hostname}:{self._port}",
+            socketio_path="/ws/socket.io",
+            transports=["websocket"],
+            retry=True,
+        )
+
+    async def _setup_events(self) -> None:
+        self._sio.on("connect", self._handle_connect)
+        self._sio.on("disconnect", self._handle_disconnect)
+        self._sio.on("notify", self._handle_update)
+
+    async def _handle_connect(self) -> None:
+        logger.debug("Connected to '%s:%s' ...", self._hostname, self._port)
+        serialized_object = cast(
+            SerializedDataService, await self._sio.call("service_serialization")
+        )
+        ProxyLoader.update_data_service_proxy(
+            self.proxy, serialized_object=serialized_object
+        )
+        serialized_object["type"] = "DeviceConnection"
+        self.proxy._notify_changed("", loads(serialized_object))
+        self.proxy._connected = True
+
+    async def _handle_disconnect(self) -> None:
+        logger.debug("Disconnected from '%s:%s' ...", self._hostname, self._port)
+        self.proxy._connected = False
+
+    async def _handle_update(self, data: NotifyDict) -> None:
+        self.proxy._notify_changed(
+            data["data"]["full_access_path"],
+            loads(data["data"]["value"]),
+        )

src/pydase/client/proxy_loader.py

@@ -0,0 +1,368 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+from collections.abc import Iterable
+from copy import copy
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
+
+import socketio  # type: ignore
+from typing_extensions import SupportsIndex
+
+from pydase.utils.serialization.deserializer import Deserializer, loads
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import dump
+from pydase.utils.serialization.types import SerializedObject
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Callable
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class ProxyAttributeError(Exception): ...
+
+
+def trigger_method(
+    sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+    loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    access_path: str,
+    args: list[Any],
+    kwargs: dict[str, Any],
+) -> Any:
+    async def async_trigger_method() -> Any:
+        return await sio_client.call(
+            "trigger_method",
+            {
+                "access_path": access_path,
+                "args": dump(args),
+                "kwargs": dump(kwargs),
+            },
+        )
+
+    result: SerializedObject | None = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(
+        async_trigger_method(),
+        loop=loop,
+    ).result()
+
+    if result is not None:
+        return ProxyLoader.loads_proxy(
+            serialized_object=result, sio_client=sio_client, loop=loop
+        )
+
+    return None
+
+
+def update_value(
+    sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+    loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    access_path: str,
+    value: Any,
+) -> Any:
+    async def set_result() -> Any:
+        return await sio_client.call(
+            "update_value",
+            {
+                "access_path": access_path,
+                "value": dump(value),
+            },
+        )
+
+    result: SerializedObject | None = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(
+        set_result(),
+        loop=loop,
+    ).result()
+    if result is not None:
+        ProxyLoader.loads_proxy(
+            serialized_object=result, sio_client=sio_client, loop=loop
+        )
+
+
+class ProxyList(list[Any]):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        original_list: list[Any],
+        parent_path: str,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__(original_list)
+        self._parent_path = parent_path
+        self._loop = loop
+        self._sio = sio_client
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key: int, value: Any) -> None:  # type: ignore[override]
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}[{key}]"
+
+        update_value(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, value)
+
+    def append(self, __object: Any) -> None:
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}.append"
+
+        trigger_method(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, [__object], {})
+
+    def clear(self) -> None:
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}.clear"
+
+        trigger_method(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, [], {})
+
+    def extend(self, __iterable: Iterable[Any]) -> None:
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}.extend"
+
+        trigger_method(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, [__iterable], {})
+
+    def insert(self, __index: SupportsIndex, __object: Any) -> None:
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}.insert"
+
+        trigger_method(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, [__index, __object], {})
+
+    def pop(self, __index: SupportsIndex = -1) -> Any:
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}.pop"
+
+        return trigger_method(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, [__index], {})
+
+    def remove(self, __value: Any) -> None:
+        full_access_path = f"{self._parent_path}.remove"
+
+        trigger_method(self._sio, self._loop, full_access_path, [__value], {})
+
+
+class ProxyClassMixin:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        # declare before DataService init to avoid warning messaged
+        self._observers: dict[str, Any] = {}
+
+        self._proxy_getters: dict[str, Callable[..., Any]] = {}
+        self._proxy_setters: dict[str, Callable[..., Any]] = {}
+        self._proxy_methods: dict[str, Callable[..., Any]] = {}
+
+    def _initialise(
+        self,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> None:
+        self._loop = loop
+        self._sio = sio_client
+
+    def __dir__(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Used to provide tab completion on CLI / notebook"""
+        static_dir = super().__dir__()
+        return sorted({*static_dir, *self._proxy_getters, *self._proxy_methods.keys()})
+
+    def __getattribute__(self, name: str) -> Any:
+        try:
+            if name in super().__getattribute__("_proxy_getters"):
+                return super().__getattribute__("_proxy_getters")[name]()
+            if name in super().__getattribute__("_proxy_methods"):
+                return super().__getattribute__("_proxy_methods")[name]
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        return super().__getattribute__(name)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: Any) -> None:
+        try:
+            if name in super().__getattribute__("_proxy_setters"):
+                return super().__getattribute__("_proxy_setters")[name](value)
+            if name in super().__getattribute__("_proxy_getters"):
+                raise ProxyAttributeError(
+                    f"Proxy attribute {name!r} of {type(self).__name__!r} is readonly!"
+                )
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        return super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+    def _handle_serialized_method(
+        self, attr_name: str, serialized_object: SerializedObject
+    ) -> None:
+        def add_prefix_to_last_path_element(s: str, prefix: str) -> str:
+            parts = s.split(".")
+            parts[-1] = f"{prefix}_{parts[-1]}"
+            return ".".join(parts)
+
+        if serialized_object["type"] == "method":
+            if serialized_object["async"] is True:
+                start_method = copy(serialized_object)
+                start_method["full_access_path"] = add_prefix_to_last_path_element(
+                    start_method["full_access_path"], "start"
+                )
+                stop_method = copy(serialized_object)
+                stop_method["full_access_path"] = add_prefix_to_last_path_element(
+                    stop_method["full_access_path"], "stop"
+                )
+                self._add_method_proxy(f"start_{attr_name}", start_method)
+                self._add_method_proxy(f"stop_{attr_name}", stop_method)
+            else:
+                self._add_method_proxy(attr_name, serialized_object)
+
+    def _add_method_proxy(
+        self, attr_name: str, serialized_object: SerializedObject
+    ) -> None:
+        def method_proxy(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+            return trigger_method(
+                self._sio,
+                self._loop,
+                serialized_object["full_access_path"],
+                list(args),
+                kwargs,
+            )
+
+        dict.__setitem__(self._proxy_methods, attr_name, method_proxy)
+
+    def _add_attr_proxy(
+        self, attr_name: str, serialized_object: SerializedObject
+    ) -> None:
+        self._add_getattr_proxy(attr_name, serialized_object=serialized_object)
+        if not serialized_object["readonly"]:
+            self._add_setattr_proxy(attr_name, serialized_object=serialized_object)
+
+    def _add_setattr_proxy(
+        self, attr_name: str, serialized_object: SerializedObject
+    ) -> None:
+        self._add_getattr_proxy(attr_name, serialized_object=serialized_object)
+        if not serialized_object["readonly"]:
+
+            def setter_proxy(value: Any) -> None:
+                update_value(
+                    self._sio, self._loop, serialized_object["full_access_path"], value
+                )
+
+            dict.__setitem__(self._proxy_setters, attr_name, setter_proxy)  # type: ignore
+
+    def _add_getattr_proxy(
+        self, attr_name: str, serialized_object: SerializedObject
+    ) -> None:
+        def getter_proxy() -> Any:
+            async def get_result() -> Any:
+                return await self._sio.call(
+                    "get_value", serialized_object["full_access_path"]
+                )
+
+            result = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(
+                get_result(),
+                loop=self._loop,
+            ).result()
+            return ProxyLoader.loads_proxy(result, self._sio, self._loop)
+
+        dict.__setitem__(self._proxy_getters, attr_name, getter_proxy)  # type: ignore
+
+
+class ProxyLoader:
+    @staticmethod
+    def load_list_proxy(
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> Any:
+        return ProxyList(
+            [
+                ProxyLoader.loads_proxy(item, sio_client, loop)
+                for item in cast(list[SerializedObject], serialized_object["value"])
+            ],
+            parent_path=serialized_object["full_access_path"],
+            sio_client=sio_client,
+            loop=loop,
+        )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def load_dict_proxy(
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> Any:
+        return loads(serialized_object)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def update_data_service_proxy(
+        proxy_class: ProxyClassMixin,
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+    ) -> Any:
+        proxy_class._proxy_getters.clear()
+        proxy_class._proxy_setters.clear()
+        proxy_class._proxy_methods.clear()
+        for key, value in cast(
+            dict[str, SerializedObject], serialized_object["value"]
+        ).items():
+            type_handler: dict[str | None, None | Callable[..., Any]] = {
+                None: None,
+                "int": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "float": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "bool": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "str": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "NoneType": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "Quantity": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "Enum": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "ColouredEnum": proxy_class._add_attr_proxy,
+                "method": proxy_class._handle_serialized_method,
+                "list": proxy_class._add_getattr_proxy,
+                "dict": proxy_class._add_getattr_proxy,
+            }
+
+            # First go through handled types (as ColouredEnum is also within the
+            # components)
+            handler = type_handler.get(value["type"])
+            if handler:
+                handler(key, value)
+            else:
+                proxy_class._add_getattr_proxy(key, value)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def load_data_service_proxy(
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> Any:
+        # Custom types like Components or DataService classes
+        component_class = cast(
+            type, Deserializer.get_component_class(serialized_object["type"])
+        )
+        class_bases = (
+            ProxyClassMixin,
+            component_class,
+        )
+        proxy_base_class: type[ProxyClassMixin] = type(
+            serialized_object["name"],  # type: ignore
+            class_bases,
+            {},
+        )
+        proxy_class_instance = proxy_base_class()
+        proxy_class_instance._initialise(sio_client=sio_client, loop=loop)
+        ProxyLoader.update_data_service_proxy(
+            proxy_class=proxy_class_instance, serialized_object=serialized_object
+        )
+        return proxy_class_instance
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def load_default(
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> Any:
+        return loads(serialized_object)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def loads_proxy(
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+        sio_client: socketio.AsyncClient,
+        loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+    ) -> Any:
+        type_handler: dict[str | None, None | Callable[..., Any]] = {
+            "int": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "float": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "bool": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "str": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "NoneType": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "Quantity": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "Enum": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "ColouredEnum": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "Exception": ProxyLoader.load_default,
+            "list": ProxyLoader.load_list_proxy,
+            "dict": ProxyLoader.load_dict_proxy,
+        }
+
+        # First go through handled types (as ColouredEnum is also within the components)
+        handler = type_handler.get(serialized_object["type"])
+        if handler:
+            return handler(
+                serialized_object=serialized_object, sio_client=sio_client, loop=loop
+            )
+
+        return ProxyLoader.load_data_service_proxy(
+            serialized_object=serialized_object, sio_client=sio_client, loop=loop
+        )

src/pydase/components/__init__.py

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ print(my_service.voltage.value)  # Output: 5
 """
 
 from pydase.components.coloured_enum import ColouredEnum
+from pydase.components.device_connection import DeviceConnection
 from pydase.components.image import Image
 from pydase.components.number_slider import NumberSlider
 
@@ -35,4 +36,5 @@ __all__ = [
     "NumberSlider",
     "Image",
     "ColouredEnum",
+    "DeviceConnection",
 ]

src/pydase/components/device_connection.py

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import asyncio
+
+import pydase.data_service
+
+
+class DeviceConnection(pydase.data_service.DataService):
+    """
+    Base class for device connection management within the pydase framework.
+
+    This class serves as the foundation for subclasses that manage connections to
+    specific devices. It implements automatic reconnection logic that periodically
+    checks the device's availability and attempts to reconnect if the connection is
+    lost. The frequency of these checks is controlled by the `_reconnection_wait_time`
+    attribute.
+
+    Subclassing
+    -----------
+    Users should primarily override the `connect` method to establish a connection
+    to the device. This method should update the `self._connected` attribute to reflect
+    the connection status:
+
+    >>> class MyDeviceConnection(DeviceConnection):
+    ...     def connect(self) -> None:
+    ...         # Implementation to connect to the device
+    ...         # Update self._connected to `True` if connection is successful,
+    ...         # `False` otherwise
+    ...         ...
+
+    Optionally, if additional logic is needed to determine the connection status,
+    the `connected` property can also be overridden:
+
+    >>> class MyDeviceConnection(DeviceConnection):
+    ...     @property
+    ...     def connected(self) -> bool:
+    ...         # Custom logic to determine connection status
+    ...         return some_custom_condition
+    ...
+
+    Frontend Representation
+    -----------------------
+    In the frontend, this class is represented without directly exposing the `connect`
+    method and `connected` attribute. Instead, user-defined attributes, methods, and
+    properties are displayed. When `self.connected` is `False`, the frontend component
+    shows an overlay that allows manual triggering of the `connect()` method. This
+    overlay disappears once the connection is successfully re-established.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self._connected = False
+        self._autostart_tasks["_handle_connection"] = ()  # type: ignore
+        self._reconnection_wait_time = 10.0
+
+    def connect(self) -> None:
+        """Tries connecting to the device and changes `self._connected` status
+        accordingly. This method is called every `self._reconnection_wait_time` seconds
+        when `self.connected` is False. Users should override this method to implement
+        device-specific connection logic.
+        """
+
+    @property
+    def connected(self) -> bool:
+        """Indicates if the device is currently connected or was recently connected.
+        Users may override this property to incorporate custom logic for determining
+        the connection status.
+        """
+        return self._connected
+
+    async def _handle_connection(self) -> None:
+        """Automatically tries reconnecting to the device if it is not connected.
+        This method leverages the `connect` method and the `connected` property to
+        manage the connection status.
+        """
+        while True:
+            if not self.connected:
+                self.connect()
+            await asyncio.sleep(self._reconnection_wait_time)

src/pydase/config.py

@@ -13,9 +13,8 @@ class OperationMode(BaseConfig):  # type: ignore[misc]
 class ServiceConfig(BaseConfig):  # type: ignore[misc]
     config_dir: Path = Path("config")
     web_port: int = 8001
-    rpc_port: int = 18871
 
-    CONFIG_SOURCES = EnvSource(prefix="SERVICE_")
+    CONFIG_SOURCES = EnvSource(allow_all=True, prefix="SERVICE_", file=".env")
 
 
 class WebServerConfig(BaseConfig):  # type: ignore[misc]

src/pydase/data_service/data_service.py

@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 import inspect
 import logging
-import warnings
 from enum import Enum
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, get_type_hints
-
-import rpyc  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
+from typing import Any
 
 import pydase.units as u
 from pydase.data_service.abstract_data_service import AbstractDataService
@@ -13,56 +10,26 @@ from pydase.observer_pattern.observable.observable import (
     Observable,
 )
 from pydase.utils.helpers import (
-    convert_arguments_to_hinted_types,
     get_class_and_instance_attributes,
-    get_object_attr_from_path_list,
     is_property_attribute,
-    parse_list_attr_and_index,
-    update_value_if_changed,
 )
-from pydase.utils.serializer import (
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import (
+    SerializedObject,
     Serializer,
-    generate_serialized_data_paths,
-    get_nested_dict_by_path,
 )
 
-if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from pathlib import Path
-
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def process_callable_attribute(attr: Any, args: dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
-    converted_args_or_error_msg = convert_arguments_to_hinted_types(
-        args, get_type_hints(attr)
-    )
-    return (
-        attr(**converted_args_or_error_msg)
-        if not isinstance(converted_args_or_error_msg, str)
-        else converted_args_or_error_msg
-    )
-
-
-class DataService(rpyc.Service, AbstractDataService):
-    def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+class DataService(AbstractDataService):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
         super().__init__()
         self._task_manager = TaskManager(self)
 
         if not hasattr(self, "_autostart_tasks"):
             self._autostart_tasks = {}
 
-        filename = kwargs.pop("filename", None)
-        if filename is not None:
-            warnings.warn(
-                "The 'filename' argument is deprecated and will be removed in a future "
-                "version. Please pass the 'filename' argument to `pydase.Server`.",
-                DeprecationWarning,
-                stacklevel=2,
-            )
-            self._filename: str | Path = filename
-
         self.__check_instance_classes()
-        self._initialised = True
 
     def __setattr__(self, __name: str, __value: Any) -> None:
         # Check and warn for unexpected type changes in attributes
@@ -125,113 +92,7 @@ class DataService(rpyc.Service, AbstractDataService):
             ):
                 self.__warn_if_not_observable(attr_value)
 
