value: Move list/array serialization/deserialization functions from GstStructure to GstValue

https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=777375

gst/gst_private.h

@@ -150,6 +150,15 @@ G_GNUC_INTERNAL  GstPlugin * _priv_gst_plugin_load_file_for_registry (const gcha
                                                                       GstRegistry * registry,
                                                                       GError** error);
 
+/* GValue serialization/deserialization */
+
+G_GNUC_INTERNAL const char * _priv_gst_value_gtype_to_abbr (GType type);
+
+G_GNUC_INTERNAL gboolean _priv_gst_value_parse_string (gchar * s, gchar ** end, gchar ** next, gboolean unescape);
+G_GNUC_INTERNAL gboolean _priv_gst_value_parse_simple_string (gchar * str, gchar ** end);
+G_GNUC_INTERNAL gboolean _priv_gst_value_parse_value (gchar * str, gchar ** after, GValue * value, GType default_type);
+G_GNUC_INTERNAL gchar * _priv_gst_value_serialize_any_list (const GValue * value, const gchar * begin, const gchar * end);
+
 /* Used in GstBin for manual state handling */
 G_GNUC_INTERNAL  void _priv_gst_element_state_changed (GstElement *element,
                       GstState oldstate, GstState newstate, GstState pending);

gst/gststructure.c

@@ -116,9 +116,6 @@ static void gst_structure_transform_to_string (const GValue * src_value,
     GValue * dest_value);
 static GstStructure *gst_structure_copy_conditional (const GstStructure *
     structure);
-static gboolean gst_structure_parse_value (gchar * str, gchar ** after,
-    GValue * value, GType default_type);
-static gboolean gst_structure_parse_simple_string (gchar * s, gchar ** end);
 
 GType _gst_structure_type = 0;
 
@@ -1760,130 +1757,6 @@ gst_structure_get_flagset (const GstStructure * structure,
   return TRUE;
 }
 
