[rename] renamed kdbus related macros
[platform/upstream/dbus.git] / dbus / dbus-marshal-recursive.c
index ba5d2bf..4adfd2e 100644 (file)
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-/* -*- mode: C; c-file-style: "gnu" -*- */
+/* -*- mode: C; c-file-style: "gnu"; indent-tabs-mode: nil; -*- */
 /* dbus-marshal-recursive.c  Marshalling routines for recursive types
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2004 Red Hat, Inc.
+ * Copyright (C) 2004, 2005 Red Hat, Inc.
  *
  * Licensed under the Academic Free License version 2.1
  *
  *
  * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
  * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
- * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
  *
  */
 
+#include <config.h>
 #include "dbus-marshal-recursive.h"
 #include "dbus-marshal-basic.h"
+#include "dbus-signature.h"
 #include "dbus-internals.h"
 
 /**
  * @addtogroup DBusMarshal
  * @{
  */
-#define RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE 0
 
-struct DBusTypeReaderClass
+static dbus_bool_t _dbus_type_reader_greater_than              (const DBusTypeReader  *lhs,
+                                                                const DBusTypeReader  *rhs);
+
+static void       _dbus_type_writer_set_enabled           (DBusTypeWriter        *writer,
+                                                           dbus_bool_t            enabled);
+static dbus_bool_t _dbus_type_writer_write_reader_partial (DBusTypeWriter        *writer,
+                                                           DBusTypeReader        *reader,
+                                                           const DBusTypeReader  *start_after,
+                                                           int                    start_after_new_pos,
+                                                           int                    start_after_new_len,
+                                                           DBusList             **fixups);
+
+/** turn this on to get deluged in TypeReader verbose spam */
+#define RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE  0
+
+/** turn this on to get deluged in TypeWriter verbose spam */
+#define RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE 0
+
+static void
+free_fixups (DBusList **fixups)
 {
-  const char *name;
-  int         id;         /* index in all_reader_classes */
-  dbus_bool_t types_only; /* only iterates over types, not values */
-  void        (* recurse)          (DBusTypeReader        *sub,
-                                    DBusTypeReader        *parent);
-  int         (* get_current_type) (const DBusTypeReader  *reader);
-  void        (* next)             (DBusTypeReader        *reader,
-                                    int                    current_type);
-  void        (* init_from_mark)   (DBusTypeReader        *reader,
-                                    const DBusTypeMark    *mark);
-};
+  DBusList *link;
 
-static int
-first_type_in_signature (const DBusString *str,
-                         int               pos)
+  link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (fixups);
+  while (link != NULL)
+    {
+      DBusList *next;
+
+      next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (fixups, link);
+
+      dbus_free (link->data);
+      _dbus_list_free_link (link);
+
+      link = next;
+    }
+
+  *fixups = NULL;
+}
+
+static void
+apply_and_free_fixups (DBusList      **fixups,
+                       DBusTypeReader *reader)
 {
-  int t;
+  DBusList *link;
 
-  t = _dbus_string_get_byte (str, pos);
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  if (*fixups)
+    _dbus_verbose (" %d FIXUPS to apply\n",
+                   _dbus_list_get_length (fixups));
+#endif
 
-  if (t == DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR)
-    return DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT;
-  else
-    return t;
+  link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (fixups);
+  while (link != NULL)
+    {
+      DBusList *next;
+
+      next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (fixups, link);
+
+      if (reader)
+        {
+          DBusArrayLenFixup *f;
+
+          f = link->data;
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose (" applying FIXUP to reader %p at pos %d new_len = %d old len %d\n",
+                         reader, f->len_pos_in_reader, f->new_len,
+                         _dbus_marshal_read_uint32 (reader->value_str,
+                                                    f->len_pos_in_reader,
+                                                    reader->byte_order, NULL));
+#endif
+
+          _dbus_marshal_set_uint32 ((DBusString*) reader->value_str,
+                                    f->len_pos_in_reader,
+                                    f->new_len,
+                                    reader->byte_order);
+        }
+
+      dbus_free (link->data);
+      _dbus_list_free_link (link);
+
+      link = next;
+    }
+
+  *fixups = NULL;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Virtual table for a type reader.
+ */
+struct DBusTypeReaderClass
+{
+  const char *name;       /**< name for debugging */
+  int         id;         /**< index in all_reader_classes */
+  dbus_bool_t types_only; /**< only iterates over types, not values */
+  void        (* recurse)          (DBusTypeReader        *sub,
+                                    DBusTypeReader        *parent); /**< recurse with this reader as sub */
+  dbus_bool_t (* check_finished)   (const DBusTypeReader  *reader); /**< check whether reader is at the end */
+  void        (* next)             (DBusTypeReader        *reader,
+                                    int                    current_type); /**< go to the next value */
+};
+
 static int
 element_type_get_alignment (const DBusString *str,
                             int               pos)
 {
-  return _dbus_type_get_alignment (first_type_in_signature (str, pos));
+  return _dbus_type_get_alignment (_dbus_first_type_in_signature (str, pos));
 }
 
 static void
@@ -96,24 +171,26 @@ base_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
 }
 
 static void
-struct_types_only_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
-                                  DBusTypeReader *parent)
+struct_or_dict_entry_types_only_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
+                                                DBusTypeReader *parent)
 {
   base_reader_recurse (sub, parent);
-
+  
   _dbus_assert (_dbus_string_get_byte (sub->type_str,
-                                       sub->type_pos) == DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR);
+                                       sub->type_pos) == DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR ||
+                _dbus_string_get_byte (sub->type_str,
+                                       sub->type_pos) == DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_BEGIN_CHAR);
 
   sub->type_pos += 1;
 }
 
 static void
-struct_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
-                       DBusTypeReader *parent)
+struct_or_dict_entry_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
+                                     DBusTypeReader *parent)
 {
-  struct_types_only_reader_recurse (sub, parent);
+  struct_or_dict_entry_types_only_reader_recurse (sub, parent);
 
-  /* struct has 8 byte alignment */
+  /* struct and dict entry have 8 byte alignment */
   sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8);
 }
 
@@ -131,26 +208,30 @@ array_types_only_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
   sub->array_len_offset = 7;
 }
 
+/** compute position of array length given array_len_offset, which is
+    the offset back from start_pos to end of the len */
+#define ARRAY_READER_LEN_POS(reader) \
+  ((reader)->u.array.start_pos - ((int)(reader)->array_len_offset) - 4)
+
 static int
 array_reader_get_array_len (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
 {
   dbus_uint32_t array_len;
   int len_pos;
-  
-  /* array_len_offset is the offset back from start_pos to end of the len */
-  len_pos = reader->u.array.start_pos - ((int)reader->array_len_offset) - 4;
-  
-  _dbus_demarshal_basic_type (reader->value_str,
-                              DBUS_TYPE_UINT32,
-                              &array_len,
-                              reader->byte_order,
-                              len_pos, NULL);
 
+  len_pos = ARRAY_READER_LEN_POS (reader);
+
+  _dbus_assert (_DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (len_pos, 4) == (unsigned) len_pos);
+  array_len = _dbus_unpack_uint32 (reader->byte_order,
+                                   _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->value_str, len_pos, 4));
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("   reader %p len_pos %d array len %u len_offset %d\n",
                  reader, len_pos, array_len, reader->array_len_offset);
+#endif
 
   _dbus_assert (reader->u.array.start_pos - len_pos - 4 < 8);
-  
+
   return array_len;
 }
 
@@ -161,8 +242,6 @@ array_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
   int alignment;
   int len_pos;
 
-  _dbus_assert (!_dbus_type_reader_array_is_empty (parent));
-
   array_types_only_reader_recurse (sub, parent);
 
   sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 4);
@@ -170,7 +249,7 @@ array_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
   len_pos = sub->value_pos;
 
   sub->value_pos += 4; /* for the length */
-  
+
   alignment = element_type_get_alignment (sub->type_str,
                                           sub->type_pos);
 
@@ -180,13 +259,13 @@ array_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
   _dbus_assert ((sub->u.array.start_pos - (len_pos + 4)) < 8); /* only 3 bits in array_len_offset */
   sub->array_len_offset = sub->u.array.start_pos - (len_pos + 4);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("    type reader %p array start = %d len_offset = %d array len = %d array element type = %s\n",
                  sub,
                  sub->u.array.start_pos,
                  sub->array_len_offset,
                  array_reader_get_array_len (sub),
-                 _dbus_type_to_string (first_type_in_signature (sub->type_str,
+                 _dbus_type_to_string (_dbus_first_type_in_signature (sub->type_str,
                                                                 sub->type_pos)));
 #endif
 }
@@ -196,6 +275,7 @@ variant_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
                         DBusTypeReader *parent)
 {
   int sig_len;
+  int contained_alignment;
 
   base_reader_recurse (sub, parent);
 
@@ -210,9 +290,12 @@ variant_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
 
   sub->value_pos = sub->type_pos + sig_len + 1;
 
-  sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8);
+  contained_alignment = _dbus_type_get_alignment (_dbus_first_type_in_signature (sub->type_str,
+                                                                           sub->type_pos));
+  
+  sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, contained_alignment);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("    type reader %p variant containing '%s'\n",
                  sub,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (sub->type_str,
@@ -220,49 +303,9 @@ variant_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *sub,
 #endif
 }
 
-static int
-base_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
-{
-  int t;
-
-  t = first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
-                               reader->type_pos);
-
-  return t;
-}
-
-static int
-struct_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
-{
-  int t;
-
-  if (reader->finished)
-    t = DBUS_TYPE_INVALID;
-  else
-    t = first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
-                                 reader->type_pos);
-
-  return t;
-}
-
-static int
-array_types_only_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
-{
-  int t;
-
-  if (reader->finished)
-    t = DBUS_TYPE_INVALID;
-  else
-    t = first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
-                                 reader->type_pos);
-
-  return t;
-}
-
-static int
-array_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
+static dbus_bool_t
+array_reader_check_finished (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
 {
-  int t;
   int end_pos;
 
   /* return the array element type if elements remain, and
@@ -274,46 +317,120 @@ array_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
   _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos <= end_pos);
   _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos >= reader->u.array.start_pos);
 
-  if (reader->value_pos < end_pos)
-    t = first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
-                                 reader->type_pos);
-  else
-    t = DBUS_TYPE_INVALID;
-
-  return t;
+  return reader->value_pos == end_pos;
 }
 
 static void
 skip_one_complete_type (const DBusString *type_str,
                         int              *type_pos)
 {
-  while (_dbus_string_get_byte (type_str, *type_pos) == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
-    *type_pos += 1;
+  _dbus_type_signature_next (_dbus_string_get_const_data (type_str),
+                            type_pos);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Skips to the next "complete" type inside a type signature.
+ * The signature is read starting at type_pos, and the next
+ * type position is stored in the same variable.
+ *
+ * @param type_str a type signature (must be valid)
+ * @param type_pos an integer position in the type signature (in and out)
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_signature_next (const char       *type_str,
+                          int              *type_pos)
+{
+  const unsigned char *p;
+  const unsigned char *start;
+
+  _dbus_assert (type_str != NULL);
+  _dbus_assert (type_pos != NULL);
+  
+  start = type_str;
+  p = start + *type_pos;
+
+  _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR);
+  _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_END_CHAR);
+  
+  while (*p == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
+    ++p;
 
-  if (_dbus_string_get_byte (type_str, *type_pos) == DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR)
+  _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR);
+  _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_END_CHAR);
+  
+  if (*p == DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR)
+    {
+      int depth;
+
+      depth = 1;
+
+      while (TRUE)
+        {
+          _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+
+          ++p;
+
+          _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+
+          if (*p == DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR)
+            depth += 1;
+          else if (*p == DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR)
+            {
+              depth -= 1;
+              if (depth == 0)
+                {
+                  ++p;
+                  break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+  else if (*p == DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_BEGIN_CHAR)
     {
       int depth;
+
       depth = 1;
-      *type_pos += 1;
-      while (depth > 0)
+
+      while (TRUE)
         {
-          switch (_dbus_string_get_byte (type_str, *type_pos))
+          _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+
+          ++p;
+
+          _dbus_assert (*p != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+
+          if (*p == DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_BEGIN_CHAR)
+            depth += 1;
+          else if (*p == DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_END_CHAR)
             {
-            case DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR:
-              depth += 1;
-              break;
-            case DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR:
               depth -= 1;
-              break;
-            case DBUS_TYPE_INVALID:
-              _dbus_assert_not_reached ("unbalanced parens in signature");
-              break;
+              if (depth == 0)
+                {
+                  ++p;
+                  break;
+                }
             }
-          *type_pos += 1;
         }
     }
   else
-    *type_pos += 1;
+    {
+      ++p;
+    }
+
+  *type_pos = (int) (p - start);
+}
+
+static int
+find_len_of_complete_type (const DBusString *type_str,
+                           int               type_pos)
+{
+  int end;
+
+  end = type_pos;
+
+  skip_one_complete_type (type_str, &end);
+
+  return end - type_pos;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -322,20 +439,28 @@ base_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
 {
   switch (current_type)
     {
+    case DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY:
     case DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT:
     case DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT:
       /* Scan forward over the entire container contents */
       {
         DBusTypeReader sub;
 
-        /* Recurse into the struct or variant */
-        _dbus_type_reader_recurse (reader, &sub);
-
-        /* Skip everything in this subreader */
-        while (_dbus_type_reader_next (&sub))
+        if (reader->klass->types_only && current_type == DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT)
+          ;
+        else
           {
-            /* nothing */;
+            /* Recurse into the struct or variant */
+            _dbus_type_reader_recurse (reader, &sub);
+
+            /* Skip everything in this subreader */
+            while (_dbus_type_reader_next (&sub))
+              {
+                /* nothing */;
+              }
           }
+        if (!reader->klass->types_only)
+          reader->value_pos = sub.value_pos;
 