-    def __set_attribute_based_on_type(  # noqa: PLR0913
-        self,
-        target_obj: Any,
-        attr_name: str,
-        attr: Any,
-        value: Any,
-        index: int | None,
-        path_list: list[str],
-    ) -> None:
-        if isinstance(attr, Enum):
-            update_value_if_changed(target_obj, attr_name, attr.__class__[value])
-        elif isinstance(attr, list) and index is not None:
-            update_value_if_changed(attr, index, value)
-        elif isinstance(attr, DataService) and isinstance(value, dict):
-            for key, v in value.items():
-                self.update_DataService_attribute([*path_list, attr_name], key, v)
-        elif callable(attr):
-            process_callable_attribute(attr, value["args"])
-        else:
-            update_value_if_changed(target_obj, attr_name, value)
-
-    def _rpyc_getattr(self, name: str) -> Any:
-        if name.startswith("_"):
-            # disallow special and private attributes
-            raise AttributeError("cannot access private/special names")
-        # allow all other attributes
-        return getattr(self, name)
-
-    def _rpyc_setattr(self, name: str, value: Any) -> None:
-        if name.startswith("_"):
-            # disallow special and private attributes
-            raise AttributeError("cannot access private/special names")
-
-        # check if the attribute has a setter method
-        attr = getattr(self, name, None)
-        if isinstance(attr, property) and attr.fset is None:
-            raise AttributeError(f"{name} attribute does not have a setter method")
-
-        # allow all other attributes
-        setattr(self, name, value)
-
-    def write_to_file(self) -> None:
-        """
-        Serialize the DataService instance and write it to a JSON file.
-
-        This method is deprecated and will be removed in a future version.
-        Service persistence is handled by `pydase.Server` now, instead.
-        """
-
-        warnings.warn(
-            "'write_to_file' is deprecated and will be removed in a future version. "
-            "Service persistence is handled by `pydase.Server` now, instead.",
-            DeprecationWarning,
-            stacklevel=2,
-        )
-
-        if hasattr(self, "_state_manager"):
-            self._state_manager.save_state()
-
-    def load_DataService_from_JSON(  # noqa: N802
-        self, json_dict: dict[str, Any]
-    ) -> None:
-        warnings.warn(
-            "'load_DataService_from_JSON' is deprecated and will be removed in a "
-            "future version. "
-            "Service persistence is handled by `pydase.Server` now, instead.",
-            DeprecationWarning,
-            stacklevel=2,
-        )
-
-        # Traverse the serialized representation and set the attributes of the class
-        serialized_class = self.serialize()
-        for path in generate_serialized_data_paths(json_dict):
-            nested_json_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(json_dict, path)
-            value = nested_json_dict["value"]
-            value_type = nested_json_dict["type"]
-
-            nested_class_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(serialized_class, path)
-            class_value_type = nested_class_dict.get("type", None)
-            if class_value_type == value_type:
-                class_attr_is_read_only = nested_class_dict["readonly"]
-                if class_attr_is_read_only:
-                    logger.debug(
-                        "Attribute '%s' is read-only. Ignoring value from JSON "
-                        "file...",
-                        path,
-                    )
-                    continue
-                # Split the path into parts
-                parts = path.split(".")
-                attr_name = parts[-1]
-
-                # Convert dictionary into Quantity
-                if class_value_type == "Quantity":
-                    value = u.convert_to_quantity(value)
-
-                self.update_DataService_attribute(parts[:-1], attr_name, value)
-            else:
-                logger.info(
-                    "Attribute type of '%s' changed from '%s' to "
-                    "'%s'. Ignoring value from JSON file...",
-                    path,
-                    value_type,
-                    class_value_type,
-                )
-
-    def serialize(self) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
+    def serialize(self) -> SerializedObject:
         """
         Serializes the instance into a dictionary, preserving the structure of the
         instance.
@@ -248,38 +109,4 @@ class DataService(rpyc.Service, AbstractDataService):
         Returns:
             dict: The serialized instance.
         """
-        return Serializer.serialize_object(self)["value"]
-
-    def update_DataService_attribute(  # noqa: N802
-        self,
-        path_list: list[str],
-        attr_name: str,
-        value: Any,
-    ) -> None:
-        warnings.warn(
-            "'update_DataService_attribute' is deprecated and will be removed in a "
-            "future version. "
-            "Service state management is handled by `pydase.data_service.state_manager`"
-            "now, instead.",
-            DeprecationWarning,
-            stacklevel=2,
-        )
-
-        # If attr_name corresponds to a list entry, extract the attr_name and the index
-        attr_name, index = parse_list_attr_and_index(attr_name)
-        # Traverse the object according to the path parts
-        target_obj = get_object_attr_from_path_list(self, path_list)
-
-        # If the attribute is a property, change it using the setter without getting the
-        # property value (would otherwise be bad for expensive getter methods)
-        if is_property_attribute(target_obj, attr_name):
-            setattr(target_obj, attr_name, value)
-            return
-
-        attr = get_object_attr_from_path_list(target_obj, [attr_name])
-        if attr is None:
-            return
-
-        self.__set_attribute_based_on_type(
-            target_obj, attr_name, attr, value, index, path_list
-        )
+        return Serializer.serialize_object(self)

src/pydase/data_service/data_service_cache.py

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import logging
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 
-from pydase.utils.serializer import (
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import (
     SerializationPathError,
     SerializationValueError,
+    SerializedObject,
     get_nested_dict_by_path,
     set_nested_value_by_path,
 )
@@ -16,12 +17,12 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 class DataServiceCache:
     def __init__(self, service: "DataService") -> None:
-        self._cache: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        self._cache: SerializedObject
         self.service = service
         self._initialize_cache()
 
     @property
-    def cache(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def cache(self) -> SerializedObject:
         return self._cache
 
     def _initialize_cache(self) -> None:
@@ -30,10 +31,23 @@ class DataServiceCache:
         self._cache = self.service.serialize()
 
     def update_cache(self, full_access_path: str, value: Any) -> None:
-        set_nested_value_by_path(self._cache, full_access_path, value)
+        set_nested_value_by_path(
+            cast(dict[str, SerializedObject], self._cache["value"]),
+            full_access_path,
+            value,
+        )
 
-    def get_value_dict_from_cache(self, full_access_path: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def get_value_dict_from_cache(self, full_access_path: str) -> SerializedObject:
         try:
-            return get_nested_dict_by_path(self._cache, full_access_path)
+            return get_nested_dict_by_path(
+                cast(dict[str, SerializedObject], self._cache["value"]),
+                full_access_path,
+            )
         except (SerializationPathError, SerializationValueError, KeyError):
-            return {}
+            return {
+                "full_access_path": full_access_path,
+                "value": None,
+                "type": "None",
+                "doc": None,
+                "readonly": False,
+            }

src/pydase/data_service/data_service_observer.py

@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ from pydase.observer_pattern.observable.observable_object import ObservableObjec
 from pydase.observer_pattern.observer.property_observer import (
     PropertyObserver,
 )
-from pydase.utils.helpers import get_object_attr_from_path_list
-from pydase.utils.serializer import dump
+from pydase.utils.helpers import get_object_attr_from_path
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import SerializedObject, dump
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -18,11 +18,18 @@ class DataServiceObserver(PropertyObserver):
     def __init__(self, state_manager: StateManager) -> None:
         self.state_manager = state_manager
         self._notification_callbacks: list[
-            Callable[[str, Any, dict[str, Any]], None]
+            Callable[[str, Any, SerializedObject], None]
         ] = []
         super().__init__(state_manager.service)
 
     def on_change(self, full_access_path: str, value: Any) -> None:
+        if any(
+            full_access_path.startswith(changing_attribute)
+            and full_access_path != changing_attribute
+            for changing_attribute in self.changing_attributes
+        ):
+            return
+
         cached_value_dict = deepcopy(
             self.state_manager._data_service_cache.get_value_dict_from_cache(
                 full_access_path
@@ -35,10 +42,16 @@ class DataServiceObserver(PropertyObserver):
         ):
             logger.debug("'%s' changed to '%s'", full_access_path, value)
 
-        self._update_cache_value(full_access_path, value, cached_value_dict)
+            self._update_cache_value(full_access_path, value, cached_value_dict)
 
-        for callback in self._notification_callbacks:
-            callback(full_access_path, value, cached_value_dict)
+            cached_value_dict = deepcopy(
+                self.state_manager._data_service_cache.get_value_dict_from_cache(
+                    full_access_path
+                )
+            )
+
+            for callback in self._notification_callbacks:
+                callback(full_access_path, value, cached_value_dict)
 
         if isinstance(value, ObservableObject):
             self._update_property_deps_dict()
@@ -46,26 +59,29 @@ class DataServiceObserver(PropertyObserver):
         self._notify_dependent_property_changes(full_access_path)
 
     def _update_cache_value(
-        self, full_access_path: str, value: Any, cached_value_dict: dict[str, Any]
+        self,
+        full_access_path: str,
+        value: Any,
+        cached_value_dict: SerializedObject | dict[str, Any],
     ) -> None:
         value_dict = dump(value)
-        if cached_value_dict != {}:
-            if (
-                cached_value_dict["type"] != "method"
-                and cached_value_dict["type"] != value_dict["type"]
-            ):
-                logger.warning(
-                    "Type of '%s' changed from '%s' to '%s'. This could have unwanted "
-                    "side effects! Consider setting it to '%s' directly.",
-                    full_access_path,
-                    cached_value_dict["type"],
-                    value_dict["type"],
-                    cached_value_dict["type"],
-                )
-            self.state_manager._data_service_cache.update_cache(
+        if (
+            cached_value_dict != {}
+            and cached_value_dict["type"] != "method"
+            and cached_value_dict["type"] != value_dict["type"]
+        ):
+            logger.warning(
+                "Type of '%s' changed from '%s' to '%s'. This could have unwanted "
+                "side effects! Consider setting it to '%s' directly.",
                 full_access_path,
-                value,
+                cached_value_dict["type"],
+                value_dict["type"],
+                cached_value_dict["type"],
             )
+        self.state_manager._data_service_cache.update_cache(
+            full_access_path,
+            value,
+        )
 
     def _notify_dependent_property_changes(self, changed_attr_path: str) -> None:
         changed_props = self.property_deps_dict.get(changed_attr_path, [])
@@ -76,11 +92,11 @@ class DataServiceObserver(PropertyObserver):
             if prop not in self.changing_attributes:
                 self._notify_changed(
                     prop,
-                    get_object_attr_from_path_list(self.observable, prop.split(".")),
+                    get_object_attr_from_path(self.observable, prop),
                 )
 
     def add_notification_callback(
-        self, callback: Callable[[str, Any, dict[str, Any]], None]
+        self, callback: Callable[[str, Any, SerializedObject], None]
     ) -> None:
         """
         Registers a callback function to be invoked upon attribute changes in the

src/pydase/data_service/state_manager.py

@@ -5,15 +5,16 @@ from collections.abc import Callable
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 
-import pydase.units as u
 from pydase.data_service.data_service_cache import DataServiceCache
 from pydase.utils.helpers import (
-    get_object_attr_from_path_list,
+    get_object_attr_from_path,
     is_property_attribute,
     parse_list_attr_and_index,
 )
-from pydase.utils.serializer import (
-    dump,
+from pydase.utils.serialization.deserializer import loads
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import (
+    SerializationPathError,
+    SerializedObject,
     generate_serialized_data_paths,
     get_nested_dict_by_path,
     serialized_dict_is_nested_object,
@@ -114,10 +115,17 @@ class StateManager:
         self._data_service_cache = DataServiceCache(self.service)
 
     @property
-    def cache(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    def cache(self) -> SerializedObject:
         """Returns the cached DataService state."""
         return self._data_service_cache.cache
 
+    @property
+    def cache_value(self) -> dict[str, SerializedObject]:
+        """Returns the "value" value of the DataService serialization."""
+        return cast(
+            dict[str, SerializedObject], self._data_service_cache.cache["value"]
+        )
+
     def save_state(self) -> None:
         """
         Saves the DataService's current state to a JSON file defined by `self.filename`.
@@ -126,7 +134,7 @@ class StateManager:
 
         if self.filename is not None:
             with open(self.filename, "w") as f:
-                json.dump(self.cache, f, indent=4)
+                json.dump(self.cache_value, f, indent=4)
         else:
             logger.info(
                 "State manager was not initialised with a filename. Skipping "
@@ -146,24 +154,26 @@ class StateManager:
             return
 
         for path in generate_serialized_data_paths(json_dict):
-            nested_json_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(json_dict, path)
-            nested_class_dict = self._data_service_cache.get_value_dict_from_cache(path)
-
-            value, value_type = nested_json_dict["value"], nested_json_dict["type"]
-            class_attr_value_type = nested_class_dict.get("type", None)
-
-            if class_attr_value_type == value_type:
-                if self.__is_loadable_state_attribute(path):
-                    self.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(path, value)
-            else:
-                logger.info(
-                    "Attribute type of '%s' changed from '%s' to "
-                    "'%s'. Ignoring value from JSON file...",
-                    path,
-                    value_type,
-                    class_attr_value_type,
+            if self.__is_loadable_state_attribute(path):
+                nested_json_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(json_dict, path)
+                nested_class_dict = self._data_service_cache.get_value_dict_from_cache(
+                    path
                 )
 
+                value_type = nested_json_dict["type"]
+                class_attr_value_type = nested_class_dict.get("type", None)
+
+                if class_attr_value_type == value_type:
+                    self.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(path, nested_json_dict)
+                else:
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Attribute type of '%s' changed from '%s' to "
+                        "'%s'. Ignoring value from JSON file...",
+                        path,
+                        value_type,
+                        class_attr_value_type,
+                    )
+
     def _get_state_dict_from_json_file(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         if self.filename is not None and os.path.exists(self.filename):
             with open(self.filename) as f:
@@ -175,7 +185,7 @@ class StateManager:
     def set_service_attribute_value_by_path(
         self,
         path: str,
-        value: Any,
+        serialized_value: SerializedObject,
     ) -> None:
         """
         Sets the value of an attribute in the service managed by the `StateManager`
@@ -191,59 +201,76 @@ class StateManager:
             value: The new value to set for the attribute.
         """
 
-        current_value_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(self.cache, path)
+        current_value_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(self.cache_value, path)
 
         # This will also filter out methods as they are 'read-only'
         if current_value_dict["readonly"]:
             logger.debug("Attribute '%s' is read-only. Ignoring new value...", path)
             return
 
-        converted_value = self.__convert_value_if_needed(value, current_value_dict)
+        if "full_access_path" not in serialized_value:
+            # Backwards compatibility for JSON files not containing the
+            # full_access_path
+            logger.warning(
+                "The format of your JSON file is out-of-date. This might lead "
+                "to unexpected errors. Please consider updating it."
+            )
+            serialized_value["full_access_path"] = current_value_dict[
+                "full_access_path"
+            ]
 
         # only set value when it has changed
-        if self.__attr_value_has_changed(converted_value, current_value_dict["value"]):
-            self.__update_attribute_by_path(path, converted_value)
+        if self.__attr_value_has_changed(serialized_value, current_value_dict):
+            self.__update_attribute_by_path(path, serialized_value)
         else:
             logger.debug("Value of attribute '%s' has not changed...", path)
 
-    def __attr_value_has_changed(self, value_object: Any, current_value: Any) -> bool:
-        """Check if the serialized value of `value_object` differs from `current_value`.
+    def __attr_value_has_changed(
+        self, serialized_new_value: Any, serialized_current_value: Any
+    ) -> bool:
+        return not (
+            serialized_new_value["type"] == serialized_current_value["type"]
+            and serialized_new_value["value"] == serialized_current_value["value"]
+        )
 
-        The method serializes `value_object` to compare it, which is mainly
-        necessary for handling Quantity objects.
-        """
-
-        return dump(value_object)["value"] != current_value
-
-    def __convert_value_if_needed(
-        self, value: Any, current_value_dict: dict[str, Any]
-    ) -> Any:
-        if current_value_dict["type"] == "Quantity":
-            return u.convert_to_quantity(value, current_value_dict["value"]["unit"])
-        if current_value_dict["type"] == "float" and not isinstance(value, float):
-            return float(value)
-        return value
-
-    def __update_attribute_by_path(self, path: str, value: Any) -> None:
-        parent_path_list, attr_name = path.split(".")[:-1], path.split(".")[-1]
+    def __update_attribute_by_path(
+        self, path: str, serialized_value: SerializedObject
+    ) -> None:
+        parent_path, attr_name = ".".join(path.split(".")[:-1]), path.split(".")[-1]
 
         # If attr_name corresponds to a list entry, extract the attr_name and the
         # index
         attr_name, index = parse_list_attr_and_index(attr_name)
 
         # Update path to reflect the attribute without list indices
-        path = ".".join([*parent_path_list, attr_name])
+        path = f"{parent_path}.{attr_name}" if parent_path != "" else attr_name
 
-        attr_cache_type = get_nested_dict_by_path(self.cache, path)["type"]
+        attr_cache_type = get_nested_dict_by_path(self.cache_value, path)["type"]
 
         # Traverse the object according to the path parts
-        target_obj = get_object_attr_from_path_list(self.service, parent_path_list)
+        target_obj = get_object_attr_from_path(self.service, parent_path)
 
         if attr_cache_type in ("ColouredEnum", "Enum"):
-            enum_attr = get_object_attr_from_path_list(target_obj, [attr_name])
-            setattr(target_obj, attr_name, enum_attr.__class__[value])
-        elif attr_cache_type == "list":
-            list_obj = get_object_attr_from_path_list(target_obj, [attr_name])
+            enum_attr = get_object_attr_from_path(target_obj, attr_name)
+            # take the value of the existing enum class
+            if serialized_value["type"] in ("ColouredEnum", "Enum"):
+                try:
+                    setattr(
+                        target_obj,
+                        attr_name,
+                        enum_attr.__class__[serialized_value["value"]],
+                    )
+                    return
+                except KeyError:
+                    # This error will arise when setting an enum from another enum class
+                    # In this case, we resort to loading the enum and setting it
+                    # directly
+                    pass
+
+        value = loads(serialized_value)
+
+        if attr_cache_type == "list":
+            list_obj = get_object_attr_from_path(target_obj, attr_name)
             list_obj[index] = value
         else:
             setattr(target_obj, attr_name, value)
@@ -256,10 +283,11 @@ class StateManager:
         attributes default to being loadable.
         """
 