-typedef struct _GstStructureAbbreviation
-{
-  const gchar *type_name;
-  GType type;
-}
-GstStructureAbbreviation;
-
-/* return a copy of an array of GstStructureAbbreviation containing all the
- * known type_string, GType maps, including abbreviations for common types */
-static GstStructureAbbreviation *
-gst_structure_get_abbrs (gint * n_abbrs)
-{
-  static GstStructureAbbreviation *abbrs = NULL;
-  static volatile gsize num = 0;
-
-  if (g_once_init_enter (&num)) {
-    /* dynamically generate the array */
-    gsize _num;
-    GstStructureAbbreviation dyn_abbrs[] = {
-      {"int", G_TYPE_INT}
-      ,
-      {"i", G_TYPE_INT}
-      ,
-      {"uint", G_TYPE_UINT}
-      ,
-      {"u", G_TYPE_UINT}
-      ,
-      {"float", G_TYPE_FLOAT}
-      ,
-      {"f", G_TYPE_FLOAT}
-      ,
-      {"double", G_TYPE_DOUBLE}
-      ,
-      {"d", G_TYPE_DOUBLE}
-      ,
-      {"buffer", GST_TYPE_BUFFER}
-      ,
-      {"fraction", GST_TYPE_FRACTION}
-      ,
-      {"boolean", G_TYPE_BOOLEAN}
-      ,
-      {"bool", G_TYPE_BOOLEAN}
-      ,
-      {"b", G_TYPE_BOOLEAN}
-      ,
-      {"string", G_TYPE_STRING}
-      ,
-      {"str", G_TYPE_STRING}
-      ,
-      {"s", G_TYPE_STRING}
-      ,
-      {"structure", GST_TYPE_STRUCTURE}
-      ,
-      {"date", G_TYPE_DATE}
-      ,
-      {"datetime", GST_TYPE_DATE_TIME}
-      ,
-      {"bitmask", GST_TYPE_BITMASK}
-      ,
-      {"sample", GST_TYPE_SAMPLE}
-      ,
-      {"taglist", GST_TYPE_TAG_LIST}
-      ,
-      {"type", G_TYPE_GTYPE}
-    };
-    _num = G_N_ELEMENTS (dyn_abbrs);
-    /* permanently allocate and copy the array now */
-    abbrs = g_new0 (GstStructureAbbreviation, _num);
-    memcpy (abbrs, dyn_abbrs, sizeof (GstStructureAbbreviation) * _num);
-    g_once_init_leave (&num, _num);
-  }
-  *n_abbrs = num;
-
-  return abbrs;
-}
-
-/* given a type_name that could be a type abbreviation or a registered GType,
- * return a matching GType */
-static GType
-gst_structure_gtype_from_abbr (const char *type_name)
-{
-  int i;
-  GstStructureAbbreviation *abbrs;
-  gint n_abbrs;
-  GType ret;
-
-  g_return_val_if_fail (type_name != NULL, G_TYPE_INVALID);
-
-  abbrs = gst_structure_get_abbrs (&n_abbrs);
-
-  for (i = 0; i < n_abbrs; i++) {
-    if (strcmp (type_name, abbrs[i].type_name) == 0) {
-      return abbrs[i].type;
-    }
-  }
-
-  /* this is the fallback */
-  ret = g_type_from_name (type_name);
-  /* If not found, try it as a dynamic type */
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (ret == 0))
-    ret = gst_dynamic_type_factory_load (type_name);
-  return ret;
-}
-
-static const char *
-gst_structure_to_abbr (GType type)
-{
-  int i;
-  GstStructureAbbreviation *abbrs;
-  gint n_abbrs;
-
-  g_return_val_if_fail (type != G_TYPE_INVALID, NULL);
-
-  abbrs = gst_structure_get_abbrs (&n_abbrs);
-
-  for (i = 0; i < n_abbrs; i++) {
-    if (type == abbrs[i].type) {
-      return abbrs[i].type_name;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return g_type_name (type);
-}
-
 static GType
 gst_structure_value_get_generic_type (const GValue * val)
 {
@@ -1933,14 +1806,15 @@ priv_gst_structure_append_to_gstring (const GstStructure * structure,
     /* FIXME: do we need to escape fieldnames? */
     g_string_append (s, g_quark_to_string (field->name));
     g_string_append_len (s, "=(", 2);
-    g_string_append (s, gst_structure_to_abbr (type));
+    g_string_append (s, _priv_gst_value_gtype_to_abbr (type));
     g_string_append_c (s, ')');
     if (t) {
       g_string_append (s, t);
       g_free (t);
     } else {
       GST_WARNING ("No value transform to serialize field '%s' of type '%s'",
-          g_quark_to_string (field->name), gst_structure_to_abbr (type));
+          g_quark_to_string (field->name),
+          _priv_gst_value_gtype_to_abbr (type));
       g_string_append (s, "NULL");
     }
   }
@@ -1960,7 +1834,7 @@ priv__gst_structure_append_template_to_gstring (GQuark field_id,
   /* FIXME: do we need to escape fieldnames? */
   g_string_append (s, g_quark_to_string (field_id));
   g_string_append_len (s, "=(", 2);
-  g_string_append (s, gst_structure_to_abbr (type));
+  g_string_append (s, _priv_gst_value_gtype_to_abbr (type));
   g_string_append_c (s, ')');
 
   //TODO(ensonic): table like GstStructureAbbreviation (or extend it)
@@ -2039,266 +1913,6 @@ gst_structure_to_string (const GstStructure * structure)
   return g_string_free (s, FALSE);
 }
 
