+
+;;; Serialization functions
+
+(defun write-instance-to-stream (obj stream)
+ "Writes an instance to a stream where it can be later be read.
+NOTE: an error will occur if a slot holds a value which can not be written readably."
+ (let* ((class (class-of obj))
+ (alist '()))
+ (dolist (slot (ordered-class-slots (class-of obj)))
+ (let ((name (slot-definition-name slot)))
+ (when (and (not (eq 'view-database name))
+ (slot-boundp obj name))
+ (push (cons name (slot-value obj name)) alist))))
+ (setq alist (reverse alist))
+ (write (cons (class-name class) alist) :stream stream :readably t))
+ obj)
+
+(defun read-instance-from-stream (stream)
+ (let ((raw (read stream nil nil)))
+ (when raw
+ (let ((obj (make-instance (car raw))))
+ (dolist (pair (cdr raw))
+ (setf (slot-value obj (car pair)) (cdr pair)))
+ obj))))