-        parent_object = get_object_attr_from_path_list(
-            self.service, full_access_path.split(".")[:-1]
+        parent_path, attr_name = (
+            ".".join(full_access_path.split(".")[:-1]),
+            full_access_path.split(".")[-1],
         )
-        attr_name = full_access_path.split(".")[-1]
+        parent_object = get_object_attr_from_path(self.service, parent_path)
 
         if is_property_attribute(parent_object, attr_name):
             prop = getattr(type(parent_object), attr_name)
@@ -272,12 +300,20 @@ class StateManager:
                 )
             return has_decorator
 
-        cached_serialization_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(
-            self.cache, full_access_path
-        )
+        try:
+            cached_serialization_dict = get_nested_dict_by_path(
+                self.cache_value, full_access_path
+            )
 
-        if cached_serialization_dict["value"] == "method":
+            if cached_serialization_dict["value"] == "method":
+                return False
+
+            # nested objects cannot be loaded
+            return not serialized_dict_is_nested_object(cached_serialization_dict)
+        except SerializationPathError:
+            logger.debug(
+                "Path %a could not be loaded. It does not correspond to an attribute of"
+                " the class. Ignoring value from JSON file...",
+                attr_name,
+            )
             return False
-
-        # nested objects cannot be loaded
-        return not serialized_dict_is_nested_object(cached_serialization_dict)

src/pydase/data_service/task_manager.py

@@ -3,10 +3,15 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import asyncio
 import inspect
 import logging
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, TypedDict
+from enum import Enum
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 from pydase.data_service.abstract_data_service import AbstractDataService
-from pydase.utils.helpers import get_class_and_instance_attributes
+from pydase.utils.helpers import (
+    function_has_arguments,
+    get_class_and_instance_attributes,
+    is_property_attribute,
+)
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Callable
@@ -16,9 +21,12 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class TaskDict(TypedDict):
-    task: asyncio.Task[None]
-    kwargs: dict[str, Any]
+class TaskDefinitionError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class TaskStatus(Enum):
+    RUNNING = "running"
 
 
 class TaskManager:
@@ -78,7 +86,7 @@ class TaskManager:
     def __init__(self, service: DataService) -> None:
         self.service = service
 
-        self.tasks: dict[str, TaskDict] = {}
+        self.tasks: dict[str, asyncio.Task[None]] = {}
         """A dictionary to keep track of running tasks. The keys are the names of the
         tasks and the values are TaskDict instances which include the task itself and
         its kwargs.
@@ -91,13 +99,26 @@ class TaskManager:
         return asyncio.get_running_loop()
 
     def _set_start_and_stop_for_async_methods(self) -> None:
-        # inspect the methods of the class
-        for name, method in inspect.getmembers(
-            self.service, predicate=inspect.iscoroutinefunction
-        ):
-            # create start and stop methods for each coroutine
-            setattr(self.service, f"start_{name}", self._make_start_task(name, method))
-            setattr(self.service, f"stop_{name}", self._make_stop_task(name))
+        for name in dir(self.service):
+            # circumvents calling properties
+            if is_property_attribute(self.service, name):
+                continue
+
+            method = getattr(self.service, name)
+            if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(method):
+                if function_has_arguments(method):
+                    raise TaskDefinitionError(
+                        "Asynchronous functions (tasks) should be defined without "
+                        f"arguments. The task '{method.__name__}' has at least one "
+                        "argument. Please remove the argument(s) from this function to "
+                        "use it."
+                    )
+
+                # create start and stop methods for each coroutine
+                setattr(
+                    self.service, f"start_{name}", self._make_start_task(name, method)
+                )
+                setattr(self.service, f"stop_{name}", self._make_stop_task(name))
 
     def _initiate_task_startup(self) -> None:
         if self.service._autostart_tasks is not None:
@@ -137,7 +158,7 @@ class TaskManager:
             # cancel the task
             task = self.tasks.get(name, None)
             if task is not None:
-                self._loop.call_soon_threadsafe(task["task"].cancel)
+                self._loop.call_soon_threadsafe(task.cancel)
 
         return stop_task
 
@@ -156,7 +177,7 @@ class TaskManager:
             method (callable): The coroutine to be turned into an asyncio task.
         """
 
-        def start_task(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        def start_task() -> None:
             def task_done_callback(task: asyncio.Task[None], name: str) -> None:
                 """Handles tasks that have finished.
 
@@ -180,36 +201,16 @@ class TaskManager:
                     )
                     raise exception
 
-            async def task(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+            async def task() -> None:
                 try:
-                    await method(*args, **kwargs)
+                    await method()
                 except asyncio.CancelledError:
                     logger.info("Task '%s' was cancelled", name)
 
             if not self.tasks.get(name):
-                # Get the signature of the coroutine method to start
-                sig = inspect.signature(method)
-
-                # Create a list of the parameter names from the method signature.
-                parameter_names = list(sig.parameters.keys())
-
-                # Extend the list of positional arguments with None values to match
-                # the length of the parameter names list. This is done to ensure
-                # that zip can pair each parameter name with a corresponding value.
-                args_padded = list(args) + [None] * (len(parameter_names) - len(args))
-
-                # Create a dictionary of keyword arguments by pairing the parameter
-                # names with the values in 'args_padded'. Then merge this dictionary
-                # with the 'kwargs' dictionary. If a parameter is specified in both
-                # 'args_padded' and 'kwargs', the value from 'kwargs' is used.
-                kwargs_updated = {
-                    **dict(zip(parameter_names, args_padded, strict=True)),
-                    **kwargs,
-                }
-
                 # creating the task and adding the task_done_callback which checks
                 # if an exception has occured during the task execution
-                task_object = self._loop.create_task(task(*args, **kwargs))
+                task_object = self._loop.create_task(task())
                 task_object.add_done_callback(
                     lambda task: task_done_callback(task, name)
                 )
@@ -217,13 +218,10 @@ class TaskManager:
                 # Store the task and its arguments in the '__tasks' dictionary. The
                 # key is the name of the method, and the value is a dictionary
                 # containing the task object and the updated keyword arguments.
-                self.tasks[name] = {
-                    "task": task_object,
-                    "kwargs": kwargs_updated,
-                }
+                self.tasks[name] = task_object
 
                 # emit the notification that the task was started
-                self.service._notify_changed(name, kwargs_updated)
+                self.service._notify_changed(name, TaskStatus.RUNNING)
             else:
                 logger.error("Task '%s' is already running!", name)
 

src/pydase/frontend/asset-manifest.json

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 {
   "files": {
-    "main.css": "/static/css/main.2d8458eb.css",
-    "main.js": "/static/js/main.ea55bba6.js",
+    "main.css": "/static/css/main.7ef670d5.css",
+    "main.js": "/static/js/main.9c35da6c.js",
     "index.html": "/index.html",
-    "main.2d8458eb.css.map": "/static/css/main.2d8458eb.css.map",
-    "main.ea55bba6.js.map": "/static/js/main.ea55bba6.js.map"
+    "main.7ef670d5.css.map": "/static/css/main.7ef670d5.css.map",
+    "main.9c35da6c.js.map": "/static/js/main.9c35da6c.js.map"
   },
   "entrypoints": [
-    "static/css/main.2d8458eb.css",
-    "static/js/main.ea55bba6.js"
+    "static/css/main.7ef670d5.css",
+    "static/js/main.9c35da6c.js"
   ]
 }

src/pydase/frontend/index.html

@@ -1 +1 @@
-<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="utf-8"/><link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico"/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"/><meta name="theme-color" content="#000000"/><meta name="description" content="Web site displaying a pydase UI."/><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/logo192.png"/><link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"/><title>pydase App</title><script defer="defer" src="/static/js/main.ea55bba6.js"></script><link href="/static/css/main.2d8458eb.css" rel="stylesheet"></head><body><noscript>You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.</noscript><div id="root"></div></body></html>
+<!doctype html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="utf-8"/><link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico"/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"/><meta name="theme-color" content="#000000"/><meta name="description" content="Web site displaying a pydase UI."/><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/logo192.png"/><link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"/><title>pydase App</title><script defer="defer" src="/static/js/main.9c35da6c.js"></script><link href="/static/css/main.7ef670d5.css" rel="stylesheet"></head><body><noscript>You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.</noscript><div id="root"></div></body></html>

src/pydase/observer_pattern/observable/observable.py

@@ -67,5 +67,9 @@ class Observable(ObservableObject):
         self, observer_attr_name: str, instance_attr_name: str
     ) -> str:
         if observer_attr_name != "":
-            return f"{observer_attr_name}.{instance_attr_name}"
+            return (
+                f"{observer_attr_name}.{instance_attr_name}"
+                if instance_attr_name != ""
+                else observer_attr_name
+            )
         return instance_attr_name

src/pydase/observer_pattern/observable/observable_object.py

@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ class _ObservableList(ObservableObject, list[Any]):
         self._notify_changed(f"[{key}]", value)
 
     def append(self, __object: Any) -> None:
+        self._notify_change_start("")
         self._initialise_new_objects(f"[{len(self)}]", __object)
         super().append(__object)
         self._notify_changed("", self)

src/pydase/observer_pattern/observer/observer.py

@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ class Observer(ABC):
         self.changing_attributes: list[str] = []
 
     def _notify_changed(self, changed_attribute: str, value: Any) -> None:
+        self.on_change(full_access_path=changed_attribute, value=value)
+
         if changed_attribute in self.changing_attributes:
             self.changing_attributes.remove(changed_attribute)
 
-        self.on_change(full_access_path=changed_attribute, value=value)
-
     def _notify_change_start(self, changing_attribute: str) -> None:
         self.changing_attributes.append(changing_attribute)
         self.on_change_start(changing_attribute)

src/pydase/observer_pattern/observer/property_observer.py

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class PropertyObserver(Observer):
     def _process_observable_properties(
         self, obj: Observable, deps: dict[str, Any], prefix: str
     ) -> None:
-        for k, value in vars(type(obj)).items():
+        for k, value in inspect.getmembers(type(obj)):
             prefix = (
                 f"{prefix}." if prefix != "" and not prefix.endswith(".") else prefix
             )

src/pydase/server/server.py

@@ -3,12 +3,10 @@ import logging
 import os
 import signal
 import threading
-from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import FrameType
 from typing import Any, Protocol, TypedDict
 
-from rpyc import ThreadedServer  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
 from uvicorn.server import HANDLED_SIGNALS
 
 from pydase import DataService
@@ -51,8 +49,7 @@ class AdditionalServerProtocol(Protocol):
         host: str,
         port: int,
         **kwargs: Any,
-    ) -> None:
-        ...
+    ) -> None: ...
 
     async def serve(self) -> Any:
         """Starts the server. This method should be implemented as an asynchronous
@@ -81,71 +78,67 @@ class Server:
 
     Args:
         service: DataService
-          The DataService instance that this server will manage.
+            The DataService instance that this server will manage.
         host: str
-          The host address for the server. Default is '0.0.0.0', which means all
-          available network interfaces.
-        rpc_port: int
-          The port number for the RPC server. Default is
-          `pydase.config.ServiceConfig().rpc_port`.
+            The host address for the server. Default is '0.0.0.0', which means all
+            available network interfaces.
         web_port: int
-          The port number for the web server. Default is
-          `pydase.config.ServiceConfig().web_port`.
-        enable_rpc: bool
-          Whether to enable the RPC server. Default is True.
+            The port number for the web server. Default is
+            `pydase.config.ServiceConfig().web_port`.
         enable_web: bool
-          Whether to enable the web server. Default is True.
+            Whether to enable the web server. Default is True.
         filename: str | Path | None
-          Filename of the file managing the service state persistence. Defaults to None.
-        use_forking_server: bool
-          Whether to use ForkingServer for multiprocessing. Default is False.
+            Filename of the file managing the service state persistence.
+            Defaults to None.
         additional_servers : list[AdditionalServer]
-          A list of additional servers to run alongside the main server. Each entry in
-          the list should be a dictionary with the following structure:
-            - server: A class that adheres to the AdditionalServerProtocol. This class
-                should have an `__init__` method that accepts the DataService instance,
-                port, host, and optional keyword arguments, and a `serve` method that is
-                a coroutine responsible for starting the server.
-            - port: The port on which the additional server will be running.
-            - kwargs: A dictionary containing additional keyword arguments that will be
-                passed to the server's `__init__` method.
+            A list of additional servers to run alongside the main server. Each entry in
+            the list should be a dictionary with the following structure:
+                - server: A class that adheres to the AdditionalServerProtocol. This
+                    class should have an `__init__` method that accepts the DataService
+                    instance, port, host, and optional keyword arguments, and a `serve`
+                    method that is a coroutine responsible for starting the server.
+                - port: The port on which the additional server will be running.
+                - kwargs: A dictionary containing additional keyword arguments that will
+                    be passed to the server's `__init__` method.
 
-          Here's an example of how you might define an additional server:
+            Here's an example of how you might define an additional server:
 
+            ```python
+            class MyCustomServer:
+                def __init__(
+                    self,
+                    data_service_observer: DataServiceObserver,
+                    host: str,
+                    port: int,
+                    **kwargs: Any,
+                ) -> None:
+                    self.observer = data_service_observer
+                    self.state_manager = self.observer.state_manager
+                    self.service = self.state_manager.service
+                    self.port = port
+                    self.host = host
+                    # handle any additional arguments...
 
-          >>>     class MyCustomServer:
-          ...         def __init__(
-          ...             self,
-          ...             data_service_observer: DataServiceObserver,
-          ...             host: str,
-          ...             port: int,
-          ...             **kwargs: Any,
-          ...         ) -> None:
-          ...             self.observer = data_service_observer
-          ...             self.state_manager = self.observer.state_manager
-          ...             self.service = self.state_manager.service
-          ...             self.port = port
-          ...             self.host = host
-          ...             # handle any additional arguments...
-          ...
-          ...         async def serve(self):
-          ...             # code to start the server...
+                async def serve(self):
+                    # code to start the server...
+            ```
 
-          And here's how you might add it to the `additional_servers` list when creating
-          a `Server` instance:
-
-          >>>    server = Server(
-          ...        service=my_data_service,
-          ...        additional_servers=[
-          ...            {
-          ...                "server": MyCustomServer,
-          ...                "port": 12345,
-          ...                "kwargs": {"some_arg": "some_value"}
-          ...            }
-          ...        ],
-          ...    )
-          ...    server.run()
+            And here's how you might add it to the `additional_servers` list when
+            creating a `Server` instance:
 
+            ```python
+            server = Server(
+                service=my_data_service,
+                additional_servers=[
+                    {
+                        "server": MyCustomServer,
+                        "port": 12345,
+                        "kwargs": {"some_arg": "some_value"}
+                    }
+                ],
+            )
+            server.run()
+            ```
         **kwargs: Any
           Additional keyword arguments.
     """
@@ -154,9 +147,7 @@ class Server:
         self,
         service: DataService,
         host: str = "0.0.0.0",
-        rpc_port: int = ServiceConfig().rpc_port,
         web_port: int = ServiceConfig().web_port,
-        enable_rpc: bool = True,
         enable_web: bool = True,
         filename: str | Path | None = None,
         additional_servers: list[AdditionalServer] | None = None,
@@ -166,21 +157,16 @@ class Server:
             additional_servers = []
         self._service = service
         self._host = host
-        self._rpc_port = rpc_port
         self._web_port = web_port
-        self._enable_rpc = enable_rpc
         self._enable_web = enable_web
         self._kwargs = kwargs
         self._loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop
         self._additional_servers = additional_servers
         self.should_exit = False
         self.servers: dict[str, asyncio.Future[Any]] = {}
-        self.executor: ThreadPoolExecutor | None = None
         self._state_manager = StateManager(self._service, filename)
-        if getattr(self._service, "_filename", None) is not None:
-            self._service._state_manager = self._state_manager
-        self._state_manager.load_state()
         self._observer = DataServiceObserver(self._state_manager)
+        self._state_manager.load_state()
 
     def run(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -209,20 +195,6 @@ class Server:
         self.install_signal_handlers()
         self._service._task_manager.start_autostart_tasks()
 
-        if self._enable_rpc:
-            self.executor = ThreadPoolExecutor()
-            self._rpc_server = ThreadedServer(
-                self._service,
-                port=self._rpc_port,
-                protocol_config={
-                    "allow_all_attrs": True,
-                    "allow_setattr": True,
-                },
-            )
-            future_or_task = self._loop.run_in_executor(
-                executor=self.executor, func=self._rpc_server.start
-            )
-            self.servers["rpyc"] = future_or_task
         for server in self._additional_servers:
             addin_server = server["server"](
                 data_service_observer=self._observer,
@@ -260,10 +232,6 @@ class Server:
         await self.__cancel_servers()
         await self.__cancel_tasks()
 