-/*
- * gst_structure_parse_string:
- * @s: string to parse
- * @end: out-pointer to char behind end of string
- * @next: out-pointer to start of unread data
- * @unescape: @TRUE if the substring is escaped.
- *
- * Find the end of a sub-string. If end == next, the string will not be
- * null-terminated. In all other cases it will be.
- *
- * Note: This function modifies the string in @s (if unescape == @TRUE).
- *
- * Returns: @TRUE if a sub-string was found and @FALSE if the string is not
- * terminated.
- */
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_string (gchar * s, gchar ** end, gchar ** next,
-    gboolean unescape)
-{
-  gchar *w;
-
-  if (*s == 0)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (*s != '"') {
-    int ret = gst_structure_parse_simple_string (s, end);
-    *next = *end;
-
-    return ret;
-  }
-
-  /* Find the closing quotes */
-  if (unescape) {
-    w = s;
-    s++;
-    while (*s != '"') {
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
-        return FALSE;
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == '\\')) {
-        s++;
-        if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
-          return FALSE;
-      }
-      *w = *s;
-      w++;
-      s++;
-    }
-    s++;
-  } else {
-    s++;
-    while (*s != '"') {
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
-        return FALSE;
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == '\\')) {
-        s++;
-        if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
-          return FALSE;
-      }
-      s++;
-    }
-    s++;
-    w = s;
-  }
-
-  *end = w;
-  *next = s;
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_range (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
-    GType type)
-{
-  GValue value1 = { 0 };
-  GValue value2 = { 0 };
-  GValue value3 = { 0 };
-  GType range_type;
-  gboolean ret, have_step = FALSE;
-
-  if (*s != '[')
-    return FALSE;
-  s++;
-
-  ret = gst_structure_parse_value (s, &s, &value1, type);
-  if (!ret)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-
-  if (*s != ',')
-    return FALSE;
-  s++;
-
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-
-  ret = gst_structure_parse_value (s, &s, &value2, type);
-  if (!ret)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-
-  /* optional step for int and int64 */
-  if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT
-      || G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT64) {
-    if (*s == ',') {
-      s++;
-
-      while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-        s++;
-
-      ret = gst_structure_parse_value (s, &s, &value3, type);
-      if (!ret)
-        return FALSE;
-
-      while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-        s++;
-
-      have_step = TRUE;
-    }
-  }
-
-  if (*s != ']')
-    return FALSE;
-  s++;
-
-  if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) != G_VALUE_TYPE (&value2))
-    return FALSE;
-  if (have_step && G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) != G_VALUE_TYPE (&value3))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_DOUBLE) {
-    range_type = GST_TYPE_DOUBLE_RANGE;
-    g_value_init (value, range_type);
-    gst_value_set_double_range (value,
-        gst_g_value_get_double_unchecked (&value1),
-        gst_g_value_get_double_unchecked (&value2));
-  } else if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT) {
-    range_type = GST_TYPE_INT_RANGE;
-    g_value_init (value, range_type);
-    if (have_step)
-      gst_value_set_int_range_step (value,
-          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value1),
-          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value2),
-          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value3));
-    else
-      gst_value_set_int_range (value, gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value1),
-          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value2));
-  } else if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT64) {
-    range_type = GST_TYPE_INT64_RANGE;
-    g_value_init (value, range_type);
-    if (have_step)
-      gst_value_set_int64_range_step (value,
-          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value1),
-          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value2),
-          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value3));
-    else
-      gst_value_set_int64_range (value,
-          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value1),
-          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value2));
-  } else if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == GST_TYPE_FRACTION) {
-    range_type = GST_TYPE_FRACTION_RANGE;
-    g_value_init (value, range_type);
-    gst_value_set_fraction_range (value, &value1, &value2);
-  } else {
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
-  *after = s;
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_any_list (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
-    GType type, GType list_type, char begin, char end)
-{
-  GValue list_value = { 0 };
-  gboolean ret;
-  GArray *array;
-
-  g_value_init (value, list_type);
-  array = g_value_peek_pointer (value);
-
-  if (*s != begin)
-    return FALSE;
-  s++;
-
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-  if (*s == end) {
-    s++;
-    *after = s;
-    return TRUE;
-  }
-
-  ret = gst_structure_parse_value (s, &s, &list_value, type);
-  if (!ret)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  g_array_append_val (array, list_value);
-
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-
-  while (*s != end) {
-    if (*s != ',')
-      return FALSE;
-    s++;
-
-    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-      s++;
-
-    memset (&list_value, 0, sizeof (list_value));
-    ret = gst_structure_parse_value (s, &s, &list_value, type);
-    if (!ret)
-      return FALSE;
-
-    g_array_append_val (array, list_value);
-    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-      s++;
-  }
-
-  s++;
-
-  *after = s;
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_list (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value, GType type)
-{
-  return gst_structure_parse_any_list (s, after, value, type, GST_TYPE_LIST,
-      '{', '}');
-}
-
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_array (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
-    GType type)
-{
-  return gst_structure_parse_any_list (s, after, value, type,
-      GST_TYPE_ARRAY, '<', '>');
-}
-
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_simple_string (gchar * str, gchar ** end)
-{
-  char *s = str;
-
-  while (G_LIKELY (GST_ASCII_IS_STRING (*s))) {
-    s++;
-  }
-
-  *end = s;
-
-  return (s != str);
-}
-
 static gboolean
 gst_structure_parse_field (gchar * str,
     gchar ** after, GstStructureField * field)
@@ -2313,7 +1927,7 @@ gst_structure_parse_field (gchar * str,
   while (g_ascii_isspace (*s) || (s[0] == '\\' && g_ascii_isspace (s[1])))
     s++;
   name = s;
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (!gst_structure_parse_simple_string (s, &name_end))) {
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (!_priv_gst_value_parse_simple_string (s, &name_end))) {
     GST_WARNING ("failed to parse simple string, str=%s", str);
     return FALSE;
   }
@@ -2334,7 +1948,7 @@ gst_structure_parse_field (gchar * str,
   GST_DEBUG ("trying field name '%s'", name);
   *name_end = c;
 