         /* Now we are at the end of this container; for variants, the
          * subreader's type_pos is totally inapplicable (it's in the
@@ -346,18 +471,16 @@ base_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
           reader->type_pos += 1;
         else
           reader->type_pos = sub.type_pos;
-
-        if (!reader->klass->types_only)
-          reader->value_pos = sub.value_pos;
       }
       break;
 
     case DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY:
       {
         if (!reader->klass->types_only)
-          _dbus_marshal_skip_array (reader->value_str, reader->byte_order,
-                                    first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
-                                                             reader->type_pos + 1),
+          _dbus_marshal_skip_array (reader->value_str,
+                                    _dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
+                                                                   reader->type_pos + 1),
+                                    reader->byte_order,
                                     &reader->value_pos);
 
         skip_one_complete_type (reader->type_str, &reader->type_pos);
@@ -366,9 +489,9 @@ base_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
 
     default:
       if (!reader->klass->types_only)
-        _dbus_marshal_skip_basic_type (reader->value_str,
-                                       current_type, reader->byte_order,
-                                       &reader->value_pos);
+        _dbus_marshal_skip_basic (reader->value_str,
+                                  current_type, reader->byte_order,
+                                  &reader->value_pos);
 
       reader->type_pos += 1;
       break;
@@ -397,6 +520,27 @@ struct_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
 }
 
 static void
+dict_entry_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
+                        int             current_type)
+{
+  int t;
+
+  base_reader_next (reader, current_type);
+
+  /* for STRUCT containers we return FALSE at the end of the struct,
+   * for INVALID we return FALSE at the end of the signature.
+   * In both cases we arrange for get_current_type() to return INVALID
+   * which is defined to happen iff we're at the end (no more next())
+   */
+  t = _dbus_string_get_byte (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos);
+  if (t == DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_END_CHAR)
+    {
+      reader->type_pos += 1;
+      reader->finished = TRUE;
+    }
+}
+
+static void
 array_types_only_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
                               int             current_type)
 {
@@ -417,12 +561,21 @@ array_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
 
   end_pos = reader->u.array.start_pos + array_reader_get_array_len (reader);
 
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  reader %p array next START start_pos = %d end_pos = %d value_pos = %d current_type = %s\n",
+                 reader,
+                 reader->u.array.start_pos,
+                 end_pos, reader->value_pos,
+                 _dbus_type_to_string (current_type));
+#endif
+
   _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos < end_pos);
   _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos >= reader->u.array.start_pos);
 
-  switch (first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
-                                   reader->type_pos))
+  switch (_dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
+                                         reader->type_pos))
     {
+    case DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY:
     case DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT:
     case DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT:
       {
@@ -444,22 +597,31 @@ array_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
 
     case DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY:
       {
-        _dbus_marshal_skip_array (reader->value_str, reader->byte_order,
-                                  first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
+        _dbus_marshal_skip_array (reader->value_str,
+                                  _dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
                                                            reader->type_pos + 1),
+                                  reader->byte_order,
                                   &reader->value_pos);
       }
       break;
 
     default:
       {
-        _dbus_marshal_skip_basic_type (reader->value_str,
-                                       current_type, reader->byte_order,
-                                       &reader->value_pos);
+        _dbus_marshal_skip_basic (reader->value_str,
+                                  current_type, reader->byte_order,
+                                  &reader->value_pos);
       }
       break;
     }
 
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  reader %p array next END start_pos = %d end_pos = %d value_pos = %d current_type = %s\n",
+                 reader,
+                 reader->u.array.start_pos,
+                 end_pos, reader->value_pos,
+                 _dbus_type_to_string (current_type));
+#endif
+
   _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos <= end_pos);
 
   if (reader->value_pos == end_pos)
@@ -469,91 +631,103 @@ array_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader,
     }
 }
 
-static void
-array_init_from_mark (DBusTypeReader     *reader,
-                      const DBusTypeMark *mark)
-{
-  /* Fill in the array-specific fields from the mark. The general
-   * fields are already filled in.
-   */
-  reader->u.array.start_pos = mark->array_start_pos;
-  reader->array_len_offset = mark->array_len_offset;
-}
-
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass body_reader_class = {
   "body", 0,
   FALSE,
   NULL, /* body is always toplevel, so doesn't get recursed into */
-  base_reader_get_current_type,
-  base_reader_next,
-  NULL
+  NULL,
+  base_reader_next
 };
 
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass body_types_only_reader_class = {
   "body types", 1,
   TRUE,
   NULL, /* body is always toplevel, so doesn't get recursed into */
-  base_reader_get_current_type,
-  base_reader_next,
-  NULL
+  NULL,
+  base_reader_next
 };
 
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass struct_reader_class = {
   "struct", 2,
   FALSE,
-  struct_reader_recurse,
-  struct_reader_get_current_type,
-  struct_reader_next,
-  NULL
+  struct_or_dict_entry_reader_recurse,
+  NULL,
+  struct_reader_next
 };
 
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass struct_types_only_reader_class = {
   "struct types", 3,
   TRUE,
-  struct_types_only_reader_recurse,
-  struct_reader_get_current_type,
-  struct_reader_next,
-  NULL
+  struct_or_dict_entry_types_only_reader_recurse,
+  NULL,
+  struct_reader_next
+};
+
+static const DBusTypeReaderClass dict_entry_reader_class = {
+  "dict_entry", 4,
+  FALSE,
+  struct_or_dict_entry_reader_recurse,
+  NULL,
+  dict_entry_reader_next
+};
+
+static const DBusTypeReaderClass dict_entry_types_only_reader_class = {
+  "dict_entry types", 5,
+  TRUE,
+  struct_or_dict_entry_types_only_reader_recurse,
+  NULL,
+  dict_entry_reader_next
 };
 
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass array_reader_class = {
-  "array", 4,
+  "array", 6,
   FALSE,
   array_reader_recurse,
-  array_reader_get_current_type,
-  array_reader_next,
-  array_init_from_mark
+  array_reader_check_finished,
+  array_reader_next
 };
 
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass array_types_only_reader_class = {
-  "array types", 5,
+  "array types", 7,
   TRUE,
   array_types_only_reader_recurse,
-  array_types_only_reader_get_current_type,
-  array_types_only_reader_next,
-  NULL
+  NULL,
+  array_types_only_reader_next
 };
 
 static const DBusTypeReaderClass variant_reader_class = {
-  "variant", 6,
+  "variant", 8,
   FALSE,
   variant_reader_recurse,
-  base_reader_get_current_type,
-  base_reader_next,
-  NULL
+  NULL,
+  base_reader_next
 };
 
-static const DBusTypeReaderClass const *
+#ifndef DBUS_DISABLE_ASSERT
+static const DBusTypeReaderClass * const
 all_reader_classes[] = {
   &body_reader_class,
   &body_types_only_reader_class,
   &struct_reader_class,
   &struct_types_only_reader_class,
+  &dict_entry_reader_class,
+  &dict_entry_types_only_reader_class,
   &array_reader_class,
   &array_types_only_reader_class,
   &variant_reader_class
 };
+#endif
 
+/**
+ * Initializes a type reader.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ * @param byte_order the byte order of the block to read
+ * @param type_str the signature of the block to read
+ * @param type_pos location of signature
+ * @param value_str the string containing values block
+ * @param value_pos start of values block
+ */
 void
 _dbus_type_reader_init (DBusTypeReader    *reader,
                         int                byte_order,
@@ -567,37 +741,21 @@ _dbus_type_reader_init (DBusTypeReader    *reader,
   reader_init (reader, byte_order, type_str, type_pos,
                value_str, value_pos);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p init type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
                  reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0));
 #endif
 }
 
-void
-_dbus_type_reader_init_from_mark (DBusTypeReader     *reader,
-                                  int                 byte_order,
-                                  const DBusString   *type_str,
-                                  const DBusString   *value_str,
-                                  const DBusTypeMark *mark)
-{
-  reader->klass = all_reader_classes[mark->container_type];
-
-  reader_init (reader, byte_order,
-               mark->type_pos_in_value_str ? value_str : type_str,
-               mark->type_pos,
-               value_str, mark->value_pos);
-
-  if (reader->klass->init_from_mark)
-    (* reader->klass->init_from_mark) (reader, mark);
-  
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p init from mark type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
-                 reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0));
-#endif
-}
-
+/**
+ * Like _dbus_type_reader_init() but the iteration is over the
+ * signature, not over values.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ * @param type_str the signature string
+ * @param type_pos location in the signature string
+ */
 void
 _dbus_type_reader_init_types_only (DBusTypeReader    *reader,
                                    const DBusString  *type_str,
@@ -608,62 +766,39 @@ _dbus_type_reader_init_types_only (DBusTypeReader    *reader,
   reader_init (reader, DBUS_COMPILER_BYTE_ORDER /* irrelevant */,
                type_str, type_pos, NULL, _DBUS_INT_MAX /* crashes if we screw up */);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p init types only type_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
                  reader, reader->type_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0));
 #endif
 }
 
-void
-_dbus_type_reader_init_types_only_from_mark (DBusTypeReader     *reader,
-                                             const DBusString   *type_str,
-                                             const DBusTypeMark *mark)
-{
-  reader->klass = all_reader_classes[mark->container_type];
-  _dbus_assert (reader->klass->types_only);
-  _dbus_assert (!mark->type_pos_in_value_str);
-
-  reader_init (reader, DBUS_COMPILER_BYTE_ORDER, /* irrelevant */
-               type_str, mark->type_pos,
-               NULL, _DBUS_INT_MAX /* crashes if we screw up */);
-
-  if (reader->klass->init_from_mark)
-    (* reader->klass->init_from_mark) (reader, mark);
-  
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p init types only from mark type_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
-                 reader, reader->type_pos,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0));
-#endif
-}
-
-void
-_dbus_type_reader_save_mark (const DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                             DBusTypeMark         *mark)
-{
-  mark->type_pos_in_value_str = (reader->type_str == reader->value_str);
-  mark->container_type = reader->klass->id;
-  _dbus_assert (all_reader_classes[reader->klass->id] == reader->klass);
-
-  mark->type_pos = reader->type_pos;
-  mark->value_pos = reader->value_pos;
-
-  /* these are just junk if the reader isn't really an array of course */
-  mark->array_len_offset = reader->array_len_offset;
-  mark->array_start_pos = reader->u.array.start_pos;
-}
-
+/**
+ * Gets the type of the value the reader is currently pointing to;
+ * or for a types-only reader gets the type it's currently pointing to.
+ * If the reader is at the end of a block or end of a container such
+ * as an array, returns #DBUS_TYPE_INVALID.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ */
 int
 _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
 {
   int t;
 
-  t = (* reader->klass->get_current_type) (reader);
+  if (reader->finished ||
+      (reader->klass->check_finished &&
+       (* reader->klass->check_finished) (reader)))
+    t = DBUS_TYPE_INVALID;
+  else
+    t = _dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
+                                       reader->type_pos);
 
   _dbus_assert (t != DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR);
   _dbus_assert (t != DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR);
-
+  _dbus_assert (t != DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_END_CHAR);
+  _dbus_assert (t != DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_BEGIN_CHAR);
+  
 #if 0
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p current type_pos = %d type = %s\n",
                  reader, reader->type_pos,
@@ -673,32 +808,63 @@ _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
   return t;
 }
 
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_reader_array_is_empty (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
+/**
+ * Gets the type of an element of the array the reader is currently
+ * pointing to. It's an error to call this if
+ * _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type() doesn't return #DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY
+ * for this reader.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ */
+int
+_dbus_type_reader_get_element_type (const DBusTypeReader  *reader)
 {
-  dbus_uint32_t array_len;
+  int element_type;
 
   _dbus_assert (_dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (reader) == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY);
-  _dbus_assert (!reader->klass->types_only);
 
-  /* reader is supposed to be at an array child */
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-   _dbus_verbose ("checking array len at %d\n", reader->value_pos);
-#endif
+  element_type = _dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
+                                          reader->type_pos + 1);
 
-  _dbus_demarshal_basic_type (reader->value_str,
-                              DBUS_TYPE_UINT32,
-                              &array_len,
-                              reader->byte_order,
-                              reader->value_pos,
-                              NULL);
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose (" ... array len = %d\n", array_len);
-#endif
+  return element_type;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Gets the current position in the value block
+ * @param reader the reader
+ */
+int
+_dbus_type_reader_get_value_pos (const DBusTypeReader  *reader)
+{
+  return reader->value_pos;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the address of the marshaled value in the data being read.  The
+ * address may not be aligned; you have to align it to the type of the
+ * value you want to read. Most of the demarshal routines do this for
+ * you.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ * @param value_location the address of the marshaled value
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_reader_read_raw (const DBusTypeReader  *reader,
+                            const unsigned char  **value_location)
+{
+  _dbus_assert (!reader->klass->types_only);
 
-  return array_len == 0;
+  *value_location = _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->value_str,
+                                                     reader->value_pos,
+                                                     0);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reads a basic-typed value, as with _dbus_marshal_read_basic().
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ * @param value the address of the value
+ */
 void
 _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (const DBusTypeReader    *reader,
                               void                    *value)
@@ -709,27 +875,101 @@ _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (const DBusTypeReader    *reader,
 
   t = _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (reader);
 
-  _dbus_demarshal_basic_type (reader->value_str,
-                              t, value,
-                              reader->byte_order,
-                              reader->value_pos, NULL);
+  _dbus_marshal_read_basic (reader->value_str,
+                            reader->value_pos,
+                            t, value,
+                            reader->byte_order,
+                            NULL);
 
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p read basic type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
                  reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0));
 #endif
 }
 
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_reader_read_array_of_basic (const DBusTypeReader    *reader,
-                                       int                      type,
-                                       void                   **array,
-                                       int                     *array_len)
+/**
+ * Returns the number of bytes in the array.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader to read from
+ * @returns the number of bytes in the array
+ */
+int
+_dbus_type_reader_get_array_length (const DBusTypeReader  *reader)
+{
+  _dbus_assert (!reader->klass->types_only);
+  _dbus_assert (reader->klass == &array_reader_class);
+
+  return array_reader_get_array_len (reader);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reads a block of fixed-length basic values, from the current point
+ * in an array to the end of the array.  Does not work for arrays of
+ * string or container types.
+ *
+ * This function returns the array in-place; it does not make a copy,
+ * and it does not swap the bytes.
+ *
+ * If you ask for #DBUS_TYPE_DOUBLE you will get a "const double*" back
+ * and the "value" argument should be a "const double**" and so on.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader to read from
+ * @param value place to return the array values
+ * @param n_elements place to return number of array elements
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_reader_read_fixed_multi (const DBusTypeReader  *reader,
+                                    void                  *value,
+                                    int                   *n_elements)
 {
+  int element_type;
+  int end_pos;
+  int remaining_len;
+  int alignment;
+  int total_len;
+
   _dbus_assert (!reader->klass->types_only);
+  _dbus_assert (reader->klass == &array_reader_class);
+
+  element_type = _dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str,
+                                                reader->type_pos);
+
+  _dbus_assert (element_type != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID); /* why we don't use get_current_type() */
+  _dbus_assert (dbus_type_is_fixed (element_type));
+
+  alignment = _dbus_type_get_alignment (element_type);
+
+  _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos >= reader->u.array.start_pos);
+
+  total_len = array_reader_get_array_len (reader);
+  end_pos = reader->u.array.start_pos + total_len;
+  remaining_len = end_pos - reader->value_pos;
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("end_pos %d total_len %d remaining_len %d value_pos %d\n",
+                 end_pos, total_len, remaining_len, reader->value_pos);
+#endif
+
+  _dbus_assert (remaining_len <= total_len);
 