-        if hasattr(self, "_rpc_server") and self._enable_rpc:
-            logger.debug("Closing rpyc server.")
-            self._rpc_server.close()
-
     async def __cancel_servers(self) -> None:
         for server_name, task in self.servers.items():
             task.cancel()

src/pydase/server/web_server/sio_setup.py

@@ -2,14 +2,15 @@ import asyncio
 import logging
 from typing import Any, TypedDict
 
+import click
 import socketio  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
 
-from pydase.data_service.data_service import process_callable_attribute
 from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
 from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager
-from pydase.utils.helpers import get_object_attr_from_path_list
+from pydase.utils.helpers import get_object_attr_from_path
 from pydase.utils.logging import SocketIOHandler
-from pydase.utils.serializer import dump
+from pydase.utils.serialization.deserializer import Deserializer
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import SerializedObject, dump
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -21,26 +22,20 @@ class UpdateDict(TypedDict):
 
     Attributes:
     ----------
-    name : str
-        The name of the attribute to be updated in the DataService instance.
-        If the attribute is part of a nested structure, this would be the name of the
-        attribute in the last nested object. For example, for an attribute access path
-        'attr1.list_attr[0].attr2', 'attr2' would be the name.
-
-    parent_path : str
-        The access path for the parent object of the attribute to be updated. This is
-        used to construct the full access path for the attribute. For example, for an
-        attribute access path 'attr1.list_attr[0].attr2', 'attr1.list_attr[0]' would be
-        the parent_path.
-
-    value : Any
-        The new value to be assigned to the attribute. The type of this value should
-        match the type of the attribute to be updated.
+    access_path : string
+        The full access path of the attribute to be updated.
+    value : SerializedObject
+        The serialized new value to be assigned to the attribute.
     """
 
-    name: str
-    parent_path: str
-    value: Any
+    access_path: str
+    value: SerializedObject
+
+
+class TriggerMethodDict(TypedDict):
+    access_path: str
+    args: SerializedObject
+    kwargs: SerializedObject
 
 
 class RunMethodDict(TypedDict):
@@ -94,14 +89,9 @@ def setup_sio_server(
 
     # Add notification callback to observer
     def sio_callback(
-        full_access_path: str, value: Any, cached_value_dict: dict[str, Any]
+        full_access_path: str, value: Any, cached_value_dict: SerializedObject
     ) -> None:
         if cached_value_dict != {}:
-            serialized_value = dump(value)
-            if cached_value_dict["type"] != "method":
-                cached_value_dict["type"] = serialized_value["type"]
-
-            cached_value_dict["value"] = serialized_value["value"]
 
             async def notify() -> None:
                 try:
@@ -124,24 +114,57 @@ def setup_sio_server(
     return sio
 
 
-def setup_sio_events(sio: socketio.AsyncServer, state_manager: StateManager) -> None:
-    @sio.event
-    def set_attribute(sid: str, data: UpdateDict) -> Any:
-        logger.debug("Received frontend update: %s", data)
-        parent_path = data["parent_path"].split(".")
-        path_list = [element for element in parent_path if element] + [data["name"]]
-        path = ".".join(path_list)
-        return state_manager.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(
-            path=path, value=data["value"]
+def setup_sio_events(sio: socketio.AsyncServer, state_manager: StateManager) -> None:  # noqa: C901
+    @sio.event  # type: ignore
+    async def connect(sid: str, environ: Any) -> None:
+        logging.debug("Client [%s] connected", click.style(str(sid), fg="cyan"))
+
+    @sio.event  # type: ignore
+    async def disconnect(sid: str) -> None:
+        logging.debug("Client [%s] disconnected", click.style(str(sid), fg="cyan"))
+
+    @sio.event  # type: ignore
+    async def service_serialization(sid: str) -> SerializedObject:
+        logging.debug(
+            "Client [%s] requested service serialization",
+            click.style(str(sid), fg="cyan"),
         )
+        return state_manager.cache
 
     @sio.event
-    def run_method(sid: str, data: RunMethodDict) -> Any:
-        logger.debug("Running method: %s", data)
-        parent_path = data["parent_path"].split(".")
-        path_list = [element for element in parent_path if element] + [data["name"]]
-        method = get_object_attr_from_path_list(state_manager.service, path_list)
-        return process_callable_attribute(method, data["kwargs"])
+    async def update_value(sid: str, data: UpdateDict) -> SerializedObject | None:  # type: ignore
+        path = data["access_path"]
+
+        try:
+            state_manager.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(
+                path=path, serialized_value=data["value"]
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.exception(e)
+            return dump(e)
+
+    @sio.event
+    async def get_value(sid: str, access_path: str) -> SerializedObject:
+        try:
+            return state_manager._data_service_cache.get_value_dict_from_cache(
+                access_path
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.exception(e)
+            return dump(e)
+
+    @sio.event
+    async def trigger_method(sid: str, data: TriggerMethodDict) -> Any:
+        try:
+            method = get_object_attr_from_path(
+                state_manager.service, data["access_path"]
+            )
+            args = Deserializer.deserialize(data["args"])
+            kwargs: dict[str, Any] = Deserializer.deserialize(data["kwargs"])
+            return dump(method(*args, **kwargs))
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(e)
+            return dump(e)
 
 
 def setup_logging_handler(sio: socketio.AsyncServer) -> None:

src/pydase/server/web_server/web_server.py

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from typing import Any
 
 import socketio  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
 import uvicorn
-from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi import FastAPI, Response
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 from fastapi.responses import FileResponse
 from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
 from pydase.server.web_server.sio_setup import (
     setup_sio_server,
 )
-from pydase.utils.serializer import generate_serialized_data_paths
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import generate_serialized_data_paths
 from pydase.version import __version__
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class WebServer:
         enable_cors: bool = True,
         config_dir: Path = ServiceConfig().config_dir,
         generate_web_settings: bool = WebServerConfig().generate_web_settings,
-        **kwargs: Any,
+        frontend_src: Path = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent / "frontend",
     ) -> None:
         self.observer = data_service_observer
         self.state_manager = self.observer.state_manager
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class WebServer:
         self.host = host
         self.css = css
         self.enable_cors = enable_cors
+        self.frontend_src = frontend_src
         self._service_config_dir = config_dir
         self._generate_web_settings = generate_web_settings
         self._loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop
@@ -126,11 +127,14 @@ class WebServer:
     @property
     def web_settings(self) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
         current_web_settings = self._get_web_settings_from_file()
-        for path in generate_serialized_data_paths(self.state_manager.cache):
+        for path in generate_serialized_data_paths(self.state_manager.cache_value):
             if path in current_web_settings:
                 continue
 
-            current_web_settings[path] = {"displayName": path.split(".")[-1]}
+            current_web_settings[path] = {
+                "displayName": path.split(".")[-1],
+                "display": True,
+            }
 
         return current_web_settings
 
@@ -161,23 +165,24 @@ class WebServer:
 
         @app.get("/service-properties")
         def service_properties() -> dict[str, Any]:
-            return self.state_manager.cache
+            return self.state_manager.cache  # type: ignore
 
         @app.get("/web-settings")
         def web_settings() -> dict[str, Any]:
             return self.web_settings
 
         # exposing custom.css file provided by user
-        if self.css is not None:
-
-            @app.get("/custom.css")
-            async def styles() -> FileResponse:
+        @app.get("/custom.css")
+        async def styles() -> Response:
+            if self.css is not None:
                 return FileResponse(str(self.css))
 
+            return Response(content="", media_type="text/css")
+
         app.mount(
             "/",
             StaticFiles(
-                directory=Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent / "frontend",
+                directory=self.frontend_src,
                 html=True,
             ),
         )

src/pydase/utils/decorators.py

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from typing import Any
+
+from pydase.utils.helpers import function_has_arguments
+
+
+class FunctionDefinitionError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+def frontend(func: Callable[..., Any]) -> Callable[..., Any]:
+    """
+    Decorator to mark a DataService method for frontend rendering. Ensures that the
+    method does not contain arguments, as they are not supported for frontend rendering.
+    """
+
+    if function_has_arguments(func):
+        raise FunctionDefinitionError(
+            "The @frontend decorator requires functions without arguments. Function "
+            f"'{func.__name__}' has at least one argument. "
+            "Please remove the argument(s) from this function to use it with the "
+            "@frontend decorator."
+        )
+
+    # Mark the function for frontend display.
+    func._display_in_frontend = True  # type: ignore
+    return func

src/pydase/utils/helpers.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import inspect
 import logging
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from itertools import chain
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -29,13 +30,13 @@ def get_class_and_instance_attributes(obj: object) -> dict[str, Any]:
     return dict(chain(type(obj).__dict__.items(), obj.__dict__.items()))
 
 
-def get_object_attr_from_path_list(target_obj: Any, path: list[str]) -> Any:
+def get_object_attr_from_path(target_obj: Any, path: str) -> Any:
     """
     Traverse the object tree according to the given path.
 
     Args:
         target_obj: The root object to start the traversal from.
-        path: A list of attribute names representing the path to traverse.
+        path: Access path of the object.
 
     Returns:
         The attribute at the end of the path. If the path includes a list index,
@@ -45,7 +46,8 @@ def get_object_attr_from_path_list(target_obj: Any, path: list[str]) -> Any:
     Raises:
         ValueError: If a list index in the path is not a valid integer.
     """
-    for part in path:
+    path_list = path.split(".") if path != "" else []
+    for part in path_list:
         try:
             # Try to split the part into attribute and index
             attr, index_str = part.split("[", maxsplit=1)
@@ -62,49 +64,6 @@ def get_object_attr_from_path_list(target_obj: Any, path: list[str]) -> Any:
     return target_obj
 
 
-def convert_arguments_to_hinted_types(
-    args: dict[str, Any], type_hints: dict[str, Any]
-) -> dict[str, Any] | str:
-    """
-    Convert the given arguments to their types hinted in the type_hints dictionary.
-
-    This function attempts to convert each argument in the args dictionary to the type
-    specified for the argument in the type_hints dictionary. If the conversion is
-    successful, the function replaces the original argument in the args dictionary with
-    the converted argument.
-
-    If a ValueError is raised during the conversion of an argument, the function logs
-    an error message and returns the error message as a string.
-
-    Args:
-        args: A dictionary of arguments to be converted. The keys are argument names
-              and the values are the arguments themselves.
-        type_hints: A dictionary of type hints for the arguments. The keys are
-                    argument names and the values are the hinted types.
-
-    Returns:
-        A dictionary of the converted arguments if all conversions are successful,
-        or an error message string if a ValueError is raised during a conversion.
-    """
-
-    # Convert arguments to their hinted types
-    for arg_name, arg_value in args.items():
-        if arg_name in type_hints:
-            arg_type = type_hints[arg_name]
-            if isinstance(arg_type, type):
-                # Attempt to convert the argument to its hinted type
-                try:
-                    args[arg_name] = arg_type(arg_value)
-                except ValueError:
-                    msg = (
-                        f"Failed to convert argument '{arg_name}' to type "
-                        f"{arg_type.__name__}"
-                    )
-                    logger.error(msg)
-                    return msg
-    return args
-
-
 def update_value_if_changed(
     target: Any, attr_name_or_index: str | int, new_value: Any
 ) -> None:
@@ -194,5 +153,36 @@ def get_data_service_class_reference() -> Any:
     return getattr(pydase.data_service.data_service, "DataService")
 
 
-def is_property_attribute(target_obj: Any, attr_name: str) -> bool:
+def is_property_attribute(target_obj: Any, access_path: str) -> bool:
+    parent_path, attr_name = (
+        ".".join(access_path.split(".")[:-1]),
+        access_path.split(".")[-1],
+    )
+    target_obj = get_object_attr_from_path(target_obj, parent_path)
     return isinstance(getattr(type(target_obj), attr_name, None), property)
+
+
+def function_has_arguments(func: Callable[..., Any]) -> bool:
+    sig = inspect.signature(func)
+    parameters = dict(sig.parameters)
+    # Remove 'self' parameter for instance methods.
+    parameters.pop("self", None)
+
+    # Check if there are any parameters left which would indicate additional arguments.
+    if len(parameters) > 0:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def render_in_frontend(func: Callable[..., Any]) -> bool:
+    """Determines if the method should be rendered in the frontend.
+
+    It checks if the "@frontend" decorator was used or the method is a coroutine."""
+
+    if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(func):
+        return True
+
+    try:
+        return func._display_in_frontend  # type: ignore
+    except AttributeError:
+        return False

src/pydase/utils/serialization/deserializer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+import enum
+import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, NoReturn, cast
+
+import pydase
+import pydase.components
+import pydase.units as u
+from pydase.utils.helpers import get_component_classes
+from pydase.utils.serialization.types import SerializedObject
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Callable
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class Deserializer:
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+        type_handler: dict[str | None, None | Callable[..., Any]] = {
+            None: None,
+            "int": cls.deserialize_primitive,
+            "float": cls.deserialize_primitive,
+            "bool": cls.deserialize_primitive,
+            "str": cls.deserialize_primitive,
+            "NoneType": cls.deserialize_primitive,
+            "Quantity": cls.deserialize_quantity,
+            "Enum": cls.deserialize_enum,
+            "ColouredEnum": lambda serialized_object: cls.deserialize_enum(
+                serialized_object, enum_class=pydase.components.ColouredEnum
+            ),
+            "list": cls.deserialize_list,
+            "dict": cls.deserialize_dict,
+            "method": cls.deserialize_method,
+            "Exception": cls.deserialize_exception,
+        }
+
+        # First go through handled types (as ColouredEnum is also within the components)
+        handler = type_handler.get(serialized_object["type"])
+        if handler:
+            return handler(serialized_object)
+
+        # Custom types like Components or DataService classes
+        component_class = cls.get_component_class(serialized_object["type"])
+        if component_class:
+            return cls.deserialize_component_type(serialized_object, component_class)
+
+        return None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_primitive(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+        if serialized_object["type"] == "float":
+            return float(serialized_object["value"])
+        return serialized_object["value"]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_quantity(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+        return u.convert_to_quantity(serialized_object["value"])  # type: ignore
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_enum(
+        cls,
+        serialized_object: SerializedObject,
+        enum_class: type[enum.Enum] = enum.Enum,
+    ) -> Any:
+        return enum_class(serialized_object["name"], serialized_object["enum"])[  # type: ignore
+            serialized_object["value"]
+        ]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_list(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+        return [
+            cls.deserialize(item)
+            for item in cast(list[SerializedObject], serialized_object["value"])
+        ]
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_dict(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+        return {
+            key: cls.deserialize(value)
+            for key, value in cast(
+                dict[str, SerializedObject], serialized_object["value"]
+            ).items()
+        }
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_method(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+        return
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_exception(cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> NoReturn:
+        import builtins
+
+        try:
+            exception = getattr(builtins, serialized_object["name"])  # type: ignore
+        except AttributeError:
+            exception = type(serialized_object["name"], (Exception,), {})  # type: ignore
+        raise exception(serialized_object["value"])
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_component_class(type_name: str | None) -> type | None:
+        for component_class in get_component_classes():
+            if type_name == component_class.__name__:
+                return component_class
+        if type_name == "DataService":
+            import pydase
+
+            return pydase.DataService
+        return None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def create_attr_property(cls, serialized_attr: SerializedObject) -> property:
+        attr_name = serialized_attr["full_access_path"].split(".")[-1]
+
+        def get(self) -> Any:  # type: ignore
+            return getattr(self, f"_{attr_name}")
+
+        get.__doc__ = serialized_attr["doc"]
+
+        def set(self, value: Any) -> None:  # type: ignore
+            return setattr(self, f"_{attr_name}", value)
+
+        if serialized_attr["readonly"]:
+            return property(get)
+        return property(get, set)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize_component_type(
+        cls, serialized_object: SerializedObject, base_class: type
+    ) -> Any:
+        def create_proxy_class(serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> type:
+            class_bases = (base_class,)
+            class_attrs = {}
+
+            # Process and add properties based on the serialized object
+            for key, value in cast(
+                dict[str, SerializedObject], serialized_object["value"]
+            ).items():
+                if value["type"] != "method":
+                    class_attrs[key] = cls.create_attr_property(value)
+                    # Initialize a placeholder for the attribute to avoid AttributeError
+                    class_attrs[f"_{key}"] = cls.deserialize(value)
+
+            # Create the dynamic class with the given name and attributes
+            return type(serialized_object["name"], class_bases, class_attrs)  # type: ignore
+
+        return create_proxy_class(serialized_object)()
+
+
+def loads(serialized_object: SerializedObject) -> Any:
+    return Deserializer.deserialize(serialized_object)