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (!gst_structure_parse_value (s, &s, &field->value,
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (!_priv_gst_value_parse_value (s, &s, &field->value,
               G_TYPE_INVALID))) {
     GST_WARNING ("failed to parse value %s", str);
     return FALSE;
@@ -2344,106 +1958,6 @@ gst_structure_parse_field (gchar * str,
   return TRUE;
 }
 
-static gboolean
-gst_structure_parse_value (gchar * str,
-    gchar ** after, GValue * value, GType default_type)
-{
-  gchar *type_name;
-  gchar *type_end;
-  gchar *value_s;
-  gchar *value_end;
-  gchar *s;
-  gchar c;
-  int ret = 0;
-  GType type = default_type;
-
-  s = str;
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-
-  /* check if there's a (type_name) 'cast' */
-  type_name = NULL;
-  if (*s == '(') {
-    s++;
-    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-      s++;
-    type_name = s;
-    if (G_UNLIKELY (!gst_structure_parse_simple_string (s, &type_end)))
-      return FALSE;
-    s = type_end;
-    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-      s++;
-    if (G_UNLIKELY (*s != ')'))
-      return FALSE;
-    s++;
-    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-      s++;
-
-    c = *type_end;
-    *type_end = 0;
-    type = gst_structure_gtype_from_abbr (type_name);
-    GST_DEBUG ("trying type name '%s'", type_name);
-    *type_end = c;
-
-    if (G_UNLIKELY (type == G_TYPE_INVALID)) {
-      GST_WARNING ("invalid type");
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-  }
-
-  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
-    s++;
-  if (*s == '[') {
-    ret = gst_structure_parse_range (s, &s, value, type);
-  } else if (*s == '{') {
-    ret = gst_structure_parse_list (s, &s, value, type);
-  } else if (*s == '<') {
-    ret = gst_structure_parse_array (s, &s, value, type);
-  } else {
-    value_s = s;
-
-    if (G_UNLIKELY (type == G_TYPE_INVALID)) {
-      GType try_types[] =
-          { G_TYPE_INT, G_TYPE_DOUBLE, GST_TYPE_FRACTION, GST_TYPE_FLAG_SET,
-        G_TYPE_BOOLEAN, G_TYPE_STRING
-      };
-      int i;
-
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (!gst_structure_parse_string (s, &value_end, &s, TRUE)))
-        return FALSE;
-      /* Set NULL terminator for deserialization */
-      c = *value_end;
-      *value_end = '\0';
-
-      for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (try_types); i++) {
-        g_value_init (value, try_types[i]);
-        ret = gst_value_deserialize (value, value_s);
-        if (ret)
-          break;
-        g_value_unset (value);
-      }
-    } else {
-      g_value_init (value, type);
-
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (!gst_structure_parse_string (s, &value_end, &s,
-                  (type != G_TYPE_STRING))))
-        return FALSE;
-      /* Set NULL terminator for deserialization */
-      c = *value_end;
-      *value_end = '\0';
-
-      ret = gst_value_deserialize (value, value_s);
-      if (G_UNLIKELY (!ret))
-        g_value_unset (value);
-    }
-    *value_end = c;
-  }
-
-  *after = s;
-
-  return ret;
-}
-
 gboolean
 priv_gst_structure_parse_name (gchar * str, gchar ** start, gchar ** end,
     gchar ** next)
@@ -2460,7 +1974,7 @@ priv_gst_structure_parse_name (gchar * str, gchar ** start, gchar ** end,
 