+  if (remaining_len == 0)
+    *(const DBusBasicValue**) value = NULL;
+  else
+    *(const DBusBasicValue**) value =
+      (void*) _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->value_str,
+                                               reader->value_pos,
+                                               remaining_len);
+
+  *n_elements = remaining_len / alignment;
+  _dbus_assert ((remaining_len % alignment) == 0);
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p read fixed array type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
+                 reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
+                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0));
+#endif
 }
 
 /**
@@ -750,7 +990,7 @@ _dbus_type_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *reader,
 {
   int t;
 
-  t = first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos);
+  t = _dbus_first_type_in_signature (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos);
 
   switch (t)
     {
@@ -760,6 +1000,12 @@ _dbus_type_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *reader,
       else
         sub->klass = &struct_reader_class;
       break;
+    case DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY:
+      if (reader->klass->types_only)
+        sub->klass = &dict_entry_types_only_reader_class;
+      else
+        sub->klass = &dict_entry_reader_class;
+      break;
     case DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY:
       if (reader->klass->types_only)
         sub->klass = &array_types_only_reader_class;
@@ -776,17 +1022,17 @@ _dbus_type_reader_recurse (DBusTypeReader *reader,
       _dbus_verbose ("recursing into type %s\n", _dbus_type_to_string (t));
 #ifndef DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS
       if (t == DBUS_TYPE_INVALID)
-        _dbus_warn ("You can't recurse into an empty array or off the end of a message body\n");
+        _dbus_warn_check_failed ("You can't recurse into an empty array or off the end of a message body\n");
 #endif /* DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS */
 
       _dbus_assert_not_reached ("don't yet handle recursing into this type");
     }
 
   _dbus_assert (sub->klass == all_reader_classes[sub->klass->id]);
-  
+
   (* sub->klass->recurse) (sub, reader);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p RECURSED type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
                  sub, sub->type_pos, sub->value_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (sub->type_str, sub->type_pos, 0));
@@ -808,7 +1054,7 @@ _dbus_type_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader)
 
   t = _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (reader);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p START next() { type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s' current_type = %s\n",
                  reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0),
@@ -820,7 +1066,7 @@ _dbus_type_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader)
 
   (* reader->klass->next) (reader, t);
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_READ_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type reader %p END next() type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s' current_type = %s\n",
                  reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0),
@@ -835,6 +1081,9 @@ _dbus_type_reader_next (DBusTypeReader *reader)
  * field in a struct, the next value in an array. Returns FALSE at the
  * end of the current container.
  *
+ * You probably don't want to use this; it makes for an awkward for/while
+ * loop. A nicer one is "while ((current_type = get_current_type()) != INVALID)"
+ *
  * @param reader the reader
  * @returns FALSE if nothing more to read at or below this level
  */
@@ -848,6 +1097,366 @@ _dbus_type_reader_has_next (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
   return _dbus_type_reader_next (&copy);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Gets the string and range of said string containing the signature
+ * of the current value. Essentially a more complete version of
+ * _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type() (returns the full type
+ * rather than only the outside of the onion).
+ *
+ * Note though that the first byte in a struct signature is
+ * #DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR while the current type will be
+ * #DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT so it isn't true that the first byte of the
+ * signature is always the same as the current type. Another
+ * difference is that this function will still return a signature when
+ * inside an empty array; say you recurse into empty array of int32,
+ * the signature is "i" but the current type will always be
+ * #DBUS_TYPE_INVALID since there are no elements to be currently
+ * pointing to.
+ *
+ * @param reader the reader
+ * @param str_p place to return the string with the type in it
+ * @param start_p place to return start of the type
+ * @param len_p place to return the length of the type
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_reader_get_signature (const DBusTypeReader  *reader,
+                                 const DBusString     **str_p,
+                                 int                   *start_p,
+                                 int                   *len_p)
+{
+  *str_p = reader->type_str;
+  *start_p = reader->type_pos;
+  *len_p = find_len_of_complete_type (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos);
+}
+
+typedef struct
+{
+  DBusString replacement; /**< Marshaled value including alignment padding */
+  int padding;            /**< How much of the replacement block is padding */
+} ReplacementBlock;
+
+static dbus_bool_t
+replacement_block_init (ReplacementBlock *block,
+                        DBusTypeReader   *reader)
+{
+  if (!_dbus_string_init (&block->replacement))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  /* % 8 is the padding to have the same align properties in
+   * our replacement string as we do at the position being replaced
+   */
+  block->padding = reader->value_pos % 8;
+
+  if (!_dbus_string_lengthen (&block->replacement, block->padding))
+    goto oom;
+
+  return TRUE;
+
+ oom:
+  _dbus_string_free (&block->replacement);
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
+static dbus_bool_t
+replacement_block_replace (ReplacementBlock     *block,
+                           DBusTypeReader       *reader,
+                           const DBusTypeReader *realign_root)
+{
+  DBusTypeWriter writer;
+  DBusTypeReader realign_reader;
+  DBusList *fixups;
+  int orig_len;
+
+  _dbus_assert (realign_root != NULL);
+
+  orig_len = _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement);
+
+  realign_reader = *realign_root;
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("INITIALIZING replacement block writer %p at value_pos %d\n",
+                 &writer, _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement));
+#endif
+  _dbus_type_writer_init_values_only (&writer,
+                                      realign_reader.byte_order,
+                                      realign_reader.type_str,
+                                      realign_reader.type_pos,
+                                      &block->replacement,
+                                      _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement));
+
+  _dbus_assert (realign_reader.value_pos <= reader->value_pos);
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("COPYING from reader at value_pos %d to writer %p starting after value_pos %d\n",
+                 realign_reader.value_pos, &writer, reader->value_pos);
+#endif
+  fixups = NULL;
+  if (!_dbus_type_writer_write_reader_partial (&writer,
+                                               &realign_reader,
+                                               reader,
+                                               block->padding,
+                                               _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement) - block->padding,
+                                               &fixups))
+    goto oom;
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("REPLACEMENT at padding %d len %d\n", block->padding,
+                 _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement) - block->padding);
+  _dbus_verbose_bytes_of_string (&block->replacement, block->padding,
+                                 _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement) - block->padding);
+  _dbus_verbose ("TO BE REPLACED at value_pos = %d (align pad %d) len %d realign_reader.value_pos %d\n",
+                 reader->value_pos, reader->value_pos % 8,
+                 realign_reader.value_pos - reader->value_pos,
+                 realign_reader.value_pos);
+  _dbus_verbose_bytes_of_string (reader->value_str,
+                                 reader->value_pos,
+                                 realign_reader.value_pos - reader->value_pos);
+#endif
+
+  /* Move the replacement into position
+   * (realign_reader should now be at the end of the block to be replaced)
+   */
+  if (!_dbus_string_replace_len (&block->replacement, block->padding,
+                                 _dbus_string_get_length (&block->replacement) - block->padding,
+                                 (DBusString*) reader->value_str,
+                                 reader->value_pos,
+                                 realign_reader.value_pos - reader->value_pos))
+    goto oom;
+
+  /* Process our fixups now that we can't have an OOM error */
+  apply_and_free_fixups (&fixups, reader);
+
+  return TRUE;
+
+ oom:
+  _dbus_string_set_length (&block->replacement, orig_len);
+  free_fixups (&fixups);
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
+static void
+replacement_block_free (ReplacementBlock *block)
+{
+  _dbus_string_free (&block->replacement);
+}
+
+/* In the variable-length case, we have to fix alignment after we insert.
+ * The strategy is as follows:
+ *
+ *  - pad a new string to have the same alignment as the
+ *    start of the current basic value
+ *  - write the new basic value
+ *  - copy from the original reader to the new string,
+ *    which will fix the alignment of types following
+ *    the new value
+ *    - this copy has to start at realign_root,
+ *      but not really write anything until it
+ *      passes the value being set
+ *    - as an optimization, we can stop copying
+ *      when the source and dest values are both
+ *      on an 8-boundary, since we know all following
+ *      padding and alignment will be identical
+ *  - copy the new string back to the original
+ *    string, replacing the relevant part of the
+ *    original string
+ *  - now any arrays in the original string that
+ *    contained the replaced string may have the
+ *    wrong length; so we have to fix that
+ */
+static dbus_bool_t
+reader_set_basic_variable_length (DBusTypeReader       *reader,
+                                  int                   current_type,
+                                  const void           *value,
+                                  const DBusTypeReader *realign_root)
+{
+  dbus_bool_t retval;
+  ReplacementBlock block;
+  DBusTypeWriter writer;
+
+  _dbus_assert (realign_root != NULL);
+
+  retval = FALSE;
+
+  if (!replacement_block_init (&block, reader))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  /* Write the new basic value */
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("INITIALIZING writer %p to write basic value at value_pos %d of replacement string\n",
+                 &writer, _dbus_string_get_length (&block.replacement));
+#endif
+  _dbus_type_writer_init_values_only (&writer,
+                                      reader->byte_order,
+                                      reader->type_str,
+                                      reader->type_pos,
+                                      &block.replacement,
+                                      _dbus_string_get_length (&block.replacement));
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("WRITING basic value to writer %p (replacement string)\n", &writer);
+#endif
+  if (!_dbus_type_writer_write_basic (&writer, current_type, value))
+    goto out;
+
+  if (!replacement_block_replace (&block,
+                                  reader,
+                                  realign_root))
+    goto out;
+
+  retval = TRUE;
+
+ out:
+  replacement_block_free (&block);
+  return retval;
+}
+
+static void
+reader_set_basic_fixed_length (DBusTypeReader *reader,
+                               int             current_type,
+                               const void     *value)
+{
+  _dbus_marshal_set_basic ((DBusString*) reader->value_str,
+                           reader->value_pos,
+                           current_type,
+                           value,
+                           reader->byte_order,
+                           NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Sets a new value for the basic type value pointed to by the reader,
+ * leaving the reader valid to continue reading. Any other readers
+ * will be invalidated if you set a variable-length type such as a
+ * string.
+ *
+ * The provided realign_root is the reader to start from when
+ * realigning the data that follows the newly-set value. The reader
+ * parameter must point to a value below the realign_root parameter.
+ * If the type being set is fixed-length, then realign_root may be
+ * #NULL. Only values reachable from realign_root will be realigned,
+ * so if your string contains other values you will need to deal with
+ * those somehow yourself. It is OK if realign_root is the same
+ * reader as the reader parameter, though if you aren't setting the
+ * root it may not be such a good idea.
+ *
+ * @todo DBusTypeReader currently takes "const" versions of the type
+ * and value strings, and this function modifies those strings by
+ * casting away the const, which is of course bad if we want to get
+ * picky. (To be truly clean you'd have an object which contained the
+ * type and value strings and set_basic would be a method on that
+ * object... this would also make DBusTypeReader the same thing as
+ * DBusTypeMark. But since DBusMessage is effectively that object for
+ * D-Bus it doesn't seem worth creating some random object.)
+ *
+ * @todo optimize this by only rewriting until the old and new values
+ * are at the same alignment. Frequently this should result in only
+ * replacing the value that's immediately at hand.
+ *
+ * @param reader reader indicating where to set a new value
+ * @param value address of the value to set
+ * @param realign_root realign from here
+ * @returns #FALSE if not enough memory
+ */
+dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_reader_set_basic (DBusTypeReader       *reader,
+                             const void           *value,
+                             const DBusTypeReader *realign_root)
+{
+  int current_type;
+
+  _dbus_assert (!reader->klass->types_only);
+  _dbus_assert (reader->value_str == realign_root->value_str);
+  _dbus_assert (reader->value_pos >= realign_root->value_pos);
+
+  current_type = _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (reader);
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  SET BASIC type reader %p type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s' realign_root = %p with value_pos %d current_type = %s\n",
+                 reader, reader->type_pos, reader->value_pos,
+                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->type_str, reader->type_pos, 0),
+                 realign_root,
+                 realign_root ? realign_root->value_pos : -1,
+                 _dbus_type_to_string (current_type));
+  _dbus_verbose_bytes_of_string (realign_root->value_str, realign_root->value_pos,
+                                 _dbus_string_get_length (realign_root->value_str) -
+                                 realign_root->value_pos);
+#endif
+
+  _dbus_assert (dbus_type_is_basic (current_type));
+
+  if (dbus_type_is_fixed (current_type))
+    {
+      reader_set_basic_fixed_length (reader, current_type, value);
+      return TRUE;
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      _dbus_assert (realign_root != NULL);
+      return reader_set_basic_variable_length (reader, current_type,
+                                               value, realign_root);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Recursively deletes any value pointed to by the reader, leaving the
+ * reader valid to continue reading. Any other readers will be
+ * invalidated.
+ *
+ * The provided realign_root is the reader to start from when
+ * realigning the data that follows the newly-set value.
+ * See _dbus_type_reader_set_basic() for more details on the
+ * realign_root paramter.
+ *
+ * @todo for now this does not delete the typecodes associated with
+ * the value, so this function should only be used for array elements.
+ *
+ * @param reader reader indicating where to delete a value
+ * @param realign_root realign from here
+ * @returns #FALSE if not enough memory
+ */
+dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_reader_delete (DBusTypeReader        *reader,
+                          const DBusTypeReader  *realign_root)
+{
+  dbus_bool_t retval;
+  ReplacementBlock block;
+
+  _dbus_assert (realign_root != NULL);
+  _dbus_assert (reader->klass == &array_reader_class);
+
+  retval = FALSE;
+
+  if (!replacement_block_init (&block, reader))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  if (!replacement_block_replace (&block,
+                                  reader,
+                                  realign_root))
+    goto out;
+
+  retval = TRUE;
+
+ out:
+  replacement_block_free (&block);
+  return retval;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Compares two readers, which must be iterating over the same value data.
+ * Returns #TRUE if the first parameter is further along than the second parameter.
+ *
+ * @param lhs left-hand-side (first) parameter
+ * @param rhs left-hand-side (first) parameter
+ * @returns whether lhs is greater than rhs
+ */
+static dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_reader_greater_than (const DBusTypeReader  *lhs,
+                                const DBusTypeReader  *rhs)
+{
+  _dbus_assert (lhs->value_str == rhs->value_str);
+
+  return lhs->value_pos > rhs->value_pos;
+}
+
 /*
  *
  *
@@ -859,8 +1468,7 @@ _dbus_type_reader_has_next (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
 