src/pydase/utils/serialization/serializer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,508 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import inspect
+import logging
+import sys
+from enum import Enum
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal, cast
+
+import pydase.units as u
+from pydase.data_service.abstract_data_service import AbstractDataService
+from pydase.data_service.task_manager import TaskStatus
+from pydase.utils.helpers import (
+    get_attribute_doc,
+    get_component_classes,
+    get_data_service_class_reference,
+    parse_list_attr_and_index,
+    render_in_frontend,
+)
+from pydase.utils.serialization.types import (
+    DataServiceTypes,
+    SerializedBool,
+    SerializedDataService,
+    SerializedDict,
+    SerializedEnum,
+    SerializedException,
+    SerializedFloat,
+    SerializedInteger,
+    SerializedList,
+    SerializedMethod,
+    SerializedNoneType,
+    SerializedObject,
+    SerializedQuantity,
+    SerializedString,
+    SignatureDict,
+)
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Callable
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class SerializationError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class SerializationPathError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class SerializationValueError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class Serializer:
+    @staticmethod
+    def serialize_object(obj: Any, access_path: str = "") -> SerializedObject:  # noqa: C901
+        result: SerializedObject
+
+        if isinstance(obj, Exception):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_exception(obj)
+
+        elif isinstance(obj, AbstractDataService):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_data_service(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        elif isinstance(obj, list):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_list(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        elif isinstance(obj, dict):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_dict(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        # Special handling for u.Quantity
+        elif isinstance(obj, u.Quantity):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_quantity(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        # Handling for Enums
+        elif isinstance(obj, Enum):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_enum(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        # Methods and coroutines
+        elif inspect.isfunction(obj) or inspect.ismethod(obj):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_method(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        elif isinstance(obj, int | float | bool | str | None):
+            result = Serializer._serialize_primitive(obj, access_path=access_path)
+
+        try:
+            return result
+        except UnboundLocalError:
+            raise SerializationError(
+                f"Could not serialized object of type {type(obj)}."
+            )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_primitive(
+        obj: float | bool | str | None,
+        access_path: str,
+    ) -> (
+        SerializedInteger
+        | SerializedFloat
+        | SerializedBool
+        | SerializedString
+        | SerializedNoneType
+    ):
+        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
+        return {  # type: ignore
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "doc": doc,
+            "readonly": False,
+            "type": type(obj).__name__,
+            "value": obj,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_exception(obj: Exception) -> SerializedException:
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": "",
+            "doc": None,
+            "readonly": True,
+            "type": "Exception",
+            "value": obj.args[0],
+            "name": obj.__class__.__name__,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_enum(obj: Enum, access_path: str = "") -> SerializedEnum:
+        import pydase.components.coloured_enum
+
+        value = obj.name
+        doc = obj.__doc__
+        class_name = type(obj).__name__
+        if sys.version_info < (3, 11) and doc == "An enumeration.":
+            doc = None
+        if isinstance(obj, pydase.components.coloured_enum.ColouredEnum):
+            obj_type: Literal["ColouredEnum", "Enum"] = "ColouredEnum"
+        else:
+            obj_type = "Enum"
+
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "name": class_name,
+            "type": obj_type,
+            "value": value,
+            "readonly": False,
+            "doc": doc,
+            "enum": {
+                name: member.value for name, member in obj.__class__.__members__.items()
+            },
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_quantity(
+        obj: u.Quantity, access_path: str = ""
+    ) -> SerializedQuantity:
+        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
+        value: u.QuantityDict = {"magnitude": obj.m, "unit": str(obj.u)}
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "type": "Quantity",
+            "value": value,
+            "readonly": False,
+            "doc": doc,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_dict(obj: dict[str, Any], access_path: str = "") -> SerializedDict:
+        readonly = False
+        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
+        value = {
+            key: Serializer.serialize_object(val, access_path=f'{access_path}["{key}"]')
+            for key, val in obj.items()
+        }
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "type": "dict",
+            "value": value,
+            "readonly": readonly,
+            "doc": doc,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_list(obj: list[Any], access_path: str = "") -> SerializedList:
+        readonly = False
+        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
+        value = [
+            Serializer.serialize_object(o, access_path=f"{access_path}[{i}]")
+            for i, o in enumerate(obj)
+        ]
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "type": "list",
+            "value": value,
+            "readonly": readonly,
+            "doc": doc,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_method(
+        obj: Callable[..., Any], access_path: str = ""
+    ) -> SerializedMethod:
+        readonly = True
+        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
+        frontend_render = render_in_frontend(obj)
+
+        # Store parameters and their anotations in a dictionary
+        sig = inspect.signature(obj)
+        sig.return_annotation
+
+        signature: SignatureDict = {"parameters": {}, "return_annotation": {}}
+
+        for k, v in sig.parameters.items():
+            default_value = cast(
+                dict[str, Any], {} if v.default == inspect._empty else dump(v.default)
+            )
+            default_value.pop("full_access_path", None)
+            signature["parameters"][k] = {
+                "annotation": str(v.annotation),
+                "default": default_value,
+            }
+
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "type": "method",
+            "value": None,
+            "readonly": readonly,
+            "doc": doc,
+            "async": inspect.iscoroutinefunction(obj),
+            "signature": signature,
+            "frontend_render": frontend_render,
+        }
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _serialize_data_service(
+        obj: AbstractDataService, access_path: str = ""
+    ) -> SerializedDataService:
+        readonly = False
+        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
+        obj_type: DataServiceTypes = "DataService"
+        obj_name = obj.__class__.__name__
+
+        # Get component base class if any
+        component_base_cls = next(
+            (cls for cls in get_component_classes() if isinstance(obj, cls)), None
+        )
+        if component_base_cls:
+            obj_type = component_base_cls.__name__  # type: ignore
+
+        # Get the set of DataService class attributes
+        data_service_attr_set = set(dir(get_data_service_class_reference()))
+        # Get the set of the object attributes
+        obj_attr_set = set(dir(obj))
+        # Get the difference between the two sets
+        derived_only_attr_set = obj_attr_set - data_service_attr_set
+
+        value: dict[str, SerializedObject] = {}
+
+        # Iterate over attributes, properties, class attributes, and methods
+        for key in sorted(derived_only_attr_set):
+            if key.startswith("_"):
+                continue  # Skip attributes that start with underscore
+
+            # Skip keys that start with "start_" or "stop_" and end with an async
+            # method name
+            if key.startswith(("start_", "stop_")) and key.split("_", 1)[1] in {
+                name
+                for name, _ in inspect.getmembers(
+                    obj, predicate=inspect.iscoroutinefunction
+                )
+            }:
+                continue
+
+            val = getattr(obj, key)
+
+            path = f"{access_path}.{key}" if access_path else key
+            serialized_object = Serializer.serialize_object(val, access_path=path)
+
+            # If there's a running task for this method
+            if serialized_object["type"] == "method" and key in obj._task_manager.tasks:
+                serialized_object["value"] = TaskStatus.RUNNING.name
+
+            value[key] = serialized_object
+
+            # If the DataService attribute is a property
+            if isinstance(getattr(obj.__class__, key, None), property):
+                prop: property = getattr(obj.__class__, key)
+                value[key]["readonly"] = prop.fset is None
+                value[key]["doc"] = get_attribute_doc(prop)  # overwrite the doc
+
+        return {
+            "full_access_path": access_path,
+            "name": obj_name,
+            "type": obj_type,
+            "value": value,
+            "readonly": readonly,
+            "doc": doc,
+        }
+
+
+def dump(obj: Any) -> SerializedObject:
+    return Serializer.serialize_object(obj)
+
+
+def set_nested_value_by_path(
+    serialization_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject], path: str, value: Any
+) -> None:
+    """
+    Set a value in a nested dictionary structure, which conforms to the serialization
+    format used by `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`, using a dot-notation path.
+
+    Args:
+        serialization_dict:
+            The base dictionary representing data serialized with
+            `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`.
+        path:
+            The dot-notation path (e.g., 'attr1.attr2[0].attr3') indicating where to
+            set the value.
+        value:
+            The new value to set at the specified path.
+
+    Note:
+        - If the index equals the length of the list, the function will append the
+          serialized representation of the 'value' to the list.
+    """
+
+    parent_path_parts, attr_name = path.split(".")[:-1], path.split(".")[-1]
+    current_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject] = serialization_dict
+
+    try:
+        for path_part in parent_path_parts:
+            next_level_serialized_object = get_next_level_dict_by_key(
+                current_dict, path_part, allow_append=False
+            )
+            current_dict = cast(
+                dict[str, SerializedObject], next_level_serialized_object["value"]
+            )
+
+        next_level_serialized_object = get_next_level_dict_by_key(
+            current_dict, attr_name, allow_append=True
+        )
+    except (SerializationPathError, SerializationValueError, KeyError) as e:
+        logger.error(e)
+        return
+
+    if next_level_serialized_object["type"] == "method":  # state change of task
+        next_level_serialized_object["value"] = (
+            "RUNNING" if isinstance(value, TaskStatus) else None
+        )
+    else:
+        serialized_value = Serializer.serialize_object(value, access_path=path)
+        serialized_value["readonly"] = next_level_serialized_object["readonly"]
+
+        keys_to_keep = set(serialized_value.keys())
+
+        next_level_serialized_object.update(serialized_value)  # type: ignore
+
+        # removes keys that are not present in the serialized new value
+        for key in list(next_level_serialized_object.keys()):
+            if key not in keys_to_keep:
+                next_level_serialized_object.pop(key, None)  # type: ignore
+
+
+def get_nested_dict_by_path(
+    serialization_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject],
+    path: str,
+) -> SerializedObject:
+    parent_path_parts, attr_name = path.split(".")[:-1], path.split(".")[-1]
+    current_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject] = serialization_dict
+
+    for path_part in parent_path_parts:
+        next_level_serialized_object = get_next_level_dict_by_key(
+            current_dict, path_part, allow_append=False
+        )
+        current_dict = cast(
+            dict[str, SerializedObject], next_level_serialized_object["value"]
+        )
+    return get_next_level_dict_by_key(current_dict, attr_name, allow_append=False)
+
+
+def get_next_level_dict_by_key(
+    serialization_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject],
+    attr_name: str,
+    *,
+    allow_append: bool = False,
+) -> SerializedObject:
+    """
+    Retrieve a nested dictionary entry or list item from a data structure serialized
+    with `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`.
+
+    Args:
+        serialization_dict: The base dictionary representing serialized data.
+        attr_name: The key name representing the attribute in the dictionary,
+            e.g. 'list_attr[0]' or 'attr'
+        allow_append: Flag to allow appending a new entry if `index` is out of range by
+            one.
+
+    Returns:
+        The dictionary or list item corresponding to the attribute and index.
+
+    Raises:
+        SerializationPathError: If the path composed of `attr_name` and `index` is
+                                invalid or leads to an IndexError or KeyError.
+        SerializationValueError: If the expected nested structure is not a dictionary.
+    """
+    # Check if the key contains an index part like 'attr_name[<index>]'
+    attr_name, index = parse_list_attr_and_index(attr_name)
+
+    try:
+        if index is not None:
+            next_level_serialized_object = cast(
+                list[SerializedObject], serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"]
+            )[index]
+        else:
+            next_level_serialized_object = serialization_dict[attr_name]
+    except IndexError as e:
+        if (
+            index is not None
+            and allow_append
+            and index
+            == len(cast(list[SerializedObject], serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"]))
+        ):
+            # Appending to list
+            cast(list[SerializedObject], serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"]).append(
+                {
+                    "full_access_path": "",
+                    "value": None,
+                    "type": "None",
+                    "doc": None,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                }
+            )
+            next_level_serialized_object = cast(
+                list[SerializedObject], serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"]
+            )[index]
+        else:
+            raise SerializationPathError(
+                f"Error occured trying to change '{attr_name}[{index}]': {e}"
+            )
+    except KeyError:
+        if not allow_append:
+            raise SerializationPathError(
+                f"Error occured trying to access the key '{attr_name}': it is either "
+                "not present in the current dictionary or its value does not contain "
+                "a 'value' key."
+            )
+        serialization_dict[attr_name] = {
+            "full_access_path": "",
+            "value": None,
+            "type": "None",
+            "doc": None,
+            "readonly": False,
+        }
+        next_level_serialized_object = serialization_dict[attr_name]
+
+    if not isinstance(next_level_serialized_object, dict):
+        raise SerializationValueError(
+            f"Expected a dictionary at '{attr_name}', but found type "
+            f"'{type(next_level_serialized_object).__name__}' instead."
+        )
+
+    return next_level_serialized_object
+
+
+def generate_serialized_data_paths(
+    data: dict[str, Any], parent_path: str = ""
+) -> list[str]:
+    """
+    Generate a list of access paths for all attributes in a dictionary representing
+    data serialized with `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`, excluding those that are
+    methods. This function handles nested structures, including lists, by generating
+    paths for each element in the nested lists.
+
+    Args:
+        data (dict[str, Any]): The dictionary representing serialized data, typically
+            produced by `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`.
+        parent_path (str, optional): The base path to prepend to the keys in the `data`
+            dictionary to form the access paths. Defaults to an empty string.
+
+    Returns:
+        list[str]: A list of strings where each string is a dot-notation access path
+        to an attribute in the serialized data. For list elements, the path includes
+        the index in square brackets.
+    """
+
+    paths: list[str] = []
+    for key, value in data.items():
+        new_path = f"{parent_path}.{key}" if parent_path else key
+        paths.append(new_path)
+        if serialized_dict_is_nested_object(value):
+            if isinstance(value["value"], list):
+                for index, item in enumerate(value["value"]):
+                    indexed_key_path = f"{new_path}[{index}]"
+                    paths.append(indexed_key_path)
+                    if serialized_dict_is_nested_object(item):
+                        paths.extend(
+                            generate_serialized_data_paths(
+                                item["value"], indexed_key_path
+                            )
+                        )
+                continue
+            paths.extend(generate_serialized_data_paths(value["value"], new_path))
+    return paths
+
+
+def serialized_dict_is_nested_object(serialized_dict: SerializedObject) -> bool:
+    return (
+        serialized_dict["type"] != "Quantity"
+        and isinstance(serialized_dict["value"], dict)
+    ) or isinstance(serialized_dict["value"], list)

src/pydase/utils/serialization/types.py

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Literal, TypedDict
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import pydase.units as u
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class SignatureDict(TypedDict):
+    parameters: dict[str, dict[str, Any]]
+    return_annotation: dict[str, Any]
+
+
+class SerializedObjectBase(TypedDict):
+    full_access_path: str
+    doc: str | None
+    readonly: bool
+
+
+class SerializedInteger(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: int
+    type: Literal["int"]
+
+
+class SerializedFloat(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: float
+    type: Literal["float"]
+
+
+class SerializedQuantity(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: u.QuantityDict
+    type: Literal["Quantity"]
+
+
+class SerializedBool(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: bool
+    type: Literal["bool"]
+
+
+class SerializedString(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: str
+    type: Literal["str"]
+
+
+class SerializedEnum(SerializedObjectBase):
+    name: str
+    value: str
+    type: Literal["Enum", "ColouredEnum"]
+    enum: dict[str, Any]
+
+
+class SerializedList(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: list[SerializedObject]
+    type: Literal["list"]
+
+
+class SerializedDict(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: dict[str, SerializedObject]
+    type: Literal["dict"]
+
+
+class SerializedNoneType(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: None
+    type: Literal["NoneType"]
+
+
+class SerializedNoValue(SerializedObjectBase):
+    value: None
+    type: Literal["None"]
+
+
+SerializedMethod = TypedDict(
+    "SerializedMethod",
+    {
+        "full_access_path": str,
+        "value": Literal["RUNNING"] | None,
+        "type": Literal["method"],
+        "doc": str | None,
+        "readonly": bool,
+        "async": bool,
+        "signature": SignatureDict,
+        "frontend_render": bool,
+    },
+)
+
+
+class SerializedException(SerializedObjectBase):
+    name: str
+    value: str
+    type: Literal["Exception"]
+
+
+DataServiceTypes = Literal["DataService", "Image", "NumberSlider", "DeviceConnection"]
+
+
+class SerializedDataService(SerializedObjectBase):
+    name: str
+    value: dict[str, SerializedObject]
+    type: DataServiceTypes
+
+
+SerializedObject = (
+    SerializedBool
+    | SerializedFloat
+    | SerializedInteger
+    | SerializedString
+    | SerializedList
+    | SerializedDict
+    | SerializedNoneType
+    | SerializedMethod
+    | SerializedException
+    | SerializedDataService
+    | SerializedEnum
+    | SerializedQuantity
+    | SerializedNoValue
+)