   *start = r;
 
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (!gst_structure_parse_string (r, &w, &r, TRUE))) {
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (!_priv_gst_value_parse_string (r, &w, &r, TRUE))) {
     GST_WARNING ("Failed to parse structure string '%s'", str);
     return FALSE;
   }

gst/gstvalue.c

@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ static void gst_value_register_intersect_func (GType type1,
 static void gst_value_register_subtract_func (GType minuend_type,
     GType subtrahend_type, GstValueSubtractFunc func);
 
+static gboolean _priv_gst_value_parse_array (gchar * s, gchar ** after,
+    GValue * value, GType type);
+
 typedef struct _GstValueUnionInfo GstValueUnionInfo;
 struct _GstValueUnionInfo
 {
@@ -128,6 +131,14 @@ struct _GstFlagSetClass
 
 typedef struct _GstFlagSetClass GstFlagSetClass;
 
+typedef struct _GstValueAbbreviation GstValueAbbreviation;
+
+struct _GstValueAbbreviation
+{
+  const gchar *type_name;
+  GType type;
+};
+
 #define FUNDAMENTAL_TYPE_ID_MAX \
     (G_TYPE_FUNDAMENTAL_MAX >> G_TYPE_FUNDAMENTAL_SHIFT)
 #define FUNDAMENTAL_TYPE_ID(type) \
@@ -185,8 +196,8 @@ gst_value_hash_add_type (GType type, const GstValueTable * table)
 /* two helper functions to serialize/stringify any type of list
  * regular lists are done with { }, arrays with < >
  */
-static gchar *
+gchar *
-gst_value_serialize_any_list (const GValue * value, const gchar * begin,
+_priv_gst_value_serialize_any_list (const GValue * value, const gchar * begin,
     const gchar * end)
 {
   guint i;
@@ -1025,7 +1036,7 @@ gst_value_compare_g_value_array (const GValue * value1, const GValue * value2)
 static gchar *
 gst_value_serialize_value_list (const GValue * value)
 {
-  return gst_value_serialize_any_list (value, "{ ", " }");
+  return _priv_gst_value_serialize_any_list (value, "{ ", " }");
 }
 
 static gboolean
@@ -1038,7 +1049,7 @@ gst_value_deserialize_value_list (GValue * dest, const gchar * s)
 static gchar *
 gst_value_serialize_value_array (const GValue * value)
 {
-  return gst_value_serialize_any_list (value, "< ", " >");
+  return _priv_gst_value_serialize_any_list (value, "< ", " >");
 }
 
 static gboolean
@@ -2063,6 +2074,490 @@ gst_value_deserialize_caps (GValue * dest, const gchar * s)
   return FALSE;
 }
 