 /**
  * Initialize a write iterator, which is used to write out values in
- * serialized D-BUS format. #DBusTypeWriter is a value iterator; it
- * writes out values. You can't use it to write out only types.
+ * serialized D-Bus format.
  *
  * The type_pos passed in is expected to be inside an already-valid,
  * though potentially empty, type signature. This means that the byte
@@ -876,7 +1484,7 @@ _dbus_type_reader_has_next (const DBusTypeReader *reader)
  * @param type_pos where to insert typecodes
  * @param value_str the string to write values into
  * @param value_pos where to insert values
- * 
+ *
  */
 void
 _dbus_type_writer_init (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
@@ -893,24 +1501,111 @@ _dbus_type_writer_init (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
   writer->value_pos = value_pos;
   writer->container_type = DBUS_TYPE_INVALID;
   writer->type_pos_is_expectation = FALSE;
+  writer->enabled = TRUE;
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("writer %p init remaining sig '%s'\n", writer,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0));
+                 writer->type_str ?
+                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0) :
+                 "unknown");
 #endif
 }
 
+/**
+ * Initialize a write iterator, with the signature to be provided
+ * later.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer to init
+ * @param byte_order the byte order to marshal into
+ * @param value_str the string to write values into
+ * @param value_pos where to insert values
+ *
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_writer_init_types_delayed (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
+                                      int             byte_order,
+                                      DBusString     *value_str,
+                                      int             value_pos)
+{
+  _dbus_type_writer_init (writer, byte_order,
+                          NULL, 0, value_str, value_pos);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Adds type string to the writer, if it had none.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer to init
+ * @param type_str type string to add
+ * @param type_pos type position
+ *
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_writer_add_types (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
+                             DBusString     *type_str,
+                             int             type_pos)
+{
+  if (writer->type_str == NULL) /* keeps us from using this as setter */
+    {
+      writer->type_str = type_str;
+      writer->type_pos = type_pos;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Removes type string from the writer.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer to remove from
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_writer_remove_types (DBusTypeWriter *writer)
+{
+  writer->type_str = NULL;
+  writer->type_pos = -1;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Like _dbus_type_writer_init(), except the type string
+ * passed in should correspond to an existing signature that
+ * matches what you're going to write out. The writer will
+ * check what you write vs. this existing signature.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer to init
+ * @param byte_order the byte order to marshal into
+ * @param type_str the string with signature
+ * @param type_pos start of signature
+ * @param value_str the string to write values into
+ * @param value_pos where to insert values
+ *
+ */
+void
+_dbus_type_writer_init_values_only (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                                    int               byte_order,
+                                    const DBusString *type_str,
+                                    int               type_pos,
+                                    DBusString       *value_str,
+                                    int               value_pos)
+{
+  _dbus_type_writer_init (writer, byte_order,
+                          (DBusString*)type_str, type_pos,
+                          value_str, value_pos);
+
+  writer->type_pos_is_expectation = TRUE;
+}
+
 static dbus_bool_t
 _dbus_type_writer_write_basic_no_typecode (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
                                            int             type,
                                            const void     *value)
 {
-  return _dbus_marshal_basic_type (writer->value_str,
-                                   writer->value_pos,
-                                   type,
-                                   value,
-                                   writer->byte_order,
-                                   &writer->value_pos);
+  if (writer->enabled)
+    return _dbus_marshal_write_basic (writer->value_str,
+                                      writer->value_pos,
+                                      type,
+                                      value,
+                                      writer->byte_order,
+                                      &writer->value_pos);
+  else
+    return TRUE;
 }
 
 /* If our parent is an array, things are a little bit complicated.
@@ -954,34 +1649,49 @@ writer_recurse_init_and_check (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
   else
     sub->type_pos_is_expectation = FALSE;
 
+  sub->enabled = writer->enabled;
+
 #ifndef DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS
-  if (writer->type_pos_is_expectation)
+  if (writer->type_pos_is_expectation && writer->type_str)
     {
       int expected;
 
-      expected = first_type_in_signature (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos);
+      expected = _dbus_first_type_in_signature (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos);
 
       if (expected != sub->container_type)
         {
-          _dbus_warn ("Writing an element of type %s, but the expected type here is %s\n",
-                      _dbus_type_to_string (sub->container_type),
-                      _dbus_type_to_string (expected));
+          if (expected != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID)
+            _dbus_warn_check_failed ("Writing an element of type %s, but the expected type here is %s\n"
+                                     "The overall signature expected here was '%s' and we are on byte %d of that signature.\n",
+                                     _dbus_type_to_string (sub->container_type),
+                                     _dbus_type_to_string (expected),
+                                     _dbus_string_get_const_data (writer->type_str), writer->type_pos);
+          else
+            _dbus_warn_check_failed ("Writing an element of type %s, but no value is expected here\n"
+                                     "The overall signature expected here was '%s' and we are on byte %d of that signature.\n",
+                                     _dbus_type_to_string (sub->container_type),
+                                     _dbus_string_get_const_data (writer->type_str), writer->type_pos);
+          
           _dbus_assert_not_reached ("bad array element or variant content written");
         }
     }
 #endif /* DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS */
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p recurse parent %s type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p recurse parent %s type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d remaining sig '%s' enabled = %d\n",
                  writer,
                  _dbus_type_to_string (writer->container_type),
                  writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos, writer->type_pos_is_expectation,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0));
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p recurse sub %s   type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d\n",
+                 writer->type_str ?
+                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0) :
+                 "unknown",
+                 writer->enabled);
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p recurse sub %s   type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d enabled = %d\n",
                  sub,
                  _dbus_type_to_string (sub->container_type),
                  sub->type_pos, sub->value_pos,
-                 sub->type_pos_is_expectation);
+                 sub->type_pos_is_expectation,
+                 sub->enabled);
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -994,12 +1704,18 @@ write_or_verify_typecode (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
    * or variant has type_pos pointing to the next place to insert a
    * typecode.
    */
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p write_or_verify start type_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p write_or_verify start type_pos = %d remaining sig '%s' enabled = %d\n",
                  writer, writer->type_pos,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0));
+                 writer->type_str ?
+                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0) :
+                 "unknown",
+                 writer->enabled);
 #endif
 
+  if (writer->type_str == NULL)
+    return TRUE;
+
   if (writer->type_pos_is_expectation)
     {
 #ifndef DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS
@@ -1010,8 +1726,16 @@ write_or_verify_typecode (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
 
         if (expected != typecode)
           {
-            _dbus_warn ("Array or variant type requires that type %s be written, but %s was written\n",
-                        _dbus_type_to_string (expected), _dbus_type_to_string (typecode));
+            if (expected != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID)
+              _dbus_warn_check_failed ("Array or variant type requires that type %s be written, but %s was written.\n"
+                                       "The overall signature expected here was '%s' and we are on byte %d of that signature.\n",
+                                       _dbus_type_to_string (expected), _dbus_type_to_string (typecode),
+                                       _dbus_string_get_const_data (writer->type_str), writer->type_pos);
+            else
+              _dbus_warn_check_failed ("Array or variant type wasn't expecting any more values to be written into it, but a value %s was written.\n"
+                                       "The overall signature expected here was '%s' and we are on byte %d of that signature.\n",
+                                       _dbus_type_to_string (typecode),
+                                       _dbus_string_get_const_data (writer->type_str), writer->type_pos);
             _dbus_assert_not_reached ("bad type inserted somewhere inside an array or variant");
           }
       }
@@ -1034,7 +1758,7 @@ write_or_verify_typecode (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
       writer->type_pos += 1;
     }
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p write_or_verify end type_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
                  writer, writer->type_pos,
                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0));
@@ -1043,79 +1767,97 @@ write_or_verify_typecode (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
   return TRUE;
 }
 
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_writer_recurse_struct (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                  DBusTypeWriter *sub)
-{
-  writer_recurse_init_and_check (writer, DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT, sub);
+static dbus_bool_t
+writer_recurse_struct_or_dict_entry (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                                     int               begin_char,
+                                     const DBusString *contained_type,
+                                     int               contained_type_start,
+                                     int               contained_type_len,
+                                     DBusTypeWriter   *sub)
+{
+  /* FIXME right now contained_type is ignored; we could probably
+   * almost trivially fix the code so if it's present we
+   * write it out and then set type_pos_is_expectation
+   */
 
   /* Ensure that we'll be able to add alignment padding and the typecode */
-  if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->value_str, 8))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->type_str, 1))
-    return FALSE;
+  if (writer->enabled)
+    {
+      if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->value_str, 8))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
 
-  if (!write_or_verify_typecode (sub, DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR))
+  if (!write_or_verify_typecode (sub, begin_char))
     _dbus_assert_not_reached ("failed to insert struct typecode after prealloc");
 
-  if (!_dbus_string_insert_bytes (sub->value_str,
-                                  sub->value_pos,
-                                  _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8) - sub->value_pos,
-                                  '\0'))
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert alignment padding for struct");
-  sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8);
+  if (writer->enabled)
+    {
+      if (!_dbus_string_insert_bytes (sub->value_str,
+                                      sub->value_pos,
+                                      _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8) - sub->value_pos,
+                                      '\0'))
+        _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert alignment padding for struct");
+      sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8);
+    }
 
   return TRUE;
 }
 
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_writer_recurse_array (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                 const char     *element_type,
-                                 DBusTypeWriter *sub)
+
+static dbus_bool_t
+writer_recurse_array (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                      const DBusString *contained_type,
+                      int               contained_type_start,
+                      int               contained_type_len,
+                      DBusTypeWriter   *sub,
+                      dbus_bool_t       is_array_append)
 {
-  int element_type_len;
-  DBusString element_type_str;
   dbus_uint32_t value = 0;
   int alignment;
   int aligned;
-  DBusString str;
-
-  writer_recurse_init_and_check (writer, DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY, sub);
-
-  _dbus_string_init_const (&element_type_str, element_type);
-  element_type_len = _dbus_string_get_length (&element_type_str);
 
 #ifndef DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS
-  if (writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
+  if (writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY &&
+      writer->type_str)
     {
-      if (!_dbus_string_equal_substring (&element_type_str, 0, element_type_len,
-                                         writer->type_str, writer->u.array.element_type_pos + 1))
+      if (!_dbus_string_equal_substring (contained_type,
+                                         contained_type_start,
+                                         contained_type_len,
+                                         writer->type_str,
+                                         writer->u.array.element_type_pos + 1))
         {
-          _dbus_warn ("Writing an array of '%s' but this is incompatible with the expected type of elements in the parent array\n",
-                      element_type);
+          _dbus_warn_check_failed ("Writing an array of '%s' but this is incompatible with the expected type of elements in the parent array\n",
+                                   _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (contained_type,
+                                                                    contained_type_start,
+                                                                    contained_type_len));
           _dbus_assert_not_reached ("incompatible type for child array");
         }
     }
 #endif /* DBUS_DISABLE_CHECKS */
 
-  /* 4 bytes for the array length and 4 bytes possible padding */
-  if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->value_str, 8))
-    return FALSE;
+  if (writer->enabled && !is_array_append)
+    {
+      /* 3 pad + 4 bytes for the array length, and 4 bytes possible padding
+       * before array values
+       */
+      if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->value_str, 3 + 4 + 4))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
 
-  sub->type_pos += 1; /* move to point to the element type, since type_pos
-                       * should be the expected type for further writes
-                       */
-  sub->u.array.element_type_pos = sub->type_pos;
+  if (writer->type_str != NULL)
+    {
+      sub->type_pos += 1; /* move to point to the element type, since type_pos
+                           * should be the expected type for further writes
+                           */
+      sub->u.array.element_type_pos = sub->type_pos;
+    }
 
   if (!writer->type_pos_is_expectation)
     {
       /* sub is a toplevel/outermost array so we need to write the type data */
 
-      /* alloc space for array typecode, element signature, possible 7
-       * bytes of padding
-       */
-      if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (writer->type_str, 1 + element_type_len + 7))
+      /* alloc space for array typecode, element signature */
+      if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (writer->type_str, 1 + contained_type_len))
         return FALSE;
 
       if (!_dbus_string_insert_byte (writer->type_str,
@@ -1123,52 +1865,95 @@ _dbus_type_writer_recurse_array (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
                                      DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY))
         _dbus_assert_not_reached ("failed to insert array typecode after prealloc");
 
-      if (!_dbus_string_copy (&element_type_str, 0,
-                              sub->type_str, sub->u.array.element_type_pos))
+      if (!_dbus_string_copy_len (contained_type,
+                                  contained_type_start, contained_type_len,
+                                  sub->type_str,
+                                  sub->u.array.element_type_pos))
         _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert array element typecodes");
     }
 
-  /* If the parent is an array, we hold type_pos pointing at the array element type;
-   * otherwise advance it to reflect the array value we just recursed into
-   */
-  if (writer->container_type != DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
-    writer->type_pos += 1 + element_type_len;
-  else
-    _dbus_assert (writer->type_pos_is_expectation); /* because it's an array */
+  if (writer->type_str != NULL)
+    {
+      /* If the parent is an array, we hold type_pos pointing at the array element type;
+       * otherwise advance it to reflect the array value we just recursed into
+       */
+      if (writer->container_type != DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
+        writer->type_pos += 1 + contained_type_len;
+      else
+        _dbus_assert (writer->type_pos_is_expectation); /* because it's an array */
+    }
+
+  if (writer->enabled)
+    {
+      /* Write (or jump over, if is_array_append) the length */
+      sub->u.array.len_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 4);
 