src/pydase/utils/serializer.py

@@ -1,388 +0,0 @@
-import inspect
-import logging
-from collections.abc import Callable
-from enum import Enum
-from typing import Any
-
-import pydase.units as u
-from pydase.data_service.abstract_data_service import AbstractDataService
-from pydase.utils.helpers import (
-    get_attribute_doc,
-    get_component_classes,
-    get_data_service_class_reference,
-    parse_list_attr_and_index,
-)
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-class SerializationPathError(Exception):
-    pass
-
-
-class SerializationValueError(Exception):
-    pass
-
-
-class Serializer:
-    @staticmethod
-    def serialize_object(obj: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        result: dict[str, Any] = {}
-        if isinstance(obj, AbstractDataService):
-            result = Serializer._serialize_data_service(obj)
-
-        elif isinstance(obj, list):
-            result = Serializer._serialize_list(obj)
-
-        elif isinstance(obj, dict):
-            result = Serializer._serialize_dict(obj)
-
-        # Special handling for u.Quantity
-        elif isinstance(obj, u.Quantity):
-            result = Serializer._serialize_quantity(obj)
-
-        # Handling for Enums
-        elif isinstance(obj, Enum):
-            result = Serializer._serialize_enum(obj)
-
-        # Methods and coroutines
-        elif inspect.isfunction(obj) or inspect.ismethod(obj):
-            result = Serializer._serialize_method(obj)
-
-        else:
-            obj_type = type(obj).__name__
-            value = obj
-            readonly = False
-            doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-            result = {
-                "type": obj_type,
-                "value": value,
-                "readonly": readonly,
-                "doc": doc,
-            }
-
-        return result
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _serialize_enum(obj: Enum) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        value = obj.name
-        readonly = False
-        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-        if type(obj).__base__.__name__ == "ColouredEnum":
-            obj_type = "ColouredEnum"
-        else:
-            obj_type = "Enum"
-
-        return {
-            "type": obj_type,
-            "value": value,
-            "readonly": readonly,
-            "doc": doc,
-            "enum": {
-                name: member.value for name, member in obj.__class__.__members__.items()
-            },
-        }
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _serialize_quantity(obj: u.Quantity) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        obj_type = "Quantity"
-        readonly = False
-        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-        value = {"magnitude": obj.m, "unit": str(obj.u)}
-        return {
-            "type": obj_type,
-            "value": value,
-            "readonly": readonly,
-            "doc": doc,
-        }
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _serialize_dict(obj: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        obj_type = "dict"
-        readonly = False
-        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-        value = {key: Serializer.serialize_object(val) for key, val in obj.items()}
-        return {
-            "type": obj_type,
-            "value": value,
-            "readonly": readonly,
-            "doc": doc,
-        }
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _serialize_list(obj: list[Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        obj_type = "list"
-        readonly = False
-        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-        value = [Serializer.serialize_object(o) for o in obj]
-        return {
-            "type": obj_type,
-            "value": value,
-            "readonly": readonly,
-            "doc": doc,
-        }
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _serialize_method(obj: Callable[..., Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        obj_type = "method"
-        value = None
-        readonly = True
-        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-
-        # Store parameters and their anotations in a dictionary
-        sig = inspect.signature(obj)
-        parameters: dict[str, str | None] = {}
-
-        for k, v in sig.parameters.items():
-            annotation = v.annotation
-            if annotation is not inspect._empty:
-                if isinstance(annotation, type):
-                    # Handle regular types
-                    parameters[k] = annotation.__name__
-                else:
-                    # Union, string annotation, Literal types, ...
-                    parameters[k] = str(annotation)
-            else:
-                parameters[k] = None
-
-        return {
-            "type": obj_type,
-            "value": value,
-            "readonly": readonly,
-            "doc": doc,
-            "async": inspect.iscoroutinefunction(obj),
-            "parameters": parameters,
-        }
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _serialize_data_service(obj: AbstractDataService) -> dict[str, Any]:
-        readonly = False
-        doc = get_attribute_doc(obj)
-        obj_type = "DataService"
-
-        # Get component base class if any
-        component_base_cls = next(
-            (cls for cls in get_component_classes() if isinstance(obj, cls)), None
-        )
-        if component_base_cls:
-            obj_type = component_base_cls.__name__
-
-        # Get the set of DataService class attributes
-        data_service_attr_set = set(dir(get_data_service_class_reference()))
-        # Get the set of the object attributes
-        obj_attr_set = set(dir(obj))
-        # Get the difference between the two sets
-        derived_only_attr_set = obj_attr_set - data_service_attr_set
-
-        value = {}
-
-        # Iterate over attributes, properties, class attributes, and methods
-        for key in sorted(derived_only_attr_set):
-            if key.startswith("_"):
-                continue  # Skip attributes that start with underscore
-
-            # Skip keys that start with "start_" or "stop_" and end with an async
-            # method name
-            if key.startswith(("start_", "stop_")) and key.split("_", 1)[1] in {
-                name
-                for name, _ in inspect.getmembers(
-                    obj, predicate=inspect.iscoroutinefunction
-                )
-            }:
-                continue
-
-            val = getattr(obj, key)
-
-            value[key] = Serializer.serialize_object(val)
-
-            # If there's a running task for this method
-            if key in obj._task_manager.tasks:
-                task_info = obj._task_manager.tasks[key]
-                value[key]["value"] = task_info["kwargs"]
-
-            # If the DataService attribute is a property
-            if isinstance(getattr(obj.__class__, key, None), property):
-                prop: property = getattr(obj.__class__, key)
-                value[key]["readonly"] = prop.fset is None
-                value[key]["doc"] = get_attribute_doc(prop)  # overwrite the doc
-
-        return {
-            "type": obj_type,
-            "value": value,
-            "readonly": readonly,
-            "doc": doc,
-        }
-
-
-def dump(obj: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    return Serializer.serialize_object(obj)
-
-
-def set_nested_value_by_path(
-    serialization_dict: dict[str, Any], path: str, value: Any
-) -> None:
-    """
-    Set a value in a nested dictionary structure, which conforms to the serialization
-    format used by `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`, using a dot-notation path.
-
-    Args:
-        serialization_dict:
-            The base dictionary representing data serialized with
-            `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`.
-        path:
-            The dot-notation path (e.g., 'attr1.attr2[0].attr3') indicating where to
-            set the value.
-        value:
-            The new value to set at the specified path.
-
-    Note:
-        - If the index equals the length of the list, the function will append the
-          serialized representation of the 'value' to the list.
-    """
-
-    parent_path_parts, attr_name = path.split(".")[:-1], path.split(".")[-1]
-    current_dict: dict[str, Any] = serialization_dict
-
-    try:
-        for path_part in parent_path_parts:
-            current_dict = get_next_level_dict_by_key(
-                current_dict, path_part, allow_append=False
-            )
-            current_dict = current_dict["value"]
-
-        current_dict = get_next_level_dict_by_key(
-            current_dict, attr_name, allow_append=True
-        )
-    except (SerializationPathError, SerializationValueError, KeyError) as e:
-        logger.error(e)
-        return
-
-    # setting the new value
-    serialized_value = dump(value)
-    if "readonly" in current_dict:
-        if current_dict["type"] != "method":
-            current_dict["type"] = serialized_value["type"]
-        current_dict["value"] = serialized_value["value"]
-    else:
-        current_dict.update(serialized_value)
-
-
-def get_nested_dict_by_path(
-    serialization_dict: dict[str, Any],
-    path: str,
-) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    parent_path_parts, attr_name = path.split(".")[:-1], path.split(".")[-1]
-    current_dict: dict[str, Any] = serialization_dict
-
-    for path_part in parent_path_parts:
-        current_dict = get_next_level_dict_by_key(
-            current_dict, path_part, allow_append=False
-        )
-        current_dict = current_dict["value"]
-    return get_next_level_dict_by_key(current_dict, attr_name, allow_append=False)
-
-
-def get_next_level_dict_by_key(
-    serialization_dict: dict[str, Any],
-    attr_name: str,
-    *,
-    allow_append: bool = False,
-) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """
-    Retrieve a nested dictionary entry or list item from a data structure serialized
-    with `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`.
-
-    Args:
-        serialization_dict: The base dictionary representing serialized data.
-        attr_name: The key name representing the attribute in the dictionary,
-            e.g. 'list_attr[0]' or 'attr'
-        allow_append: Flag to allow appending a new entry if `index` is out of range by
-            one.
-
-    Returns:
-        The dictionary or list item corresponding to the attribute and index.
-
-    Raises:
-        SerializationPathError: If the path composed of `attr_name` and `index` is
-                                invalid or leads to an IndexError or KeyError.
-        SerializationValueError: If the expected nested structure is not a dictionary.
-    """
-    # Check if the key contains an index part like 'attr_name[<index>]'
-    attr_name, index = parse_list_attr_and_index(attr_name)
-
-    try:
-        if index is not None:
-            serialization_dict = serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"][index]
-        else:
-            serialization_dict = serialization_dict[attr_name]
-    except IndexError as e:
-        if allow_append and index == len(serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"]):
-            # Appending to list
-            serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"].append({})
-            serialization_dict = serialization_dict[attr_name]["value"][index]
-        else:
-            raise SerializationPathError(
-                f"Error occured trying to change '{attr_name}[{index}]': {e}"
-            )
-    except KeyError:
-        raise SerializationPathError(
-            f"Error occured trying to access the key '{attr_name}': it is either "
-            "not present in the current dictionary or its value does not contain "
-            "a 'value' key."
-        )
-
-    if not isinstance(serialization_dict, dict):
-        raise SerializationValueError(
-            f"Expected a dictionary at '{attr_name}', but found type "
-            f"'{type(serialization_dict).__name__}' instead."
-        )
-
-    return serialization_dict
-
-
-def generate_serialized_data_paths(
-    data: dict[str, dict[str, Any]], parent_path: str = ""
-) -> list[str]:
-    """
-    Generate a list of access paths for all attributes in a dictionary representing
-    data serialized with `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`, excluding those that are
-    methods. This function handles nested structures, including lists, by generating
-    paths for each element in the nested lists.
-
-    Args:
-        data (dict[str, Any]): The dictionary representing serialized data, typically
-            produced by `pydase.utils.serializer.Serializer`.
-        parent_path (str, optional): The base path to prepend to the keys in the `data`
-            dictionary to form the access paths. Defaults to an empty string.
-
-    Returns:
-        list[str]: A list of strings where each string is a dot-notation access path
-        to an attribute in the serialized data. For list elements, the path includes
-        the index in square brackets.
-    """
-
-    paths: list[str] = []
-    for key, value in data.items():
-        new_path = f"{parent_path}.{key}" if parent_path else key
-        paths.append(new_path)
-        if serialized_dict_is_nested_object(value):
-            if isinstance(value["value"], list):
-                for index, item in enumerate(value["value"]):
-                    indexed_key_path = f"{new_path}[{index}]"
-                    paths.append(indexed_key_path)
-                    if serialized_dict_is_nested_object(item):
-                        paths.extend(
-                            generate_serialized_data_paths(
-                                item["value"], indexed_key_path
-                            )
-                        )
-                continue
-            paths.extend(generate_serialized_data_paths(value["value"], new_path))
-    return paths
-
-
-def serialized_dict_is_nested_object(serialized_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-    return (
-        serialized_dict["type"] != "Quantity"
-        and isinstance(serialized_dict["value"], dict)
-    ) or isinstance(serialized_dict["value"], list)

tests/client/test_client.py

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+import threading
+from collections.abc import Generator
+from typing import Any
+
+import pydase
+import pytest
+from pydase.client.proxy_loader import ProxyAttributeError
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def pydase_client() -> Generator[pydase.Client, None, Any]:
+    class SubService(pydase.DataService):
+        name = "SubService"
+
+    class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+        def __init__(self) -> None:
+            super().__init__()
+            self._name = "MyService"
+            self._my_property = 12.1
+            self.sub_service = SubService()
+            self.list_attr = [1, 2]
+
+        @property
+        def my_property(self) -> float:
+            return self._my_property
+
+        @my_property.setter
+        def my_property(self, value: float) -> None:
+            self._my_property = value
+
+        @property
+        def name(self) -> str:
+            return self._name
+
+        def my_method(self, input_str: str) -> str:
+            return input_str
+
+    server = pydase.Server(MyService(), web_port=9999)
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=server.run, daemon=True)
+    thread.start()
+
+    client = pydase.Client(hostname="localhost", port=9999)
+
+    yield client
+
+    server.handle_exit()
+    thread.join()
+
+
+def test_property(pydase_client: pydase.Client) -> None:
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.my_property == 12.1
+    pydase_client.proxy.my_property = 2.1
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.my_property == 2.1
+
+
+def test_readonly_property(pydase_client: pydase.Client) -> None:
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.name == "MyService"
+    with pytest.raises(ProxyAttributeError):
+        pydase_client.proxy.name = "Hello"
+
+
+def test_method_execution(pydase_client: pydase.Client) -> None:
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.my_method("My return string") == "My return string"
+    assert (
+        pydase_client.proxy.my_method(input_str="My return string")
+        == "My return string"
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        pydase_client.proxy.my_method("Something", 2)
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        pydase_client.proxy.my_method(kwarg="hello")
+
+
+def test_nested_service(pydase_client: pydase.Client) -> None:
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.sub_service.name == "SubService"
+    pydase_client.proxy.sub_service.name = "New name"
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.sub_service.name == "New name"
+
+
+def test_list(pydase_client: pydase.Client) -> None:
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 2]
+
+    pydase_client.proxy.list_attr.append(1)
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 2, 1]
+
+    pydase_client.proxy.list_attr.extend([123, 2.1])
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 2, 1, 123, 2.1]
+
+    pydase_client.proxy.list_attr.insert(1, 1.2)
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 1.2, 2, 1, 123, 2.1]
+
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr.pop() == 2.1
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 1.2, 2, 1, 123]
+
+    pydase_client.proxy.list_attr.remove(1.2)
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 2, 1, 123]
+
+    pydase_client.proxy.list_attr[1] = 1337
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == [1, 1337, 1, 123]
+
+    pydase_client.proxy.list_attr.clear()
+    assert pydase_client.proxy.list_attr == []
+
+
+def test_tab_completion(pydase_client: pydase.Client) -> None:
+    # Tab completion gets its suggestions from the __dir__ class method
+    assert all(
+        x in pydase_client.proxy.__dir__()
+        for x in [
+            "list_attr",
+            "my_method",
+            "my_property",
+            "name",
+            "sub_service",
+        ]
+    )

tests/components/test_device_connection.py

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+
+import pydase
+import pydase.components.device_connection
+import pytest
+from pytest import LogCaptureFixture
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_reconnection(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+    class MyService(pydase.components.device_connection.DeviceConnection):
+        def __init__(
+            self,
+        ) -> None:
+            super().__init__()
+            self._reconnection_wait_time = 0.01
+
+        def connect(self) -> None:
+            self._connected = True
+
+    service_instance = MyService()
+
+    assert service_instance._connected is False
+
+    service_instance._task_manager.start_autostart_tasks()
+
+    await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+    assert service_instance._connected is True

tests/components/test_image.py

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import logging
+
+import pydase
+import pydase.components
+from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
+from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import dump
+from pytest import LogCaptureFixture
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def test_image_functions(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+    class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+        def __init__(self) -> None:
+            super().__init__()
+            self.my_image = pydase.components.Image()
+
+    service_instance = MyService()
+    state_manager = StateManager(service_instance)
+    DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
+
+    service_instance.my_image.load_from_url("https://picsum.photos/200")
+
+    caplog.clear()
+
+
+def test_image_serialization() -> None:
+    class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+        def __init__(self) -> None:
+            super().__init__()
+            self.my_image = pydase.components.Image()
+
+    assert dump(MyService()) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
+        "name": "MyService",
+        "type": "DataService",
+        "value": {
+            "my_image": {
+                "full_access_path": "my_image",
+                "name": "Image",
+                "type": "Image",
+                "value": {
+                    "format": {
+                        "full_access_path": "my_image.format",
+                        "type": "str",
+                        "value": "",
+                        "readonly": True,
+                        "doc": None,
+                    },
+                    "load_from_base64": {
+                        "full_access_path": "my_image.load_from_base64",
+                        "type": "method",
+                        "value": None,
+                        "readonly": True,
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "async": False,
+                        "signature": {
+                            "parameters": {
+                                "value_": {
+                                    "annotation": "<class 'bytes'>",
+                                    "default": {},
+                                },
+                                "format_": {
+                                    "annotation": "str | None",
+                                    "default": {
+                                        "type": "NoneType",
+                                        "value": None,
+                                        "readonly": False,
+                                        "doc": None,
+                                    },
+                                },
+                            },
+                            "return_annotation": {},
+                        },
+                        "frontend_render": False,
+                    },
+                    "load_from_matplotlib_figure": {
+                        "full_access_path": "my_image.load_from_matplotlib_figure",
+                        "type": "method",
+                        "value": None,
+                        "readonly": True,
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "async": False,
+                        "signature": {
+                            "parameters": {
+                                "fig": {"annotation": "Figure", "default": {}},
+                                "format_": {
+                                    "annotation": "<class 'str'>",
+                                    "default": {
+                                        "type": "str",
+                                        "value": "png",
+                                        "readonly": False,
+                                        "doc": None,
+                                    },
+                                },
+                            },
+                            "return_annotation": {},
+                        },
+                        "frontend_render": False,
+                    },
+                    "load_from_path": {
+                        "full_access_path": "my_image.load_from_path",
+                        "type": "method",
+                        "value": None,
+                        "readonly": True,
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "async": False,
+                        "signature": {
+                            "parameters": {
+                                "path": {
+                                    "annotation": "pathlib.Path | str",
+                                    "default": {},
+                                }
+                            },
+                            "return_annotation": {},
+                        },
+                        "frontend_render": False,
+                    },
+                    "load_from_url": {
+                        "full_access_path": "my_image.load_from_url",
+                        "type": "method",
+                        "value": None,
+                        "readonly": True,
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "async": False,
+                        "signature": {
+                            "parameters": {
+                                "url": {"annotation": "<class 'str'>", "default": {}}
+                            },
+                            "return_annotation": {},
+                        },
+                        "frontend_render": False,
+                    },
+                    "value": {
+                        "full_access_path": "my_image.value",
+                        "type": "str",
+                        "value": "",
+                        "readonly": True,
+                        "doc": None,
+                    },
+                },
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            }
+        },
+        "readonly": False,
+        "doc": None,
+    }

tests/components/test_number_slider.py

@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 import logging
 from collections.abc import Callable
 
+import pytest
 from pydase.components.number_slider import NumberSlider
 from pydase.data_service.data_service import DataService
 from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
 from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager
 from pytest import LogCaptureFixture
 
-from tests.utils.test_serializer import pytest
-
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 

tests/data_service/test_data_service.py

@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 from enum import Enum
+from typing import Any
 
+import pydase
 import pydase.units as u
+import pytest
 from pydase import DataService
 from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
 from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager
+from pydase.data_service.task_manager import TaskDefinitionError
+from pydase.utils.decorators import FunctionDefinitionError, frontend
 from pytest import LogCaptureFixture
 
 
@@ -32,8 +37,7 @@ def test_unexpected_type_change_warning(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
 
 
 def test_basic_inheritance_warning(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
-    class SubService(DataService):
-        ...
+    class SubService(DataService): ...
 
     class SomeEnum(Enum):
         HI = 0
@@ -53,11 +57,9 @@ def test_basic_inheritance_warning(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
         def name(self) -> str:
             return self._name
 
-        def some_method(self) -> None:
-            ...
+        def some_method(self) -> None: ...
 