+/********************************************
+ * Serialization/deserialization of GValues *
+ ********************************************/
+
+static GstValueAbbreviation *
+_priv_gst_value_get_abbrs (gint * n_abbrs)
+{
+  static GstValueAbbreviation *abbrs = NULL;
+  static volatile gsize num = 0;
+
+  if (g_once_init_enter (&num)) {
+    /* dynamically generate the array */
+    gsize _num;
+    GstValueAbbreviation dyn_abbrs[] = {
+      {"int", G_TYPE_INT}
+      ,
+      {"i", G_TYPE_INT}
+      ,
+      {"uint", G_TYPE_UINT}
+      ,
+      {"u", G_TYPE_UINT}
+      ,
+      {"float", G_TYPE_FLOAT}
+      ,
+      {"f", G_TYPE_FLOAT}
+      ,
+      {"double", G_TYPE_DOUBLE}
+      ,
+      {"d", G_TYPE_DOUBLE}
+      ,
+      {"buffer", GST_TYPE_BUFFER}
+      ,
+      {"fraction", GST_TYPE_FRACTION}
+      ,
+      {"boolean", G_TYPE_BOOLEAN}
+      ,
+      {"bool", G_TYPE_BOOLEAN}
+      ,
+      {"b", G_TYPE_BOOLEAN}
+      ,
+      {"string", G_TYPE_STRING}
+      ,
+      {"str", G_TYPE_STRING}
+      ,
+      {"s", G_TYPE_STRING}
+      ,
+      {"structure", GST_TYPE_STRUCTURE}
+      ,
+      {"date", G_TYPE_DATE}
+      ,
+      {"datetime", GST_TYPE_DATE_TIME}
+      ,
+      {"bitmask", GST_TYPE_BITMASK}
+      ,
+      {"sample", GST_TYPE_SAMPLE}
+      ,
+      {"taglist", GST_TYPE_TAG_LIST}
+      ,
+      {"type", G_TYPE_GTYPE}
+      ,
+      {"array", GST_TYPE_ARRAY}
+      ,
+      {"list", GST_TYPE_LIST}
+    };
+    _num = G_N_ELEMENTS (dyn_abbrs);
+    /* permanently allocate and copy the array now */
+    abbrs = g_new0 (GstValueAbbreviation, _num);
+    memcpy (abbrs, dyn_abbrs, sizeof (GstValueAbbreviation) * _num);
+    g_once_init_leave (&num, _num);
+  }
+  *n_abbrs = num;
+
+  return abbrs;
+}
+
+/* given a type_name that could be a type abbreviation or a registered GType,
+ * return a matching GType */
+static GType
+_priv_gst_value_gtype_from_abbr (const char *type_name)
+{
+  int i;
+  GstValueAbbreviation *abbrs;
+  gint n_abbrs;
+  GType ret;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (type_name != NULL, G_TYPE_INVALID);
+
+  abbrs = _priv_gst_value_get_abbrs (&n_abbrs);
+
+  for (i = 0; i < n_abbrs; i++) {
+    if (strcmp (type_name, abbrs[i].type_name) == 0) {
+      return abbrs[i].type;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /* this is the fallback */
+  ret = g_type_from_name (type_name);
+  /* If not found, try it as a dynamic type */
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (ret == 0))
+    ret = gst_dynamic_type_factory_load (type_name);
+  return ret;
+
+}
+
+const char *
+_priv_gst_value_gtype_to_abbr (GType type)
+{
+  int i;
+  GstValueAbbreviation *abbrs;
+  gint n_abbrs;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (type != G_TYPE_INVALID, NULL);
+
+  abbrs = _priv_gst_value_get_abbrs (&n_abbrs);
+
+  for (i = 0; i < n_abbrs; i++) {
+    if (type == abbrs[i].type) {
+      return abbrs[i].type_name;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return g_type_name (type);
+}
+
+/*
+ * _priv_gst_value_parse_string:
+ * @s: string to parse
+ * @end: out-pointer to char behind end of string
+ * @next: out-pointer to start of unread data
+ * @unescape: @TRUE if the substring is escaped.
+ *
+ * Find the end of a sub-string. If end == next, the string will not be
+ * null-terminated. In all other cases it will be.
+ *
+ * Note: This function modifies the string in @s (if unescape == @TRUE).
+ *
+ * Returns: @TRUE if a sub-string was found and @FALSE if the string is not
+ * terminated.
+ */
+gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_string (gchar * s, gchar ** end, gchar ** next,
+    gboolean unescape)
+{
+  gchar *w;
+
+  if (*s == 0)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  if (*s != '"') {
+    int ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_simple_string (s, end);
+    *next = *end;
+
+    return ret;
+  }
+
+  /* Find the closing quotes */
+  if (unescape) {
+    w = s;
+    s++;
+    while (*s != '"') {
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
+        return FALSE;
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == '\\')) {
+        s++;
+        if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
+          return FALSE;