-  /* Write the length */
-  sub->u.array.len_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 4);
+      if (is_array_append)
+        {
+          sub->value_pos += 4;
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          if (!_dbus_type_writer_write_basic_no_typecode (sub, DBUS_TYPE_UINT32,
+                                                          &value))
+            _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert array len");
+        }
 
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_write_basic_no_typecode (sub, DBUS_TYPE_UINT32,
-                                                  &value))
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert array len");
+      _dbus_assert (sub->u.array.len_pos == sub->value_pos - 4);
 
-  _dbus_assert (sub->u.array.len_pos == sub->value_pos - 4);
+      /* Write alignment padding for array elements
+       * Note that we write the padding *even for empty arrays*
+       * to avoid wonky special cases
+       */
+      alignment = element_type_get_alignment (contained_type, contained_type_start);
 
-  /* Write alignment padding for array elements */
-  _dbus_string_init_const (&str, element_type);
-  alignment = element_type_get_alignment (&str, 0);
+      aligned = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, alignment);
+      if (aligned != sub->value_pos)
+        {
+          if (!is_array_append)
+            {
+              if (!_dbus_string_insert_bytes (sub->value_str,
+                                              sub->value_pos,
+                                              aligned - sub->value_pos,
+                                              '\0'))
+                _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert alignment padding");
+            }
 
-  aligned = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, alignment);
-  if (aligned != sub->value_pos)
-    {
-      if (!_dbus_string_insert_bytes (sub->value_str,
-                                      sub->value_pos,
-                                      aligned - sub->value_pos,
-                                      '\0'))
-        _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert alignment padding");
+          sub->value_pos = aligned;
+        }
+
+      sub->u.array.start_pos = sub->value_pos;
+
+      if (is_array_append)
+        {
+          dbus_uint32_t len;
 
-      sub->value_pos = aligned;
+          _dbus_assert (_DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->u.array.len_pos, 4) ==
+                        (unsigned) sub->u.array.len_pos);
+          len = _dbus_unpack_uint32 (sub->byte_order,
+                                     _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (sub->value_str,
+                                                                      sub->u.array.len_pos,
+                                                                      4));
+
+          sub->value_pos += len;
+        }
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      /* not enabled, so we won't write the len_pos; set it to -1 to so indicate */
+      sub->u.array.len_pos = -1;
+      sub->u.array.start_pos = sub->value_pos;
     }
-  sub->u.array.start_pos = sub->value_pos;
 
-  _dbus_assert (sub->u.array.start_pos == sub->value_pos);
   _dbus_assert (sub->u.array.len_pos < sub->u.array.start_pos);
-
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p recurse array done remaining sig '%s' array start_pos = %d len_pos = %d\n", sub,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (sub->type_str, sub->type_pos, 0),
-                 sub->u.array.start_pos, sub->u.array.len_pos);
+  _dbus_assert (is_array_append || sub->u.array.start_pos == sub->value_pos);
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+      _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p recurse array done remaining sig '%s' array start_pos = %d len_pos = %d value_pos = %d\n", sub,
+                     sub->type_str ?
+                     _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (sub->type_str, sub->type_pos, 0) :
+                     "unknown",
+                     sub->u.array.start_pos, sub->u.array.len_pos, sub->value_pos);
 #endif
 
   return TRUE;
@@ -1177,7 +1962,7 @@ _dbus_type_writer_recurse_array (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
 /* Variant value will normally have:
  *   1 byte signature length not including nul
  *   signature typecodes (nul terminated)
- *   padding to 8-boundary
+ *   padding to alignment of contained type
  *   body according to signature
  *
  * The signature string can only have a single type
@@ -1185,46 +1970,47 @@ _dbus_type_writer_recurse_array (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
  *
  * So a typical variant type with the integer 3 will have these
  * octets:
- *   0x1 'i' '\0' [padding to 8-boundary] 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x3
- *
- * For an array of 4-byte types stuffed into variants, the padding to
- * 8-boundary is only the 1 byte that is required for the 4-boundary
- * anyhow for all array elements after the first one. And for single
- * variants in isolation, wasting a few bytes is hardly a big deal.
+ *   0x1 'i' '\0' [1 byte padding to alignment boundary] 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x3
  *
  * The main world of hurt for writing out a variant is that the type
  * string is the same string as the value string. Which means
  * inserting to the type string will move the value_pos; and it means
  * that inserting to the type string could break type alignment.
- *
- * This type alignment issue is why the body of the variant is always
- * 8-aligned. Then we know that re-8-aligning the start of the body
- * will always correctly align the full contents of the variant type.
  */
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_writer_recurse_variant (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                   const char     *contained_type,
-                                   DBusTypeWriter *sub)
+static dbus_bool_t
+writer_recurse_variant (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                        const DBusString *contained_type,
+                        int               contained_type_start,
+                        int               contained_type_len,
+                        DBusTypeWriter   *sub)
 {
-  int contained_type_len;
-  DBusString contained_type_str;
+  int contained_alignment;
+  
+  if (writer->enabled)
+    {
+      /* Allocate space for the worst case, which is 1 byte sig
+       * length, nul byte at end of sig, and 7 bytes padding to
+       * 8-boundary.
+       */
+      if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->value_str, contained_type_len + 9))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
 
-  writer_recurse_init_and_check (writer, DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT, sub);
+  /* write VARIANT typecode to the parent's type string */
+  if (!write_or_verify_typecode (writer, DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT))
+    return FALSE;
 
-  _dbus_string_init_const (&contained_type_str, contained_type);
+  /* If not enabled, mark that we have no type_str anymore ... */
 
-  contained_type_len = _dbus_string_get_length (&contained_type_str);
+  if (!writer->enabled)
+    {
+      sub->type_str = NULL;
+      sub->type_pos = -1;
 
-  /* Allocate space for the worst case, which is 1 byte sig
-   * length, nul byte at end of sig, and 7 bytes padding to
-   * 8-boundary.
-   */
-  if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (sub->value_str, contained_type_len + 9))
-    return FALSE;
+      return TRUE;
+    }
 
-  /* write VARIANT typecode to the parent's type string */
-  if (!write_or_verify_typecode (writer, DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT))
-    return FALSE;
+  /* If we're enabled then continue ... */
 
   if (!_dbus_string_insert_byte (sub->value_str,
                                  sub->value_pos,
@@ -1237,8 +2023,8 @@ _dbus_type_writer_recurse_variant (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
   sub->type_str = sub->value_str;
   sub->type_pos = sub->value_pos;
 
-  if (!_dbus_string_copy (&contained_type_str, 0,
-                          sub->value_str, sub->value_pos))
+  if (!_dbus_string_copy_len (contained_type, contained_type_start, contained_type_len,
+                              sub->value_str, sub->value_pos))
     _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert variant type sig");
 
   sub->value_pos += contained_type_len;
@@ -1250,27 +2036,151 @@ _dbus_type_writer_recurse_variant (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
 
   sub->value_pos += 1;
 
+  contained_alignment = _dbus_type_get_alignment (_dbus_first_type_in_signature (contained_type, contained_type_start));
+  
   if (!_dbus_string_insert_bytes (sub->value_str,
                                   sub->value_pos,
-                                  _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8) - sub->value_pos,
+                                  _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, contained_alignment) - sub->value_pos,
                                   '\0'))
     _dbus_assert_not_reached ("should not have failed to insert alignment padding for variant body");
-  sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, 8);
+  sub->value_pos = _DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (sub->value_pos, contained_alignment);
 
   return TRUE;
 }
 
+static dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_writer_recurse_contained_len (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                                         int               container_type,
+                                         const DBusString *contained_type,
+                                         int               contained_type_start,
+                                         int               contained_type_len,
+                                         DBusTypeWriter   *sub,
+                                         dbus_bool_t       is_array_append)
+{
+  writer_recurse_init_and_check (writer, container_type, sub);
+
+  switch (container_type)
+    {
+    case DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT:
+      return writer_recurse_struct_or_dict_entry (writer,
+                                                  DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR,
+                                                  contained_type,
+                                                  contained_type_start, contained_type_len,
+                                                  sub);
+      break;
+    case DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY:
+      return writer_recurse_struct_or_dict_entry (writer,
+                                                  DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_BEGIN_CHAR,
+                                                  contained_type,
+                                                  contained_type_start, contained_type_len,
+                                                  sub);
+      break;
+    case DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY:
+      return writer_recurse_array (writer,
+                                   contained_type, contained_type_start, contained_type_len,
+                                   sub, is_array_append);
+      break;
+    case DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT:
+      return writer_recurse_variant (writer,
+                                     contained_type, contained_type_start, contained_type_len,
+                                     sub);
+      break;
+    default:
+      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("tried to recurse into type that doesn't support that");
+      return FALSE;
+      break;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Opens a new container and writes out the initial information for that container.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer
+ * @param container_type the type of the container to open
+ * @param contained_type the array element type or variant content type
+ * @param contained_type_start position to look for the type
+ * @param sub the new sub-writer to write container contents
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
+ */
+dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_writer_recurse (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                           int               container_type,
+                           const DBusString *contained_type,
+                           int               contained_type_start,
+                           DBusTypeWriter   *sub)
+{
+  int contained_type_len;
+
+  if (contained_type)
+    contained_type_len = find_len_of_complete_type (contained_type, contained_type_start);
+  else
+    contained_type_len = 0;
+
+  return _dbus_type_writer_recurse_contained_len (writer, container_type,
+                                                  contained_type,
+                                                  contained_type_start,
+                                                  contained_type_len,
+                                                  sub,
+                                                  FALSE);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Append to an existing array. Essentially, the writer will read an
+ * existing length at the write location; jump over that length; and
+ * write new fields. On unrecurse(), the existing length will be
+ * updated.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer
+ * @param contained_type element type
+ * @param contained_type_start position of element type
+ * @param sub the subwriter to init
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
+ */
+dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_writer_append_array (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                                const DBusString *contained_type,
+                                int               contained_type_start,
+                                DBusTypeWriter   *sub)
+{
+  int contained_type_len;
+
+  if (contained_type)
+    contained_type_len = find_len_of_complete_type (contained_type, contained_type_start);
+  else
+    contained_type_len = 0;
+
+  return _dbus_type_writer_recurse_contained_len (writer, DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY,
+                                                  contained_type,
+                                                  contained_type_start,
+                                                  contained_type_len,
+                                                  sub,
+                                                  TRUE);
+}
+
+static int
+writer_get_array_len (DBusTypeWriter *writer)
+{
+  _dbus_assert (writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY);
+  return writer->value_pos - writer->u.array.start_pos;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Closes a container created by _dbus_type_writer_recurse()
+ * and writes any additional information to the values block.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer
+ * @param sub the sub-writer created by _dbus_type_writer_recurse()
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
+ */
 dbus_bool_t
 _dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
                              DBusTypeWriter *sub)
 {
-  _dbus_assert (sub->type_pos > 0); /* can't be recursed if this fails */
-
   /* type_pos_is_expectation never gets unset once set, or we'd get all hosed */
   _dbus_assert (!writer->type_pos_is_expectation ||
                 (writer->type_pos_is_expectation && sub->type_pos_is_expectation));
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p unrecurse type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d container_type = %s\n",
                  writer, writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos, writer->type_pos_is_expectation,
                  _dbus_type_to_string (writer->container_type));
@@ -1285,19 +2195,33 @@ _dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
       if (!write_or_verify_typecode (sub, DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR))
         return FALSE;
     }
+  else if (sub->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY)
+    {
+      if (!write_or_verify_typecode (sub, DBUS_DICT_ENTRY_END_CHAR))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
   else if (sub->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
     {
-      dbus_uint32_t len;
-
-      /* Set the array length */
-      len = sub->value_pos - sub->u.array.start_pos;
-      _dbus_marshal_set_uint32 (sub->value_str,
-                                sub->byte_order,
-                                sub->u.array.len_pos,
-                                len);
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-      _dbus_verbose ("    filled in sub array len to %u at len_pos %d\n",
-                     len, sub->u.array.len_pos);
+      if (sub->u.array.len_pos >= 0) /* len_pos == -1 if we weren't enabled when we passed it */
+        {
+          dbus_uint32_t len;
+
+          /* Set the array length */
+          len = writer_get_array_len (sub);
+          _dbus_marshal_set_uint32 (sub->value_str,
+                                    sub->u.array.len_pos,
+                                    len,
+                                    sub->byte_order);
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("    filled in sub array len to %u at len_pos %d\n",
+                         len, sub->u.array.len_pos);
+#endif
+        }
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+      else
+        {
+          _dbus_verbose ("    not filling in sub array len because we were disabled when we passed the len\n");
+        }
 #endif
     }
 
@@ -1342,26 +2266,44 @@ _dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
    *   parent makes no difference since there's only one value
    *   and we just finished writing it and won't use type_pos again
    *       writer->type_pos should remain as-is
+   *
+   *
+   * For all these, DICT_ENTRY is the same as STRUCT
    */
-  if (sub->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT &&
-      (writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT ||
-       writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_INVALID))
+  if (writer->type_str != NULL)
     {
-      /* Advance the parent to the next struct field */
-      writer->type_pos = sub->type_pos;
+      if ((sub->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT ||
+           sub->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY) &&
+          (writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT ||
+           writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY ||
+           writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_INVALID))
+        {
+          /* Advance the parent to the next struct field */
+          writer->type_pos = sub->type_pos;
+        }
     }
 
   writer->value_pos = sub->value_pos;
 
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
   _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p unrecursed type_pos = %d value_pos = %d remaining sig '%s'\n",
                  writer, writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos,
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0));
+                 writer->type_str ?
+                 _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (writer->type_str, writer->type_pos, 0) :
+                 "unknown");
 #endif
 
   return TRUE;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Writes out a basic type.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer
+ * @param type the type to write
+ * @param value the address of the value to write
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
+ */
 dbus_bool_t
 _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
                                int             type,
@@ -1370,8 +2312,11 @@ _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
   dbus_bool_t retval;
 