-        async def some_task(self) -> None:
-            ...
+        async def some_task(self) -> None: ...
 
     ServiceClass()
 
@@ -114,3 +116,31 @@ def test_protected_and_private_attribute_warning(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> N
         "Class 'SubClass' does not inherit from DataService. This may lead to "
         "unexpected behaviour!"
     ) not in caplog.text
+
+
+def test_exposing_methods() -> None:
+    class ClassWithTask(pydase.DataService):
+        async def some_task(self, sleep_time: int) -> None:
+            pass
+
+    with pytest.raises(TaskDefinitionError):
+        ClassWithTask()
+
+    with pytest.raises(FunctionDefinitionError):
+
+        class ClassWithMethod(pydase.DataService):
+            @frontend
+            def some_method(self, *args: Any) -> str:
+                return "some method"
+
+
+def test_dynamically_added_attribute(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+    class MyService(DataService):
+        pass
+
+    service_instance = MyService()
+    pydase.Server(service_instance)
+
+    service_instance.dynamically_added_attr = 1.0
+
+    assert ("'dynamically_added_attr' changed to '1.0'") in caplog.text

tests/data_service/test_data_service_cache.py

@@ -67,5 +67,5 @@ async def test_task_status_update() -> None:
         state_manager._data_service_cache.get_value_dict_from_cache("my_method")[
             "value"
         ]
-        == {}
+        == "RUNNING"
     )

tests/data_service/test_data_service_observer.py

@@ -94,3 +94,31 @@ def test_protected_or_private_change_logs(caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture) -> N
 
     service.subclass._name = "Hello"
     assert "'subclass._name' changed to 'Hello'" not in caplog.text
+
+
+def test_dynamic_list_entry_with_property(caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+    class PropertyClass(pydase.DataService):
+        _name = "Hello"
+
+        @property
+        def name(self) -> str:
+            """The name property."""
+            return self._name
+
+    class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+        def __init__(self) -> None:
+            super().__init__()
+            self.list_attr = []
+
+        def toggle_high_voltage(self) -> None:
+            self.list_attr = []
+            self.list_attr.append(PropertyClass())
+            self.list_attr[0]._name = "Hoooo"
+
+    service = MyService()
+    state_manager = StateManager(service)
+    DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
+    service.toggle_high_voltage()
+
+    assert "'list_attr[0].name' changed to 'Hello'" not in caplog.text
+    assert "'list_attr[0].name' changed to 'Hoooo'" in caplog.text

tests/data_service/test_state_manager.py

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from typing import Any
 import pydase
 import pydase.components
 import pydase.units as u
-import pytest
 from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
 from pydase.data_service.state_manager import (
     StateManager,
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ class Service(pydase.DataService):
         self._property_attr = value
 
 
-CURRENT_STATE = Service().serialize()
+CURRENT_STATE = Service().serialize()["value"]
 
 LOAD_STATE = {
     "list_attr": {
@@ -241,8 +240,8 @@ def test_load_state(tmp_path: Path, caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
         "Ignoring value from JSON file..."
     ) in caplog.text
     assert (
-        "Attribute type of 'removed_attr' changed from 'str' to 'None'. "
-        "Ignoring value from JSON file..." in caplog.text
+        "Path 'removed_attr' could not be loaded. It does not correspond to an "
+        "attribute of the class. Ignoring value from JSON file..." in caplog.text
     )
     assert "Value of attribute 'subservice.name' has not changed..." in caplog.text
     assert "'my_slider.value' changed to '1.0'" in caplog.text
@@ -251,16 +250,6 @@ def test_load_state(tmp_path: Path, caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
     assert "'my_slider.step_size' changed to '2.0'" in caplog.text
 
 
-def test_filename_warning(tmp_path: Path, caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
-    file = tmp_path / "test_state.json"
-
-    with pytest.warns(DeprecationWarning):
-        service = Service(filename=str(file))
-        StateManager(service=service, filename=str(file))
-
-    assert f"Overwriting filename {str(file)!r} with {str(file)!r}." in caplog.text
-
-
 def test_filename_error(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
     service = Service()
     manager = StateManager(service=service)

tests/data_service/test_task_manager.py

@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ async def test_autostart_task_callback(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
     DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
     service_instance._task_manager.start_autostart_tasks()
 
-    assert "'my_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
-    assert "'my_other_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
+    assert "'my_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
+    assert "'my_other_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ async def test_DataService_subclass_autostart_task_callback(
     DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
     service_instance._task_manager.start_autostart_tasks()
 
-    assert "'sub_service.my_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
-    assert "'sub_service.my_other_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
+    assert "'sub_service.my_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
+    assert "'sub_service.my_other_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -92,10 +92,20 @@ async def test_DataService_subclass_list_autostart_task_callback(
     DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
     service_instance._task_manager.start_autostart_tasks()
 
-    assert "'sub_services_list[0].my_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
-    assert "'sub_services_list[0].my_other_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
-    assert "'sub_services_list[1].my_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
-    assert "'sub_services_list[1].my_other_task' changed to '{}'" in caplog.text
+    assert (
+        "'sub_services_list[0].my_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
+    )
+    assert (
+        "'sub_services_list[0].my_other_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'"
+        in caplog.text
+    )
+    assert (
+        "'sub_services_list[1].my_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
+    )
+    assert (
+        "'sub_services_list[1].my_other_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'"
+        in caplog.text
+    )
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -104,20 +114,20 @@ async def test_start_and_stop_task_methods(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
         def __init__(self) -> None:
             super().__init__()
 
-        async def my_task(self, param: str) -> None:
+        async def my_task(self) -> None:
             while True:
-                logger.debug("Logging param: %s", param)
+                logger.debug("Logging message")
                 await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
 
     # Your test code here
     service_instance = MyService()
     state_manager = StateManager(service_instance)
     DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
-    service_instance.start_my_task("Hello")
+    service_instance.start_my_task()
     await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
 
-    assert "'my_task' changed to '{'param': 'Hello'}'" in caplog.text
-    assert "Logging param: Hello" in caplog.text
+    assert "'my_task' changed to 'TaskStatus.RUNNING'" in caplog.text
+    assert "Logging message" in caplog.text
     caplog.clear()
 
     service_instance.stop_my_task()

tests/observer_pattern/observer/test_property_observer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from typing import Any
+
+from pydase.observer_pattern.observable.observable import Observable
+from pydase.observer_pattern.observer.property_observer import PropertyObserver
+
+
+def test_inherited_property_dependency_resolution() -> None:
+    class BaseObservable(Observable):
+        _name = "BaseObservable"
+
+        @property
+        def name(self) -> str:
+            return self._name
+
+    class DerivedObservable(BaseObservable):
+        _name = "DerivedObservable"
+
+    class MyObserver(PropertyObserver):
+        def on_change(self, full_access_path: str, value: Any) -> None: ...
+
+    assert MyObserver(DerivedObservable()).property_deps_dict == {"_name": ["name"]}

tests/server/test_server.py

@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
+import json
 import signal
-
-from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
 
 import pydase
+import pydase.components
+import pydase.units as u
+from pydase.data_service.state_manager import load_state
+from pydase.server.server import Server
+from pytest import LogCaptureFixture
+from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
 
 
 def test_signal_handling(mocker: MockerFixture):
@@ -33,3 +40,64 @@ def test_signal_handling(mocker: MockerFixture):
     # Simulate receiving a SIGINT signal for the second time
     server.handle_exit(signal.SIGINT, None)
     mock_exit.assert_called_once_with(1)
+
+
+class Service(pydase.DataService):
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+        self.some_unit: u.Quantity = 1.2 * u.units.A
+        self.some_float = 1.0
+        self._property_attr = 1337.0
+
+    @property
+    def property_attr(self) -> float:
+        return self._property_attr
+
+    @property_attr.setter
+    @load_state
+    def property_attr(self, value: float) -> None:
+        self._property_attr = value
+
+
+CURRENT_STATE = Service().serialize()
+
+LOAD_STATE = {
+    "some_float": {
+        "type": "float",
+        "value": 10.0,
+        "readonly": False,
+        "doc": None,
+    },
+    "property_attr": {
+        "type": "float",
+        "value": 1337.1,
+        "readonly": False,
+        "doc": None,
+    },
+    "some_unit": {
+        "type": "Quantity",
+        "value": {"magnitude": 12.0, "unit": "A"},
+        "readonly": False,
+        "doc": None,
+    },
+}
+
+
+def test_load_state(tmp_path: Path, caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+    # Create a StateManager instance with a temporary file
+    file = tmp_path / "test_state.json"
+
+    # Write a temporary JSON file to read back
+    with open(file, "w") as f:
+        json.dump(LOAD_STATE, f, indent=4)
+
+    service = Service()
+    Server(service, filename=str(file))
+
+    assert service.some_unit == u.Quantity(12, "A")
+    assert service.property_attr == 1337.1
+    assert service.some_float == 10.0
+
+    assert "'some_unit' changed to '12.0 A'" in caplog.text
+    assert "'some_float' changed to '10.0'" in caplog.text
+    assert "'property_attr' changed to '1337.1'" in caplog.text

tests/server/web_server/test_sio_setup.py

@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-import asyncio
-import logging
-
-import pydase
-import pytest
-from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
-from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager
-from pydase.server.web_server.sio_setup import (
-    RunMethodDict,
-    UpdateDict,
-    setup_sio_server,
-)
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_set_attribute_event() -> None:
-    class SubClass(pydase.DataService):
-        name = "SubClass"
-
-    class ServiceClass(pydase.DataService):
-        def __init__(self) -> None:
-            super().__init__()
-            self.sub_class = SubClass()
-
-        def some_method(self) -> None:
-            logger.info("Triggered 'test_method'.")
-
-    service_instance = ServiceClass()
-    state_manager = StateManager(service_instance)
-    observer = DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
-
-    server = setup_sio_server(observer, False, asyncio.get_running_loop())
-
-    test_sid = 1234
-    test_data: UpdateDict = {
-        "parent_path": "sub_class",
-        "name": "name",
-        "value": "new name",
-    }
-
-    server.handlers["/"]["set_attribute"](test_sid, test_data)
-
-    assert service_instance.sub_class.name == "new name"
-
-
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_run_method_event(caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture):
-    class ServiceClass(pydase.DataService):
-        def test_method(self) -> None:
-            logger.info("Triggered 'test_method'.")
-
-    state_manager = StateManager(ServiceClass())
-    observer = DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
-
-    server = setup_sio_server(observer, False, asyncio.get_running_loop())
-
-    test_sid = 1234
-    test_data: RunMethodDict = {
-        "parent_path": "",
-        "name": "test_method",
-        "kwargs": {},
-    }
-
-    server.handlers["/"]["run_method"](test_sid, test_data)
-
-    assert "Triggered 'test_method'." in caplog.text

tests/server/web_server/test_web_server.py

@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ def test_web_settings() -> None:
     observer = DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
         web_settings = {
-            "attr_1": {"displayName": "Attribute"},
-            "attr_1.name": {"displayName": "Attribute name"},
+            "attr_1": {"displayName": "Attribute", "display": False},
+            "attr_1.name": {"displayName": "Attribute name", "display": True},
         }
         web_settings_file = Path(tmp) / "web_settings.json"
 
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ def test_web_settings() -> None:
         new_web_settings = server.web_settings
 
         # existing entries are not overwritten, new entries are appended
-        assert new_web_settings == {**web_settings, "added": {"displayName": "added"}}
+        assert new_web_settings == {
+            **web_settings,
+            "added": {"displayName": "added", "display": True},
+        }
         assert json.loads(web_settings_file.read_text()) == {
             **web_settings,
-            "added": {"displayName": "added"},
+            "added": {"displayName": "added", "display": True},
         }

tests/test_units.py

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 from typing import Any
 
+import pydase
 import pydase.units as u
 from pydase.data_service.data_service import DataService
 from pydase.data_service.data_service_observer import DataServiceObserver
-from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager
+from pydase.data_service.state_manager import StateManager, load_state
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import dump
 from pytest import LogCaptureFixture
 
 
@@ -69,21 +71,11 @@ def test_set_service_attribute_value_by_path(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
     DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
 
     state_manager.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(
-        path="voltage", value=1.0 * u.units.mV
+        path="voltage", serialized_value=dump(1.0 * u.units.mV)
     )
     assert "'voltage' changed to '1.0 mV'" in caplog.text
     caplog.clear()
 
-    state_manager.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(path="voltage", value=2)
-
-    assert "'voltage' changed to '2.0 mV'" in caplog.text
-    caplog.clear()
-
-    state_manager.set_service_attribute_value_by_path(
-        path="voltage", value={"magnitude": 123, "unit": "kV"}
-    )
-    assert "'voltage' changed to '123.0 kV'" in caplog.text
-
 
 def test_autoconvert_offset_to_baseunit() -> None:
     import pint
@@ -99,7 +91,10 @@ def test_autoconvert_offset_to_baseunit() -> None:
 def test_loading_from_json(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
     """This function tests if the quantity read from the json description is actually
     passed as a quantity to the property setter."""
-    JSON_DICT = {
+    import json
+    import tempfile
+
+    serialization_dict = {
         "some_unit": {
             "type": "Quantity",
             "value": {"magnitude": 10.0, "unit": "A"},
@@ -118,14 +113,17 @@ def test_loading_from_json(caplog: LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
             return self._unit
 
         @some_unit.setter
+        @load_state
         def some_unit(self, value: u.Quantity) -> None:
             assert isinstance(value, u.Quantity)
             self._unit = value
 
     service_instance = ServiceClass()
-    state_manager = StateManager(service_instance)
-    DataServiceObserver(state_manager)
 
-    service_instance.load_DataService_from_JSON(JSON_DICT)
+    fp = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile("w+")
+    json.dump(serialization_dict, fp)
+    fp.seek(0)
+
+    pydase.Server(service_instance, filename=fp.name)
 
     assert "'some_unit' changed to '10.0 A'" in caplog.text

tests/utils/serialization/test_deserializer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import enum
+from typing import Any
+
+import pydase.components
+import pydase.units as u
+import pytest
+from pydase.utils.serialization.deserializer import loads
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import dump
+from pydase.utils.serialization.types import SerializedObject
+
+
+class MyEnum(enum.Enum):
+    FINISHED = "finished"
+    RUNNING = "running"
+
+
+class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+    name = "MyService"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "obj, obj_serialization",
+    [
+        (
+            1,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "int",
+                "value": 1,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            1.0,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "float",
+                "value": 1.0,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            True,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "bool",
+                "value": True,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            u.Quantity(10, "m"),
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "Quantity",
+                "value": {"magnitude": 10, "unit": "meter"},
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            [1.0],
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "value": [
+                    {
+                        "full_access_path": "[0]",
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "readonly": False,
+                        "type": "float",
+                        "value": 1.0,
+                    }
+                ],
+                "type": "list",
+                "doc": None,
+                "readonly": False,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            {"key": 1.0},
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "value": {
+                    "key": {
+                        "full_access_path": '["key"]',
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "readonly": False,
+                        "type": "float",
+                        "value": 1.0,
+                    }
+                },
+                "type": "dict",
+                "doc": None,
+                "readonly": False,
+            },
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_loads_primitive_types(obj: Any, obj_serialization: SerializedObject) -> None:
+    assert loads(obj_serialization) == obj
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "obj, obj_serialization",
+    [
+        (
+            MyEnum.RUNNING,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "value": "RUNNING",
+                "type": "Enum",
+                "doc": "MyEnum description",
+                "readonly": False,
+                "name": "MyEnum",
+                "enum": {"RUNNING": "running", "FINISHED": "finished"},
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            MyService(),
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "value": {
+                    "name": {
+                        "full_access_path": "name",
+                        "doc": None,
+                        "readonly": False,
+                        "type": "str",
+                        "value": "MyService",
+                    }
+                },
+                "type": "DataService",
+                "doc": None,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "name": "MyService",
+            },
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_loads_advanced_types(obj: Any, obj_serialization: SerializedObject) -> None:
+    assert dump(loads(obj_serialization)) == dump(obj)

tests/utils/serialization/test_serializer.py

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
+import enum
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -6,8 +7,11 @@ import pydase
 import pydase.units as u
 import pytest
 from pydase.components.coloured_enum import ColouredEnum
-from pydase.utils.serializer import (
+from pydase.data_service.task_manager import TaskStatus
+from pydase.utils.decorators import frontend
+from pydase.utils.serialization.serializer import (
     SerializationPathError,
+    SerializedObject,
     dump,
     get_nested_dict_by_path,
     get_next_level_dict_by_key,
@@ -16,15 +20,50 @@ from pydase.utils.serializer import (
 )
 