+      }
+      *w = *s;
+      w++;
+      s++;
+    }
+    s++;
+  } else {
+    s++;
+    while (*s != '"') {
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
+        return FALSE;
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == '\\')) {
+        s++;
+        if (G_UNLIKELY (*s == 0))
+          return FALSE;
+      }
+      s++;
+    }
+    s++;
+    w = s;
+  }
+
+  *end = w;
+  *next = s;
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_range (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
+    GType type)
+{
+  GValue value1 = { 0 };
+  GValue value2 = { 0 };
+  GValue value3 = { 0 };
+  GType range_type;
+  gboolean ret, have_step = FALSE;
+
+  if (*s != '[')
+    return FALSE;
+  s++;
+
+  ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_value (s, &s, &value1, type);
+  if (!ret)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+
+  if (*s != ',')
+    return FALSE;
+  s++;
+
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+
+  ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_value (s, &s, &value2, type);
+  if (!ret)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+
+  /* optional step for int and int64 */
+  if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT
+      || G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT64) {
+    if (*s == ',') {
+      s++;
+
+      while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+        s++;
+
+      ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_value (s, &s, &value3, type);
+      if (!ret)
+        return FALSE;
+
+      while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+        s++;
+
+      have_step = TRUE;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (*s != ']')
+    return FALSE;
+  s++;
+
+  if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) != G_VALUE_TYPE (&value2))
+    return FALSE;
+  if (have_step && G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) != G_VALUE_TYPE (&value3))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_DOUBLE) {
+    range_type = GST_TYPE_DOUBLE_RANGE;
+    g_value_init (value, range_type);
+    gst_value_set_double_range (value,
+        gst_g_value_get_double_unchecked (&value1),
+        gst_g_value_get_double_unchecked (&value2));
+  } else if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT) {
+    range_type = GST_TYPE_INT_RANGE;
+    g_value_init (value, range_type);
+    if (have_step)
+      gst_value_set_int_range_step (value,
+          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value1),
+          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value2),
+          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value3));
+    else
+      gst_value_set_int_range (value, gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value1),
+          gst_g_value_get_int_unchecked (&value2));
+  } else if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == G_TYPE_INT64) {
+    range_type = GST_TYPE_INT64_RANGE;
+    g_value_init (value, range_type);
+    if (have_step)
+      gst_value_set_int64_range_step (value,
+          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value1),
+          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value2),
+          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value3));
+    else
+      gst_value_set_int64_range (value,
+          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value1),
+          gst_g_value_get_int64_unchecked (&value2));
+  } else if (G_VALUE_TYPE (&value1) == GST_TYPE_FRACTION) {
+    range_type = GST_TYPE_FRACTION_RANGE;
+    g_value_init (value, range_type);
+    gst_value_set_fraction_range (value, &value1, &value2);
+  } else {
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
+  *after = s;
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_any_list (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
+    GType type, char begin, char end)
+{
+  GValue list_value = { 0 };
+  gboolean ret;
+  GArray *array;
+
+  array = g_value_peek_pointer (value);
+
+  if (*s != begin)
+    return FALSE;
+  s++;
+
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+  if (*s == end) {
+    s++;
+    *after = s;
+    return TRUE;
+  }
+