   /* First ensure that our type realloc will succeed */
-  if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (writer->type_str, 1))
-    return FALSE;
+  if (!writer->type_pos_is_expectation && writer->type_str != NULL)
+    {
+      if (!_dbus_string_alloc_space (writer->type_str, 1))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
 
   retval = FALSE;
 
@@ -1384,2164 +2329,424 @@ _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
   retval = TRUE;
 
  out:
-#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_TRACE
-  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p basic type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d\n",
-                 writer, writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos, writer->type_pos_is_expectation);
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p basic type_pos = %d value_pos = %d is_expectation = %d enabled = %d\n",
+                 writer, writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos, writer->type_pos_is_expectation,
+                 writer->enabled);
 #endif
 
   return retval;
 }
 
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_writer_write_array (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                               int             type,
-                               const void     *array,
-                               int             array_len)
-{
-
-
-}
-
 /**
- * Iterate through all values in the given reader,
- * writing a copy of each value to the writer.
- * The reader will be moved forward to its end position.
+ * Writes a block of fixed-length basic values, i.e. those that are
+ * both dbus_type_is_fixed() and _dbus_type_is_basic(). The block
+ * must be written inside an array.
  *
- * @param writer the writer to copy to
- * @param reader the reader to copy from
+ * The value parameter should be the address of said array of values,
+ * so e.g. if it's an array of double, pass in "const double**"
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer
+ * @param element_type type of stuff in the array
+ * @param value address of the array
+ * @param n_elements number of elements in the array
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
  */
 dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_type_writer_write_reader (DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                DBusTypeReader *reader)
-{
-  /* FIXME */
+_dbus_type_writer_write_fixed_multi (DBusTypeWriter        *writer,
+                                     int                    element_type,
+                                     const void            *value,
+                                     int                    n_elements)
+{
+  _dbus_assert (writer->container_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY);
+  _dbus_assert (dbus_type_is_fixed (element_type));
+  _dbus_assert (writer->type_pos_is_expectation);
+  _dbus_assert (n_elements >= 0);
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p entering fixed multi type_pos = %d value_pos = %d n_elements %d\n",
+                 writer, writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos, n_elements);
+#endif
 
-  return TRUE;
-}
+  if (!write_or_verify_typecode (writer, element_type))
+    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("OOM should not happen if only verifying typecode");
 
-/** @} */ /* end of DBusMarshal group */
+  if (writer->enabled)
+    {
+      if (!_dbus_marshal_write_fixed_multi (writer->value_str,
+                                            writer->value_pos,
+                                            element_type,
+                                            value,
+                                            n_elements,
+                                            writer->byte_order,
+                                            &writer->value_pos))
+        return FALSE;
+    }
 
-#ifdef DBUS_BUILD_TESTS
-#include "dbus-test.h"
-#include "dbus-list.h"
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+  _dbus_verbose ("  type writer %p fixed multi written new type_pos = %d new value_pos = %d n_elements %d\n",
+                 writer, writer->type_pos, writer->value_pos, n_elements);
+#endif
 
-typedef struct
-{
-  int byte_order;
-  int initial_offset;
-  DBusString signature;
-  DBusString body;
-} DataBlock;
+  return TRUE;
+}
 
-typedef struct
+static void
+enable_if_after (DBusTypeWriter       *writer,
+                 DBusTypeReader       *reader,
+                 const DBusTypeReader *start_after)
 {
-  int saved_sig_len;
-  int saved_body_len;
-} DataBlockState;
+  if (start_after)
+    {
+      if (!writer->enabled && _dbus_type_reader_greater_than (reader, start_after))
+        {
+          _dbus_type_writer_set_enabled (writer, TRUE);
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("ENABLING writer %p at %d because reader at value_pos %d is after reader at value_pos %d\n",
+                         writer, writer->value_pos, reader->value_pos, start_after->value_pos);
+#endif
+        }
 
-#define N_FENCE_BYTES 5
-#define FENCE_BYTES_STR "abcde"
-#define INITIAL_PADDING_BYTE '\0'
+      _dbus_assert ((!writer->enabled && !_dbus_type_reader_greater_than (reader, start_after)) ||
+                    (writer->enabled && _dbus_type_reader_greater_than (reader, start_after)));
+    }
+}
 
 static dbus_bool_t
-data_block_init (DataBlock *block,
-                 int        byte_order,
-                 int        initial_offset)
+append_fixup (DBusList               **fixups,
+              const DBusArrayLenFixup *fixup)
 {
-  if (!_dbus_string_init (&block->signature))
+  DBusArrayLenFixup *f;
+
+  f = dbus_new (DBusArrayLenFixup, 1);
+  if (f == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
-  if (!_dbus_string_init (&block->body))
-    {
-      _dbus_string_free (&block->signature);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
+  *f = *fixup;
 
-  if (!_dbus_string_insert_bytes (&block->signature, 0, initial_offset,
-                                  INITIAL_PADDING_BYTE) ||
-      !_dbus_string_insert_bytes (&block->body, 0, initial_offset,
-                                  INITIAL_PADDING_BYTE) ||
-      !_dbus_string_append (&block->signature, FENCE_BYTES_STR) ||
-      !_dbus_string_append (&block->body, FENCE_BYTES_STR))
+  if (!_dbus_list_append (fixups, f))
     {
-      _dbus_string_free (&block->signature);
-      _dbus_string_free (&block->body);
+      dbus_free (f);
       return FALSE;
     }
 
-  block->byte_order = byte_order;
-  block->initial_offset = initial_offset;
-  
-  return TRUE;
-}
+  _dbus_assert (f->len_pos_in_reader == fixup->len_pos_in_reader);
+  _dbus_assert (f->new_len == fixup->new_len);
 
-static void
-data_block_save (DataBlock      *block,
-                 DataBlockState *state)
-{
-  state->saved_sig_len = _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - N_FENCE_BYTES;
-  state->saved_body_len = _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - N_FENCE_BYTES;
+  return TRUE;
 }
 
-static void
-data_block_restore (DataBlock      *block,
-                    DataBlockState *state)
+/* This loop is trivial if you ignore all the start_after nonsense,
+ * so if you're trying to figure it out, start by ignoring that
+ */
+static dbus_bool_t
+writer_write_reader_helper (DBusTypeWriter       *writer,
+                            DBusTypeReader       *reader,
+                            const DBusTypeReader *start_after,
+                            int                   start_after_new_pos,
+                            int                   start_after_new_len,
+                            DBusList            **fixups,
+                            dbus_bool_t           inside_start_after)
 {
-  _dbus_string_delete (&block->signature,
-                       state->saved_sig_len,
-                       _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - state->saved_sig_len - N_FENCE_BYTES);
-  _dbus_string_delete (&block->body,
-                       state->saved_body_len,
-                       _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - state->saved_body_len - N_FENCE_BYTES);
-}
+  int current_type;
 
-static void
-data_block_verify (DataBlock *block)
-{
-  if (!_dbus_string_ends_with_c_str (&block->signature,
-                                     FENCE_BYTES_STR))
-    {
-      int offset;
-
-      offset = _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - N_FENCE_BYTES - 8;
-      if (offset < 0)
-        offset = 0;
-      
-      _dbus_verbose_bytes_of_string (&block->signature,
-                                     offset,
-                                     _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - offset);
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("block did not verify: bad bytes at end of signature");
-    }
-  if (!_dbus_string_ends_with_c_str (&block->body,
-                                     FENCE_BYTES_STR))
+  while ((current_type = _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (reader)) != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID)
     {
-      int offset;
-
-      offset = _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - N_FENCE_BYTES - 8;
-      if (offset < 0)
-        offset = 0;
-
-      _dbus_verbose_bytes_of_string (&block->body,
-                                     offset,
-                                     _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - offset);
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("block did not verify: bad bytes at end of body");
-    }
-  
-  _dbus_assert (_dbus_string_validate_nul (&block->signature,
-                                           0, block->initial_offset));
-  _dbus_assert (_dbus_string_validate_nul (&block->body,
-                                           0, block->initial_offset));
-}
+      if (dbus_type_is_container (current_type))
+        {
+          DBusTypeReader subreader;
+          DBusTypeWriter subwriter;
+          const DBusString *sig_str;
+          int sig_start;
+          int sig_len;
+          dbus_bool_t enabled_at_recurse;
+          dbus_bool_t past_start_after;
+          int reader_array_len_pos;
+          int reader_array_start_pos;
+          dbus_bool_t this_is_start_after;
+
+          /* type_pos is checked since e.g. in a struct the struct
+           * and its first field have the same value_pos.
+           * type_str will differ in reader/start_after for variants
+           * where type_str is inside the value_str
+           */
+          if (!inside_start_after && start_after &&
+              reader->value_pos == start_after->value_pos &&
+              reader->type_str == start_after->type_str &&
+              reader->type_pos == start_after->type_pos)
+            this_is_start_after = TRUE;
+          else
+            this_is_start_after = FALSE;
 
-static void
-data_block_free (DataBlock *block)
-{
-  data_block_verify (block);
-  
-  _dbus_string_free (&block->signature);
-  _dbus_string_free (&block->body);
-}
+          _dbus_type_reader_recurse (reader, &subreader);
 
-static void
-data_block_reset (DataBlock *block)
-{
-  data_block_verify (block);
-  
-  _dbus_string_delete (&block->signature,
-                       block->initial_offset,
-                       _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - N_FENCE_BYTES - block->initial_offset);
-  _dbus_string_delete (&block->body,
-                       block->initial_offset,
-                       _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - N_FENCE_BYTES - block->initial_offset);
+          if (current_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY)
+            {
+              reader_array_len_pos = ARRAY_READER_LEN_POS (&subreader);
+              reader_array_start_pos = subreader.u.array.start_pos;
+            }
+          else
+            {
+              /* quiet gcc */
+              reader_array_len_pos = -1;
+              reader_array_start_pos = -1;
+            }
 
-  data_block_verify (block);
-}
+          _dbus_type_reader_get_signature (&subreader, &sig_str,
+                                           &sig_start, &sig_len);
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("about to recurse into %s reader at %d subreader at %d writer at %d start_after reader at %d write target len %d inside_start_after = %d this_is_start_after = %d\n",
+                         _dbus_type_to_string (current_type),
+                         reader->value_pos,
+                         subreader.value_pos,
+                         writer->value_pos,
+                         start_after ? start_after->value_pos : -1,
+                         _dbus_string_get_length (writer->value_str),
+                         inside_start_after, this_is_start_after);
+#endif
 
-static void
-data_block_init_reader_writer (DataBlock      *block,
-                               DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                               DBusTypeWriter *writer)
-{
-  _dbus_type_reader_init (reader,
-                          block->byte_order,
-                          &block->signature,
-                          _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - N_FENCE_BYTES,
-                          &block->body,
-                          _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - N_FENCE_BYTES);
+          if (!inside_start_after && !this_is_start_after)
+            enable_if_after (writer, &subreader, start_after);
+          enabled_at_recurse = writer->enabled;
+          if (!_dbus_type_writer_recurse_contained_len (writer, current_type,
+                                                        sig_str, sig_start, sig_len,
+                                                        &subwriter, FALSE))
+            goto oom;
 
-  _dbus_type_writer_init (writer,
-                          block->byte_order,
-                          &block->signature,
-                          _dbus_string_get_length (&block->signature) - N_FENCE_BYTES,
-                          &block->body,
-                          _dbus_string_get_length (&block->body) - N_FENCE_BYTES);
-}
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("recursed into subwriter at %d write target len %d\n",
+                         subwriter.value_pos,
+                         _dbus_string_get_length (subwriter.value_str));
+#endif
 
-static void
-real_check_expected_type (DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                          int             expected,
-                          const char     *funcname,
-                          int             line)
-{
-  int t;
+          if (!writer_write_reader_helper (&subwriter, &subreader, start_after,
+                                           start_after_new_pos, start_after_new_len,
+                                           fixups,
+                                           inside_start_after ||
+                                           this_is_start_after))
+            goto oom;
 
-  t = _dbus_type_reader_get_current_type (reader);
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("about to unrecurse from %s subreader at %d writer at %d subwriter at %d  write target len %d\n",
+                         _dbus_type_to_string (current_type),
+                         subreader.value_pos,
+                         writer->value_pos,
+                         subwriter.value_pos,
+                         _dbus_string_get_length (writer->value_str));
+#endif
 
-  if (t != expected)
-    {
-      _dbus_warn ("Read type %s while expecting %s at %s line %d\n",
-                  _dbus_type_to_string (t),
-                  _dbus_type_to_string (expected),
-                  funcname, line);
+          if (!inside_start_after && !this_is_start_after)
+            enable_if_after (writer, &subreader, start_after);
+          past_start_after = writer->enabled;
+          if (!_dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (writer, &subwriter))
+            goto oom;
 
-      exit (1);
-    }
-}
+          /* If we weren't enabled when we recursed, we didn't
+           * write an array len; if we passed start_after
+           * somewhere inside the array, then we need to generate
+           * a fixup.
+           */
+          if (start_after != NULL &&
+              !enabled_at_recurse && past_start_after &&
+              current_type == DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY &&
+              fixups != NULL)
+            {
+              DBusArrayLenFixup fixup;
+              int bytes_written_after_start_after;
+              int bytes_before_start_after;
+              int old_len;
+
+              /* this subwriter access is moderately unkosher since we
+               * already unrecursed, but it works as long as unrecurse
+               * doesn't break us on purpose
+               */
+              bytes_written_after_start_after = writer_get_array_len (&subwriter);
+
+              bytes_before_start_after =
+                start_after->value_pos - reader_array_start_pos;
+
+              fixup.len_pos_in_reader = reader_array_len_pos;
+              fixup.new_len =
+                bytes_before_start_after +
+                start_after_new_len +
+                bytes_written_after_start_after;
+
+              _dbus_assert (_DBUS_ALIGN_VALUE (fixup.len_pos_in_reader, 4) ==
+                            (unsigned) fixup.len_pos_in_reader);
+
+              old_len = _dbus_unpack_uint32 (reader->byte_order,
+                                             _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (reader->value_str,
+                                                                              fixup.len_pos_in_reader, 4));
+
+              if (old_len != fixup.new_len && !append_fixup (fixups, &fixup))
+                goto oom;
+
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+              _dbus_verbose ("Generated fixup len_pos_in_reader = %d new_len = %d reader_array_start_pos = %d start_after->value_pos = %d bytes_before_start_after = %d start_after_new_len = %d bytes_written_after_start_after = %d\n",
+                             fixup.len_pos_in_reader,
+                             fixup.new_len,
+                             reader_array_start_pos,
+                             start_after->value_pos,
+                             bytes_before_start_after,
+                             start_after_new_len,
+                             bytes_written_after_start_after);
+#endif
+            }
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          DBusBasicValue val;
 
