Add optional third argument sys.inpect to indicate how many times you want it to recurse

doc/api.txt

@@ -201,17 +201,29 @@ These function are in the module +"sys"+. Use +require("sys")+ to access
 them.
 
 +puts(string)+::
-Outputs the +string+ and a trailing new-line to +stdout+.
+Outputs +string+ and a trailing new-line to +stdout+.
+
 
 +print(string)+::
 Like +puts()+ but without the trailing new-line.
 
+
 +debug(string)+::
 A synchronous output function. Will block the process and
-output the string immediately to stdout.
+output +string+ immediately to +stdout+.
+
+
+
++inspect(object, showHidden, depth)+ ::
+Return a string representation of +object+. (For debugging.) 
++
+If +showHidden+ is +true+, then the object's non-enumerable properties will be
+shown too.
++
+If +depth+ is provided, it tells +inspect+ how many times to recurse while
+formatting the object. This is useful for inspecting large complicated objects.
+The defualt is to recurse indefinitely.
 
-+inspect(object, showHidden)+ ::
-Return a string representation of the +object+. (For debugging.)  If showHidden is true, then the object's non-enumerable properties will be shown too.
 
 +exec(command, callback)+::
 Executes the command as a child process, buffers the output and returns it
@@ -230,7 +242,6 @@ will be +null+. On error +err+ will be an instance of +Error+ and +err.code+
 will be the exit code of the child process.
 
 
-
 == Events
 
 Many objects in Node emit events: a TCP server emits an event each time

lib/sys.js

@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ exports.error = function (x) {
  * @param {Object} value The object to print out
  * @param {Boolean} showHidden Flag that shows hidden (not enumerable) properties of objects.
  */
-exports.inspect = function (obj, showHidden) {
+exports.inspect = function (obj, showHidden, depth) {
   var seen = [];
-  function format(value) {
+  function format(value, recurseTimes) {
     // Primitive types cannot have properties
     switch (typeof value) {
       case 'undefined': return 'undefined';
@@ -45,9 +45,12 @@ exports.inspect = function (obj, showHidden) {
     }
 
     // Look up the keys of the object.
-    var keys = showHidden ? Object.getOwnPropertyNames(value).map(function (key) {
-      return '' + key;
-    }) : Object.keys(value);
+    if (showHidden) {
+      var keys = Object.getOwnPropertyNames(value).map(function (key) { return '' + key; });
+    } else {
+      var keys = Object.keys(value);
+    }
+
     var visible_keys = Object.keys(value);
 
     // Functions without properties can be shortcutted.
@@ -112,7 +115,15 @@ exports.inspect = function (obj, showHidden) {
       }
       if (!str) {
         if (seen.indexOf(value[key]) < 0) {
-          str = format(value[key]);
+          if (typeof recurseTimes === 'undefined' || recurseTimes === null) {
+            str = format(value[key]);
+          }
+          else if (recurseTimes > 0) {
+            str = format(value[key], recurseTimes - 1);
+          }
+          else {
+            str = value[key];
+          }
         } else {
           str = '[Circular]';
         }
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ exports.inspect = function (obj, showHidden) {
       return ' ' + line;
     }).join('\n') + "\n" + braces[1];
   }
-  return format(obj);
+  return format(obj, depth);
 };
 
 exports.p = function () {

test/simple/test-sys.js

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ assert.equal('{\n "a": 1,\n "b": 2\n}', inspect({a: 1, b: 2}));
 assert.equal('{\n "a": {}\n}', inspect({'a': {}}));
 assert.equal('{\n "a": {\n  "b": 2\n }\n}', inspect({'a': {'b': 2}}));
 assert.equal('[\n 1,\n 2,\n 3,\n [length]: 3\n]', inspect([1,2,3], true));
+assert.equal('{\n \"a\": [object Object]\n}', inspect({'a': {'b': { 'c': 2}}},false,0));
+assert.equal('{\n \"a\": {\n  \"b\": [object Object]\n }\n}', inspect({'a': {'b': { 'c': 2}}},false,1));
 assert.equal("{\n \"visible\": 1\n}",
   inspect(Object.create({}, {visible:{value:1,enumerable:true},hidden:{value:2}}))
 );