 
+class MyEnum(enum.Enum):
+    """MyEnum description"""
+
+    RUNNING = "running"
+    FINISHED = "finished"
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "test_input, expected",
     [
-        (1, {"type": "int", "value": 1, "readonly": False, "doc": None}),
-        (1.0, {"type": "float", "value": 1.0, "readonly": False, "doc": None}),
-        (True, {"type": "bool", "value": True, "readonly": False, "doc": None}),
+        (
+            1,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "int",
+                "value": 1,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            1.0,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "float",
+                "value": 1.0,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            True,
+            {
+                "full_access_path": "",
+                "type": "bool",
+                "value": True,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "doc": None,
+            },
+        ),
         (
             u.Quantity(10, "m"),
             {
+                "full_access_path": "",
                 "type": "Quantity",
                 "value": {"magnitude": 10, "unit": "meter"},
                 "readonly": False,
@@ -71,7 +110,9 @@ def test_enum_serialize() -> None:
 
     assert dump(EnumAttribute())["value"] == {
         "some_enum": {
+            "full_access_path": "some_enum",
             "type": "Enum",
+            "name": "EnumClass",
             "value": "FOO",
             "enum": {"FOO": "foo", "BAR": "bar"},
             "readonly": False,
@@ -80,7 +121,9 @@ def test_enum_serialize() -> None:
     }
     assert dump(EnumPropertyWithoutSetter())["value"] == {
         "some_enum": {
+            "full_access_path": "some_enum",
             "type": "Enum",
+            "name": "EnumClass",
             "value": "FOO",
             "enum": {"FOO": "foo", "BAR": "bar"},
             "readonly": True,
@@ -89,7 +132,9 @@ def test_enum_serialize() -> None:
     }
     assert dump(EnumPropertyWithSetter())["value"] == {
         "some_enum": {
+            "full_access_path": "some_enum",
             "type": "Enum",
+            "name": "EnumClass",
             "value": "FOO",
             "enum": {"FOO": "foo", "BAR": "bar"},
             "readonly": False,
@@ -100,6 +145,8 @@ def test_enum_serialize() -> None:
 
 def test_ColouredEnum_serialize() -> None:
     class Status(ColouredEnum):
+        """Status description."""
+
         PENDING = "#FFA500"
         RUNNING = "#0000FF80"
         PAUSED = "rgb(169, 169, 169)"
@@ -109,7 +156,9 @@ def test_ColouredEnum_serialize() -> None:
         CANCELLED = "SlateGray"
 
     assert dump(Status.FAILED) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
         "type": "ColouredEnum",
+        "name": "Status",
         "value": "FAILED",
         "enum": {
             "CANCELLED": "SlateGray",
@@ -121,7 +170,7 @@ def test_ColouredEnum_serialize() -> None:
             "RUNNING": "#0000FF80",
         },
         "readonly": False,
-        "doc": None,
+        "doc": "Status description.",
     }
 
 
@@ -131,29 +180,36 @@ async def test_method_serialization() -> None:
         def some_method(self) -> str:
             return "some method"
 
-        async def some_task(self, sleep_time: int) -> None:
+        async def some_task(self) -> None:
             while True:
-                await asyncio.sleep(sleep_time)
+                await asyncio.sleep(10)
 
     instance = ClassWithMethod()
-    instance.start_some_task(10)  # type: ignore
+    instance.start_some_task()  # type: ignore
 
     assert dump(instance)["value"] == {
         "some_method": {
-            "async": False,
-            "doc": None,
-            "parameters": {},
-            "readonly": True,
+            "full_access_path": "some_method",
             "type": "method",
             "value": None,
+            "readonly": True,
+            "doc": None,
+            "async": False,
+            "signature": {"parameters": {}, "return_annotation": {}},
+            "frontend_render": False,
         },
         "some_task": {
-            "async": True,
-            "doc": None,
-            "parameters": {"sleep_time": "int"},
-            "readonly": True,
+            "full_access_path": "some_task",
             "type": "method",
-            "value": {"sleep_time": 10},
+            "value": TaskStatus.RUNNING.name,
+            "readonly": True,
+            "doc": None,
+            "async": True,
+            "signature": {
+                "parameters": {},
+                "return_annotation": {},
+            },
+            "frontend_render": True,
         },
     }
 
@@ -169,30 +225,86 @@ def test_methods_with_type_hints() -> None:
         pass
 
     assert dump(method_without_type_hint) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
         "async": False,
         "doc": None,
-        "parameters": {"arg_without_type_hint": None},
+        "signature": {
+            "parameters": {
+                "arg_without_type_hint": {
+                    "annotation": "<class 'inspect._empty'>",
+                    "default": {},
+                }
+            },
+            "return_annotation": {},
+        },
         "readonly": True,
         "type": "method",
         "value": None,
+        "frontend_render": False,
     }
 
     assert dump(method_with_type_hint) == {
-        "async": False,
-        "doc": None,
-        "parameters": {"some_argument": "int"},
-        "readonly": True,
+        "full_access_path": "",
         "type": "method",
         "value": None,
+        "readonly": True,
+        "doc": None,
+        "async": False,
+        "signature": {
+            "parameters": {
+                "some_argument": {"annotation": "<class 'int'>", "default": {}}
+            },
+            "return_annotation": {},
+        },
+        "frontend_render": False,
+    }
+    assert dump(method_with_union_type_hint) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
+        "type": "method",
+        "value": None,
+        "readonly": True,
+        "doc": None,
+        "async": False,
+        "signature": {
+            "parameters": {
+                "some_argument": {"annotation": "int | float", "default": {}}
+            },
+            "return_annotation": {},
+        },
+        "frontend_render": False,
     }
 
-    assert dump(method_with_union_type_hint) == {
-        "async": False,
-        "doc": None,
-        "parameters": {"some_argument": "int | float"},
-        "readonly": True,
+
+def test_exposed_function_serialization() -> None:
+    class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+        @frontend
+        def some_method(self) -> None:
+            pass
+
+    @frontend
+    def some_function() -> None:
+        pass
+
+    assert dump(MyService().some_method) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
         "type": "method",
         "value": None,
+        "readonly": True,
+        "doc": None,
+        "async": False,
+        "signature": {"parameters": {}, "return_annotation": {}},
+        "frontend_render": True,
+    }
+
+    assert dump(some_function) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
+        "type": "method",
+        "value": None,
+        "readonly": True,
+        "doc": None,
+        "async": False,
+        "signature": {"parameters": {}, "return_annotation": {}},
+        "frontend_render": True,
     }
 
 
@@ -213,29 +325,41 @@ def test_list_serialization() -> None:
 
     assert dump(instance)["value"] == {
         "list_attr": {
+            "full_access_path": "list_attr",
             "doc": None,
             "readonly": False,
             "type": "list",
             "value": [
-                {"doc": None, "readonly": False, "type": "int", "value": 1},
                 {
+                    "full_access_path": "list_attr[0]",
+                    "doc": None,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "type": "int",
+                    "value": 1,
+                },
+                {
+                    "full_access_path": "list_attr[1]",
                     "doc": None,
                     "readonly": False,
                     "type": "DataService",
+                    "name": "MySubclass",
                     "value": {
                         "bool_attr": {
+                            "full_access_path": "list_attr[1].bool_attr",
                             "doc": None,
                             "readonly": False,
                             "type": "bool",
                             "value": True,
                         },
                         "int_attr": {
+                            "full_access_path": "list_attr[1].int_attr",
                             "doc": None,
                             "readonly": False,
                             "type": "int",
                             "value": 1,
                         },
                         "name": {
+                            "full_access_path": "list_attr[1].name",
                             "doc": None,
                             "readonly": True,
                             "type": "str",
@@ -261,16 +385,20 @@ def test_dict_serialization() -> None:
     }
 
     assert dump(test_dict) == {
+        "full_access_path": "",
         "doc": None,
         "readonly": False,
         "type": "dict",
         "value": {
             "DataService_key": {
+                "full_access_path": '["DataService_key"]',
+                "name": "MyClass",
                 "doc": None,
                 "readonly": False,
                 "type": "DataService",
                 "value": {
                     "name": {
+                        "full_access_path": '["DataService_key"].name',
                         "doc": None,
                         "readonly": False,
                         "type": "str",
@@ -279,19 +407,33 @@ def test_dict_serialization() -> None:
                 },
             },
             "Quantity_key": {
+                "full_access_path": '["Quantity_key"]',
                 "doc": None,
                 "readonly": False,
                 "type": "Quantity",
                 "value": {"magnitude": 1.0, "unit": "s"},
             },
-            "bool_key": {"doc": None, "readonly": False, "type": "bool", "value": True},
+            "bool_key": {
+                "full_access_path": '["bool_key"]',
+                "doc": None,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "type": "bool",
+                "value": True,
+            },
             "float_key": {
+                "full_access_path": '["float_key"]',
                 "doc": None,
                 "readonly": False,
                 "type": "float",
                 "value": 1.0,
             },
-            "int_key": {"doc": None, "readonly": False, "type": "int", "value": 1},
+            "int_key": {
+                "full_access_path": '["int_key"]',
+                "doc": None,
+                "readonly": False,
+                "type": "int",
+                "value": 1,
+            },
         },
     }
 
@@ -312,16 +454,20 @@ def test_derived_data_service_serialization() -> None:
         def name(self, value: str) -> None:
             self._name = value
 
-    class DerivedService(BaseService):
-        ...
+    class DerivedService(BaseService): ...
 
-    base_instance = BaseService()
-    service_instance = DerivedService()
-    assert service_instance.serialize() == base_instance.serialize()
+    base_service_serialization = dump(BaseService())
+    derived_service_serialization = dump(DerivedService())
+
+    # Names of the classes obviously differ
+    base_service_serialization.pop("name")
+    derived_service_serialization.pop("name")
+
+    assert base_service_serialization == derived_service_serialization
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def setup_dict():
+def setup_dict() -> dict[str, Any]:
     class MySubclass(pydase.DataService):
         attr3 = 1.0
         list_attr = [1.0, 1]
@@ -329,32 +475,94 @@ def setup_dict():
     class ServiceClass(pydase.DataService):
         attr1 = 1.0
         attr2 = MySubclass()
+        enum_attr = MyEnum.RUNNING
         attr_list = [0, 1, MySubclass()]
 
-    return ServiceClass().serialize()
+        def my_task(self) -> None:
+            pass
+
+    return ServiceClass().serialize()["value"]  # type: ignore
 
 
-def test_update_attribute(setup_dict):
+def test_update_attribute(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr1", 15)
     assert setup_dict["attr1"]["value"] == 15
 
 
-def test_update_nested_attribute(setup_dict):
+def test_update_nested_attribute(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr2.attr3", 25.0)
     assert setup_dict["attr2"]["value"]["attr3"]["value"] == 25.0
 
 
-def test_update_list_entry(setup_dict):
+def test_update_float_attribute_to_enum(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr2.attr3", MyEnum.RUNNING)
+    assert setup_dict["attr2"]["value"]["attr3"] == {
+        "full_access_path": "attr2.attr3",
+        "name": "MyEnum",
+        "doc": "MyEnum description",
+        "enum": {"FINISHED": "finished", "RUNNING": "running"},
+        "readonly": False,
+        "type": "Enum",
+        "value": "RUNNING",
+    }
+
+
+def test_update_enum_attribute_to_float(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "enum_attr", 1.01)
+    assert setup_dict["enum_attr"] == {
+        "full_access_path": "enum_attr",
+        "doc": None,
+        "readonly": False,
+        "type": "float",
+        "value": 1.01,
+    }
+
+
+def test_update_task_state(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    assert setup_dict["my_task"] == {
+        "full_access_path": "my_task",
+        "async": False,
+        "doc": None,
+        "frontend_render": False,
+        "readonly": True,
+        "signature": {"parameters": {}, "return_annotation": {}},
+        "type": "method",
+        "value": None,
+    }
+    set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "my_task", TaskStatus.RUNNING)
+    assert setup_dict["my_task"] == {
+        "full_access_path": "my_task",
+        "async": False,
+        "doc": None,
+        "frontend_render": False,
+        "readonly": True,
+        "signature": {"parameters": {}, "return_annotation": {}},
+        "type": "method",
+        "value": "RUNNING",
+    }
+
+
+def test_update_list_entry(setup_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject]) -> None:
     set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr_list[1]", 20)
-    assert setup_dict["attr_list"]["value"][1]["value"] == 20
+    assert setup_dict["attr_list"]["value"][1]["value"] == 20  # type: ignore # noqa
 
 
-def test_update_list_append(setup_dict):
-    set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr_list[3]", 20)
-    assert setup_dict["attr_list"]["value"][3]["value"] == 20
+def test_update_list_append(setup_dict: dict[str, SerializedObject]) -> None:
+    set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr_list[3]", MyEnum.RUNNING)
+    assert setup_dict["attr_list"]["value"][3] == {  # type: ignore
+        "full_access_path": "attr_list[3]",
+        "doc": "MyEnum description",
+        "name": "MyEnum",
+        "enum": {"FINISHED": "finished", "RUNNING": "running"},
+        "readonly": False,
+        "type": "Enum",
+        "value": "RUNNING",
+    }
 
 
-def test_update_invalid_list_index(setup_dict, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture):
+def test_update_invalid_list_index(
+    setup_dict: dict[str, Any], caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+) -> None:
     set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr_list[10]", 30)
     assert (
         "Error occured trying to change 'attr_list[10]': list index "
@@ -362,25 +570,14 @@ def test_update_invalid_list_index(setup_dict, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture)
     )
 
 
-def test_update_invalid_path(
-    setup_dict: dict[str, Any], caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
-) -> None:
-    set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "invalid_path", 30)
-    assert (
-        "Error occured trying to access the key 'invalid_path': it is either "
-        "not present in the current dictionary or its value does not contain "
-        "a 'value' key." in caplog.text
-    )
-
-
 def test_update_list_inside_class(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr2.list_attr[1]", 40)
-    assert setup_dict["attr2"]["value"]["list_attr"]["value"][1]["value"] == 40
+    assert setup_dict["attr2"]["value"]["list_attr"]["value"][1]["value"] == 40  # noqa
 
 
 def test_update_class_attribute_inside_list(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     set_nested_value_by_path(setup_dict, "attr_list[2].attr3", 50)
-    assert setup_dict["attr_list"]["value"][2]["value"]["attr3"]["value"] == 50
+    assert setup_dict["attr_list"]["value"][2]["value"]["attr3"]["value"] == 50  # noqa
 
 
 def test_get_next_level_attribute_nested_dict(setup_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
@@ -535,3 +732,142 @@ def test_serialized_dict_is_nested_object() -> None:
     assert not serialized_dict_is_nested_object(serialized_dict["unit"])
     assert not serialized_dict_is_nested_object(serialized_dict["float"])
     assert not serialized_dict_is_nested_object(serialized_dict["state"])
+
+
+class MyService(pydase.DataService):
+    name = "MyService"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "test_input, expected",
+    [
+        (
+            1,
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "type": "int",
+                    "value": 1,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "doc": None,
+                }
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            1.0,
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "type": "float",
+                    "value": 1.0,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "doc": None,
+                },
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            True,
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "type": "bool",
+                    "value": True,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "doc": None,
+                },
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            u.Quantity(10, "m"),
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "type": "Quantity",
+                    "value": {"magnitude": 10, "unit": "meter"},
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "doc": None,
+                },
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            MyEnum.RUNNING,
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "value": "RUNNING",
+                    "type": "Enum",
+                    "doc": "MyEnum description",
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "name": "MyEnum",
+                    "enum": {"RUNNING": "running", "FINISHED": "finished"},
+                }
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            [1.0],
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "value": [
+                        {
+                            "full_access_path": "new_attr[0]",
+                            "doc": None,
+                            "readonly": False,
+                            "type": "float",
+                            "value": 1.0,
+                        }
+                    ],
+                    "type": "list",
+                    "doc": None,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                }
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            {"key": 1.0},
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "value": {
+                        "key": {
+                            "full_access_path": 'new_attr["key"]',
+                            "doc": None,
+                            "readonly": False,
+                            "type": "float",
+                            "value": 1.0,
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "type": "dict",
+                    "doc": None,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                }
+            },
+        ),
+        (
+            MyService(),
+            {
+                "new_attr": {
+                    "full_access_path": "new_attr",
+                    "value": {
+                        "name": {
+                            "full_access_path": "new_attr.name",
+                            "doc": None,
+                            "readonly": False,
+                            "type": "str",
+                            "value": "MyService",
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "type": "DataService",
+                    "doc": None,
+                    "readonly": False,
+                    "name": "MyService",
+                }
+            },
+        ),
+    ],
+)
+def test_dynamically_add_attributes(test_input: Any, expected: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    serialized_object: dict[str, SerializedObject] = {}
+
+    set_nested_value_by_path(serialized_object, "new_attr", test_input)
+    assert serialized_object == expected