-#define check_expected_type(reader, expected) real_check_expected_type (reader, expected, _DBUS_FUNCTION_NAME, __LINE__)
+          _dbus_assert (dbus_type_is_basic (current_type));
 
-#define NEXT_EXPECTING_TRUE(reader)  do { if (!_dbus_type_reader_next (reader))         \
- {                                                                                      \
-    _dbus_warn ("_dbus_type_reader_next() should have returned TRUE at %s %d\n",        \
-                              _DBUS_FUNCTION_NAME, __LINE__);                           \
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("test failed");                                           \
- }                                                                                      \
-} while (0)
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("Reading basic value %s at %d\n",
+                         _dbus_type_to_string (current_type),
+                         reader->value_pos);
+#endif
 
-#define NEXT_EXPECTING_FALSE(reader) do { if (_dbus_type_reader_next (reader))          \
- {                                                                                      \
-    _dbus_warn ("_dbus_type_reader_next() should have returned FALSE at %s %d\n",       \
-                              _DBUS_FUNCTION_NAME, __LINE__);                           \
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("test failed");                                           \
- }                                                                                      \
- check_expected_type (reader, DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);                                       \
-} while (0)
+          _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader, &val);
 
-typedef struct TestTypeNode               TestTypeNode;
-typedef struct TestTypeNodeClass          TestTypeNodeClass;
-typedef struct TestTypeNodeContainer      TestTypeNodeContainer;
-typedef struct TestTypeNodeContainerClass TestTypeNodeContainerClass;
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("Writing basic value %s at %d write target len %d inside_start_after = %d\n",
+                         _dbus_type_to_string (current_type),
+                         writer->value_pos,
+                         _dbus_string_get_length (writer->value_str),
+                         inside_start_after);
+#endif
+          if (!inside_start_after)
+            enable_if_after (writer, reader, start_after);
+          if (!_dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer, current_type, &val))
+            goto oom;
+#if RECURSIVE_MARSHAL_WRITE_TRACE
+          _dbus_verbose ("Wrote basic value %s, new value_pos %d write target len %d\n",
+                         _dbus_type_to_string (current_type),
+                         writer->value_pos,
+                         _dbus_string_get_length (writer->value_str));
+#endif
+        }
 
-struct TestTypeNode
-{
-  const TestTypeNodeClass *klass;
-};
+      _dbus_type_reader_next (reader);
+    }
 
-struct TestTypeNodeContainer
-{
-  TestTypeNode base;
-  DBusList    *children;
-};
+  return TRUE;
 
-struct TestTypeNodeClass
-{
-  int typecode;
+ oom:
+  if (fixups)
+    apply_and_free_fixups (fixups, NULL); /* NULL for reader to apply to */
 