+  ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_value (s, &s, &list_value, type);
+  if (!ret)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  g_array_append_val (array, list_value);
+
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+
+  while (*s != end) {
+    if (*s != ',')
+      return FALSE;
+    s++;
+
+    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+      s++;
+
+    memset (&list_value, 0, sizeof (list_value));
+    ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_value (s, &s, &list_value, type);
+    if (!ret)
+      return FALSE;
+
+    g_array_append_val (array, list_value);
+    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+      s++;
+  }
+
+  s++;
+
+  *after = s;
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_list (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
+    GType type)
+{
+  return _priv_gst_value_parse_any_list (s, after, value, type, '{', '}');
+}
+
+static gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_array (gchar * s, gchar ** after, GValue * value,
+    GType type)
+{
+  return _priv_gst_value_parse_any_list (s, after, value, type, '<', '>');
+}
+
+gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_simple_string (gchar * str, gchar ** end)
+{
+  char *s = str;
+
+  while (G_LIKELY (GST_ASCII_IS_STRING (*s))) {
+    s++;
+  }
+
+  *end = s;
+
+  return (s != str);
+}
+
+gboolean
+_priv_gst_value_parse_value (gchar * str,
+    gchar ** after, GValue * value, GType default_type)
+{
+  gchar *type_name;
+  gchar *type_end;
+  gchar *value_s;
+  gchar *value_end;
+  gchar *s;
+  gchar c;
+  int ret = 0;
+  GType type = default_type;
+
+  s = str;
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+
+  /* check if there's a (type_name) 'cast' */
+  type_name = NULL;
+  if (*s == '(') {
+    s++;
+    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+      s++;
+    type_name = s;
+    if (G_UNLIKELY (!_priv_gst_value_parse_simple_string (s, &type_end)))
+      return FALSE;
+    s = type_end;
+    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+      s++;
+    if (G_UNLIKELY (*s != ')'))
+      return FALSE;
+    s++;
+    while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+      s++;
+
+    c = *type_end;
+    *type_end = 0;
+    type = _priv_gst_value_gtype_from_abbr (type_name);
+    GST_DEBUG ("trying type name '%s'", type_name);
+    *type_end = c;
+
+    if (G_UNLIKELY (type == G_TYPE_INVALID)) {
+      GST_WARNING ("invalid type");
+      return FALSE;
+    }
+  }
+
+  while (g_ascii_isspace (*s))
+    s++;
+  if (*s == '[') {
+    ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_range (s, &s, value, type);
+  } else if (*s == '{') {
+    g_value_init (value, GST_TYPE_LIST);
+    ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_list (s, &s, value, type);
+  } else if (*s == '<') {
+    g_value_init (value, GST_TYPE_ARRAY);
+    ret = _priv_gst_value_parse_array (s, &s, value, type);
+  } else {
+    value_s = s;
+
+    if (G_UNLIKELY (type == G_TYPE_INVALID)) {
+      GType try_types[] =
+          { G_TYPE_INT, G_TYPE_DOUBLE, GST_TYPE_FRACTION, GST_TYPE_FLAG_SET,
+        G_TYPE_BOOLEAN, G_TYPE_STRING
+      };
+      int i;
+
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (!_priv_gst_value_parse_string (s, &value_end, &s, TRUE)))
+        return FALSE;
+      /* Set NULL terminator for deserialization */
+      c = *value_end;
+      *value_end = '\0';
+
+      for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (try_types); i++) {
+        g_value_init (value, try_types[i]);
+        ret = gst_value_deserialize (value, value_s);
+        if (ret)
+          break;
+        g_value_unset (value);
+      }
+    } else {
+      g_value_init (value, type);
+
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (!_priv_gst_value_parse_string (s, &value_end, &s,
+                  (type != G_TYPE_STRING))))
+        return FALSE;
+      /* Set NULL terminator for deserialization */
+      c = *value_end;
+      *value_end = '\0';
+
+      ret = gst_value_deserialize (value, value_s);
+      if (G_UNLIKELY (!ret))
+        g_value_unset (value);
+    }
+    *value_end = c;
+  }
+
+  *after = s;
+
+  return ret;
+}
+
 /**************
  * GstSegment *
  **************/