-  int instance_size;
-
-  int subclass_detail; /* a bad hack to avoid a bunch of subclass casting */
-
-  dbus_bool_t   (* construct)     (TestTypeNode   *node);
-  void          (* destroy)       (TestTypeNode   *node);
-
-  dbus_bool_t (* write_value)     (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                   DataBlock      *block,
-                                   DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                   int             seed);
-  dbus_bool_t (* read_value)      (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                   DataBlock      *block,
-                                   DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                   int             seed);
-  dbus_bool_t (* build_signature) (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                   DBusString     *str);
-};
-
-struct TestTypeNodeContainerClass
-{
-  TestTypeNodeClass base;
-};
-
-static dbus_bool_t int32_write_value       (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t int32_read_value        (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t int64_write_value       (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t int64_read_value        (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t string_write_value      (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t string_read_value       (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t bool_read_value         (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t bool_write_value        (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t byte_read_value         (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t byte_write_value        (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t double_read_value       (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t double_write_value      (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t object_path_read_value  (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t object_path_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t signature_read_value    (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t signature_write_value   (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t struct_write_value      (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t struct_read_value       (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t struct_build_signature  (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DBusString     *str);
-static dbus_bool_t array_write_value       (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t array_read_value        (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t array_build_signature   (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DBusString     *str);
-static dbus_bool_t variant_write_value     (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                                            int             seed);
-static dbus_bool_t variant_read_value      (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                                            DataBlock      *block,
-                                            DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                                            int             seed);
-static void        container_destroy       (TestTypeNode   *node);
-
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass int32_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_INT32,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  int32_write_value,
-  int32_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass uint32_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_UINT32,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  int32_write_value, /* recycle from int32 */
-  int32_read_value,  /* recycle from int32 */
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass int64_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_INT64,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  int64_write_value,
-  int64_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass uint64_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_UINT64,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  int64_write_value, /* recycle from int64 */
-  int64_read_value,  /* recycle from int64 */
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass string_0_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_STRING,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0, /* string length */
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  string_write_value,
-  string_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass string_1_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_STRING,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  1, /* string length */
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  string_write_value,
-  string_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-/* with nul, a len 3 string should fill 4 bytes and thus is "special" */
-static const TestTypeNodeClass string_3_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_STRING,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  3, /* string length */
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  string_write_value,
-  string_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-/* with nul, a len 8 string should fill 9 bytes and thus is "special" (far-fetched I suppose) */
-static const TestTypeNodeClass string_8_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_STRING,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  8, /* string length */
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  string_write_value,
-  string_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass bool_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_BOOLEAN,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  bool_write_value,
-  bool_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass byte_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_BYTE,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  byte_write_value,
-  byte_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass double_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_DOUBLE,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  double_write_value,
-  double_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass object_path_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_OBJECT_PATH,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  object_path_write_value,
-  object_path_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass signature_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_SIGNATURE,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNode),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  NULL,
-  signature_write_value,
-  signature_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass struct_1_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  1, /* number of times children appear as fields */
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  struct_write_value,
-  struct_read_value,
-  struct_build_signature
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass struct_2_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  2, /* number of times children appear as fields */
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  struct_write_value,
-  struct_read_value,
-  struct_build_signature
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass array_0_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  0, /* number of array elements */
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  array_write_value,
-  array_read_value,
-  array_build_signature
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass array_1_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  1, /* number of array elements */
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  array_write_value,
-  array_read_value,
-  array_build_signature
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass array_2_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  2, /* number of array elements */
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  array_write_value,
-  array_read_value,
-  array_build_signature
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass array_9_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  9, /* number of array elements */
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  array_write_value,
-  array_read_value,
-  array_build_signature
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass variant_class = {
-  DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT,
-  sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer),
-  0,
-  NULL,
-  container_destroy,
-  variant_write_value,
-  variant_read_value,
-  NULL
-};
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass* const
-basic_nodes[] = {
-  &int32_class,
-  &uint32_class,
-  &int64_class,
-  &uint64_class,
-  &bool_class,
-  &byte_class,
-  &double_class,
-  &string_0_class,
-  &string_1_class,
-  &string_3_class,
-  &string_8_class,
-  &object_path_class,
-  &signature_class
-};
-#define N_BASICS (_DBUS_N_ELEMENTS (basic_nodes))
-
-static const TestTypeNodeClass* const
-container_nodes[] = {
-  &struct_1_class,
-  &array_1_class,
-  &struct_2_class,
-  &array_0_class,
-  &array_2_class,
-  &variant_class
-  /* array_9_class is omitted on purpose, it's too slow;
-   * we only use it in one hardcoded test below
-   */
-};
-#define N_CONTAINERS (_DBUS_N_ELEMENTS (container_nodes))
-
-static TestTypeNode*
-node_new (const TestTypeNodeClass *klass)
-{
-  TestTypeNode *node;
-
-  node = dbus_malloc0 (klass->instance_size);
-  if (node == NULL)
-    return NULL;
-
-  node->klass = klass;
-
-  if (klass->construct)
-    {
-      if (!(* klass->construct) (node))
-        {
-          dbus_free (node);
-          return FALSE;
-        }
-    }
-
-  return node;
-}
-
-static void
-node_destroy (TestTypeNode *node)
-{
-  if (node->klass->destroy)
-    (* node->klass->destroy) (node);
-  dbus_free (node);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-node_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                  DataBlock      *block,
-                  DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                  int             seed)
-{
-  dbus_bool_t retval;
-  
-  retval = (* node->klass->write_value) (node, block, writer, seed);
-
-#if 0
-  /* Handy to see where things break, but too expensive to do all the time */
-  data_block_verify (block);
-#endif
-  
-  return retval;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-node_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                 DataBlock      *block,
-                 DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                 int             seed)
-{
-  DBusTypeMark mark;
-  DBusTypeReader restored;
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_save_mark (reader, &mark);
-  
-  if (!(* node->klass->read_value) (node, block, reader, seed))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_init_from_mark (&restored,
-                                    reader->byte_order, /* a bit of a cheat,
-                                                         * since we didn't bother
-                                                         * to store this in DataBlock
-                                                         */
-                                    &block->signature,
-                                    &block->body,
-                                    &mark);
-
-  if (!(* node->klass->read_value) (node, block, &restored, seed))
-    return FALSE;
-  
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-node_build_signature (TestTypeNode *node,
-                      DBusString   *str)
-{
-  if (node->klass->build_signature)
-    return (* node->klass->build_signature) (node, str);
-  else
-    return _dbus_string_append_byte (str, node->klass->typecode);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-node_append_child (TestTypeNode *node,
-                   TestTypeNode *child)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-
-  _dbus_assert (node->klass->instance_size >= (int) sizeof (TestTypeNodeContainer));
-
-  if (!_dbus_list_append (&container->children, child))
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("no memory"); /* we never check the return value on node_append_child anyhow - it's run from outside the malloc-failure test code */
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static int n_iterations_completed_total = 0;
-static int n_iterations_completed_this_test = 0;
-static int n_iterations_expected_this_test = 0;
-
-typedef struct
-{
-  const DBusString   *signature;
-  DataBlock          *block;
-  int                 type_offset;
-  TestTypeNode      **nodes;
-  int                 n_nodes;
-} NodeIterationData;
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-run_test_nodes_iteration (void *data)
-{
-  NodeIterationData *nid = data;
-  DBusTypeReader reader;
-  DBusTypeWriter writer;
-  int i;
-  dbus_bool_t retval;
-
-  /* Stuff to do:
-   * 1. write the value
-   * 2. strcmp-compare with the signature we built
-   * 3. read the value
-   * 4. type-iterate the signature and the value and see if they are the same type-wise
-   */
-  retval = FALSE;
-  
-  data_block_init_reader_writer (nid->block,
-                                 &reader, &writer);
-
-  /* DBusTypeWriter assumes it's writing into an existing signature,
-   * so doesn't add nul on its own. We have to do that.
-   */
-  if (!_dbus_string_insert_byte (&nid->block->signature,
-                                 nid->type_offset, '\0'))
-    goto out;
-  
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < nid->n_nodes)
-    {
-      if (!node_write_value (nid->nodes[i], nid->block, &writer, i))
-        goto out;
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_equal_substring (nid->signature, 0, _dbus_string_get_length (nid->signature),
-                                     &nid->block->signature, nid->type_offset))
-    {
-      _dbus_warn ("Expected signature '%s' and got '%s' with initial offset %d\n",
-                  _dbus_string_get_const_data (nid->signature),
-                  _dbus_string_get_const_data_len (&nid->block->signature, nid->type_offset, 0),
-                  nid->type_offset);
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("wrong signature");
-    }
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < nid->n_nodes)
-    {
-      if (!node_read_value (nid->nodes[i], nid->block, &reader, i))
-        goto out;
-
-      if (i + 1 == nid->n_nodes)
-        NEXT_EXPECTING_FALSE (&reader);
-      else
-        NEXT_EXPECTING_TRUE (&reader);
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  /* FIXME type-iterate both signature and value and compare the resulting
-   * tree to the node tree
-   */
-
-  retval = TRUE;
-  
- out:
-  
-  data_block_reset (nid->block);
-  
-  return retval;
-}
-
-#define TEST_OOM_HANDLING 0
-/* We do start offset 0 through 9, to get various alignment cases. Still this
- * obviously makes the test suite run 10x as slow.
- */
-#define MAX_INITIAL_OFFSET 9
-
-static void
-run_test_nodes_in_one_configuration (TestTypeNode    **nodes,
-                                     int               n_nodes,
-                                     const DBusString *signature,
-                                     int               byte_order,
-                                     int               initial_offset)
-{
-  DataBlock block;
-  NodeIterationData nid;
-
-  if (!data_block_init (&block, byte_order, initial_offset))
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("no memory");
-
-  nid.signature = signature;
-  nid.block = &block;
-  nid.type_offset = initial_offset;
-  nid.nodes = nodes;
-  nid.n_nodes = n_nodes;
-
-#if TEST_OOM_HANDLING
-  _dbus_test_oom_handling ("running test node",
-                           run_test_nodes_iteration,
-                           &nid);
-#else
-  if (!run_test_nodes_iteration (&nid))
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("no memory");
-#endif
-
-  data_block_free (&block);
-}
-
-static void
-run_test_nodes (TestTypeNode **nodes,
-                int            n_nodes)
-{
-  int i;
-  DBusString signature;
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_init (&signature))
-    _dbus_assert_not_reached ("no memory");
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < n_nodes)
-    {
-      if (! node_build_signature (nodes[i], &signature))
-        _dbus_assert_not_reached ("no memory");
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  _dbus_verbose (">>> test nodes with signature '%s'\n",
-                 _dbus_string_get_const_data (&signature));
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i <= MAX_INITIAL_OFFSET)
-    {
-      run_test_nodes_in_one_configuration (nodes, n_nodes, &signature,
-                                           DBUS_LITTLE_ENDIAN, i);
-      run_test_nodes_in_one_configuration (nodes, n_nodes, &signature,
-                                           DBUS_BIG_ENDIAN, i);
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  n_iterations_completed_this_test += 1;
-  n_iterations_completed_total += 1;
-
-  if (n_iterations_completed_this_test == n_iterations_expected_this_test)
-    {
-      fprintf (stderr, " 100%% %d this test (%d cumulative)\n",
-               n_iterations_completed_this_test,
-               n_iterations_completed_total);
-    }
-  /* this happens to turn out well with mod == 1 */
-  else if ((n_iterations_completed_this_test %
-            (int)(n_iterations_expected_this_test / 10.0)) == 1)
-    {
-      fprintf (stderr, " %d%% ", (int) (n_iterations_completed_this_test / (double) n_iterations_expected_this_test * 100));
-    }
-  
-  _dbus_string_free (&signature);
-}
-
-#define N_VALUES (N_BASICS * N_CONTAINERS + N_BASICS)
-
-static TestTypeNode*
-value_generator (int *ip)
-{
-  int i = *ip;
-  const TestTypeNodeClass *child_klass;
-  const TestTypeNodeClass *container_klass;
-  TestTypeNode *child;
-  TestTypeNode *node;
-
-  _dbus_assert (i <= N_VALUES);
-
-  if (i == N_VALUES)
-    {
-      return NULL;
-    }
-  else if (i < N_BASICS)
-    {
-      node = node_new (basic_nodes[i]);
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      /* imagine an array:
-       * container 0 of basic 0
-       * container 0 of basic 1
-       * container 0 of basic 2
-       * container 1 of basic 0
-       * container 1 of basic 1
-       * container 1 of basic 2
-       */
-      i -= N_BASICS;
-
-      container_klass = container_nodes[i / N_BASICS];
-      child_klass = basic_nodes[i % N_BASICS];
-
-      node = node_new (container_klass);
-      child = node_new (child_klass);
-
-      node_append_child (node, child);
-    }
-
-  *ip += 1; /* increment the generator */
-
-  return node;
-}
-
-static void
-make_and_run_values_inside_container (const TestTypeNodeClass *container_klass,
-                                      int                      n_nested)
-{
-  TestTypeNode *root;
-  TestTypeNode *container;
-  TestTypeNode *child;
-  int i;
-
-  root = node_new (container_klass);
-  container = root;
-  for (i = 1; i < n_nested; i++)
-    {
-      child = node_new (container_klass);
-      node_append_child (container, child);
-      container = child;
-    }
-
-  /* container should now be the most-nested container */
-
-  i = 0;
-  while ((child = value_generator (&i)))
-    {
-      node_append_child (container, child);
-
-      run_test_nodes (&root, 1);
-
-      _dbus_list_clear (&((TestTypeNodeContainer*)container)->children);
-      node_destroy (child);
-    }
-
-  node_destroy (root);
-}
-
-static void
-start_next_test (const char *format,
-                 int         expected)
-{
-  n_iterations_completed_this_test = 0;
-  n_iterations_expected_this_test = expected;
-
-  fprintf (stderr, ">>> >>> ");
-  fprintf (stderr, format, 
-           n_iterations_expected_this_test);
-}
-
-static void
-make_and_run_test_nodes (void)
-{
-  int i, j, k, m;
-
-  /* We try to do this in order of "complicatedness" so that test
-   * failures tend to show up in the simplest test case that
-   * demonstrates the failure.  There are also some tests that run
-   * more than once for this reason, first while going through simple
-   * cases, second while going through a broader range of complex
-   * cases.
-   */
-  /* Each basic node. The basic nodes should include:
-   *
-   * - each fixed-size type (in such a way that it has different values each time,
-   *                         so we can tell if we mix two of them up)
-   * - strings of various lengths
-   * - object path
-   * - signature
-   */
-  /* Each container node. The container nodes should include:
-   *
-   *  struct with 1 and 2 copies of the contained item
-   *  array with 0, 1, 2 copies of the contained item
-   *  variant
-   */
-  /*  Let a "value" be a basic node, or a container containing a single basic node.
-   *  Let n_values be the number of such values i.e. (n_container * n_basic + n_basic)
-   *  When iterating through all values to make combinations, do the basic types
-   *  first and the containers second.
-   */
-  /* Each item is shown with its number of iterations to complete so
-   * we can keep a handle on this unit test
-   */
-
-  /* FIXME test just an empty body, no types at all */
-
-  start_next_test ("Each value by itself %d iterations\n", N_VALUES);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *node;
-    i = 0;
-    while ((node = value_generator (&i)))
-      {
-        run_test_nodes (&node, 1);
-
-        node_destroy (node);
-      }
-  }
-
-  start_next_test ("All values in one big toplevel %d iteration\n", 1);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *nodes[N_VALUES];
-
-    i = 0;
-    while ((nodes[i] = value_generator (&i)))
-      ;
-
-    run_test_nodes (nodes, N_VALUES);
-
-    for (i = 0; i < N_VALUES; i++)
-      node_destroy (nodes[i]);
-  }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each value,value pair combination as toplevel, in both orders %d iterations\n",
-                   N_VALUES * N_VALUES);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *nodes[2];
-
-    i = 0;
-    while ((nodes[0] = value_generator (&i)))
-      {
-        j = 0;
-        while ((nodes[1] = value_generator (&j)))
-          {
-            run_test_nodes (nodes, 2);
-
-            node_destroy (nodes[1]);
-          }
-
-        node_destroy (nodes[0]);
-      }
-  }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each container containing each value %d iterations\n",
-                   N_CONTAINERS * N_VALUES);
-  for (i = 0; i < N_CONTAINERS; i++)
-    {
-      const TestTypeNodeClass *container_klass = container_nodes[i];
-
-      make_and_run_values_inside_container (container_klass, 1);
-    }
-
-  n_iterations_completed_this_test = 0;
-  n_iterations_expected_this_test = N_CONTAINERS * N_VALUES;
-  _dbus_verbose (">>> >>> Each container of same container of each value %d iterations\n",
-                 n_iterations_completed_this_test);
-  for (i = 0; i < N_CONTAINERS; i++)
-    {
-      const TestTypeNodeClass *container_klass = container_nodes[i];
-
-      make_and_run_values_inside_container (container_klass, 2);
-    }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each container of same container of same container of each value %d iterations\n",
-                   N_CONTAINERS * N_VALUES);
-  for (i = 0; i < N_CONTAINERS; i++)
-    {
-      const TestTypeNodeClass *container_klass = container_nodes[i];
-
-      make_and_run_values_inside_container (container_klass, 3);
-    }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each value,value pair inside a struct %d iterations\n",
-                   N_VALUES * N_VALUES);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *val1, *val2;
-    TestTypeNode *node;
-
-    node = node_new (&struct_1_class);
-
-    i = 0;
-    while ((val1 = value_generator (&i)))
-      {
-        j = 0;
-        while ((val2 = value_generator (&j)))
-          {
-            TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-
-            node_append_child (node, val1);
-            node_append_child (node, val2);
-
-            run_test_nodes (&node, 1);
-
-            _dbus_list_clear (&container->children);
-            node_destroy (val2);
-          }
-        node_destroy (val1);
-      }
-    node_destroy (node);
-  }
-
-  start_next_test ("All values in one big struct %d iteration\n",
-                   1);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *node;
-    TestTypeNode *child;
-
-    node = node_new (&struct_1_class);
-
-    i = 0;
-    while ((child = value_generator (&i)))
-      node_append_child (node, child);
-
-    run_test_nodes (&node, 1);
-
-    node_destroy (node);
-  }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each value in a large array %d iterations\n",
-                   N_VALUES);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *val;
-    TestTypeNode *node;
-
-    node = node_new (&array_9_class);
-
-    i = 0;
-    while ((val = value_generator (&i)))
-      {
-        TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-
-        node_append_child (node, val);
-
-        run_test_nodes (&node, 1);
-
-        _dbus_list_clear (&container->children);
-        node_destroy (val);
-      }
-
-    node_destroy (node);
-  }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each container of each container of each value %d iterations\n",
-                   N_CONTAINERS * N_CONTAINERS * N_VALUES);
-  for (i = 0; i < N_CONTAINERS; i++)
-    {
-      const TestTypeNodeClass *outer_container_klass = container_nodes[i];
-      TestTypeNode *outer_container = node_new (outer_container_klass);
-
-      for (j = 0; j < N_CONTAINERS; j++)
-        {
-          TestTypeNode *child;
-          const TestTypeNodeClass *inner_container_klass = container_nodes[j];
-          TestTypeNode *inner_container = node_new (inner_container_klass);
-
-          node_append_child (outer_container, inner_container);
-
-          m = 0;
-          while ((child = value_generator (&m)))
-            {
-              node_append_child (inner_container, child);
-
-              run_test_nodes (&outer_container, 1);
-
-              _dbus_list_clear (&((TestTypeNodeContainer*)inner_container)->children);
-              node_destroy (child);
-            }
-          _dbus_list_clear (&((TestTypeNodeContainer*)outer_container)->children);
-          node_destroy (inner_container);
-        }
-      node_destroy (outer_container);
-    }
-
-  start_next_test ("Each container of each container of each container of each value %d iterations\n",
-                   N_CONTAINERS * N_CONTAINERS * N_CONTAINERS * N_VALUES);
-  for (i = 0; i < N_CONTAINERS; i++)
-    {
-      const TestTypeNodeClass *outer_container_klass = container_nodes[i];
-      TestTypeNode *outer_container = node_new (outer_container_klass);
-
-      for (j = 0; j < N_CONTAINERS; j++)
-        {
-          const TestTypeNodeClass *inner_container_klass = container_nodes[j];
-          TestTypeNode *inner_container = node_new (inner_container_klass);
-
-          node_append_child (outer_container, inner_container);
-
-          for (k = 0; k < N_CONTAINERS; k++)
-            {
-              TestTypeNode *child;
-              const TestTypeNodeClass *center_container_klass = container_nodes[k];
-              TestTypeNode *center_container = node_new (center_container_klass);
-
-              node_append_child (inner_container, center_container);
-
-              m = 0;
-              while ((child = value_generator (&m)))
-                {
-                  node_append_child (center_container, child);
-
-                  run_test_nodes (&outer_container, 1);
-
-                  _dbus_list_clear (&((TestTypeNodeContainer*)center_container)->children);
-                  node_destroy (child);
-                }
-              _dbus_list_clear (&((TestTypeNodeContainer*)inner_container)->children);
-              node_destroy (center_container);
-            }
-          _dbus_list_clear (&((TestTypeNodeContainer*)outer_container)->children);
-          node_destroy (inner_container);
-        }
-      node_destroy (outer_container);
-    }
-
-#if 0
-  /* This one takes a really long time, so comment it out for now */
-  start_next_test ("Each value,value,value triplet combination as toplevel, in all orders %d iterations\n",
-                   N_VALUES * N_VALUES * N_VALUES);
-  {
-    TestTypeNode *nodes[3];
-
-    i = 0;
-    while ((nodes[0] = value_generator (&i)))
-      {
-        j = 0;
-        while ((nodes[1] = value_generator (&j)))
-          {
-            k = 0;
-            while ((nodes[2] = value_generator (&k)))
-              {
-                run_test_nodes (nodes, 3);
-
-                node_destroy (nodes[2]);
-              }
-            node_destroy (nodes[1]);
-          }
-        node_destroy (nodes[0]);
-      }
-  }
-#endif /* #if 0 expensive test */
-
-  fprintf (stderr, "%d total iterations of recursive marshaling tests\n",
-           n_iterations_completed_total);
-  fprintf (stderr, "each iteration ran at initial offsets 0 through %d in both big and little endian\n",
-           MAX_INITIAL_OFFSET);
-  fprintf (stderr, "out of memory handling %s tested\n",
-           TEST_OOM_HANDLING ? "was" : "was not");
-}
-
-dbus_bool_t _dbus_marshal_recursive_test (void);
-
-dbus_bool_t
-_dbus_marshal_recursive_test (void)
-{
-  make_and_run_test_nodes ();
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-#if 1
-dbus_bool_t _dbus_marshal_test (void);
-int
-main (int argc, char **argv)
-{
-  _dbus_marshal_test ();
-
-  _dbus_marshal_recursive_test ();
-
-  return 0;
-}
-#endif /* main() */
-
-
-/*
- *
- *
- *         Implementations of each type node class
- *
- *
- *
- */
-
-
-#define SAMPLE_INT32           12345678
-#define SAMPLE_INT32_ALTERNATE 53781429
-static dbus_int32_t
-int32_from_seed (int seed)
-{
-  /* Generate an integer value that's predictable from seed.  We could
-   * just use seed itself, but that would only ever touch one byte of
-   * the int so would miss some kinds of bug.
-   */
-  dbus_int32_t v;
-
-  v = 42; /* just to quiet compiler afaik */
-  switch (seed % 5)
-    {
-    case 0:
-      v = SAMPLE_INT32;
-      break;
-    case 1:
-      v = SAMPLE_INT32_ALTERNATE;
-      break;
-    case 2:
-      v = -1;
-      break;
-    case 3:
-      v = _DBUS_INT_MAX;
-      break;
-    case 4:
-      v = 1;
-      break;
-    }
-
-  if (seed > 1)
-    v *= seed; /* wraps around eventually, which is fine */
-
-  return v;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-int32_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                   DataBlock      *block,
-                   DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                   int             seed)
-{
-  /* also used for uint32 */
-  dbus_int32_t v;
-
-  v = int32_from_seed (seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        &v);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-int32_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                  DataBlock      *block,
-                  DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                  int             seed)
-{
-  /* also used for uint32 */
-  dbus_int32_t v;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (dbus_int32_t*) &v);
-
-  _dbus_assert (v == int32_from_seed (seed));
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-#ifdef DBUS_HAVE_INT64
-static dbus_int64_t
-int64_from_seed (int seed)
-{
-  dbus_int32_t v32;
-  dbus_int64_t v;
-
-  v32 = int32_from_seed (seed);
-
-  v = - (dbus_int32_t) ~ v32;
-  v |= (((dbus_int64_t)v32) << 32);
-
-  return v;
-}
-#endif
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-int64_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                   DataBlock      *block,
-                   DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                   int             seed)
-{
-#ifdef DBUS_HAVE_INT64
-  /* also used for uint64 */
-  dbus_int64_t v;
-
-  v = int64_from_seed (seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        &v);
-#else
-  return TRUE;
-#endif
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-int64_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                  DataBlock      *block,
-                  DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                  int             seed)
-{
-#ifdef DBUS_HAVE_INT64
-  /* also used for uint64 */
-  dbus_int64_t v;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (dbus_int64_t*) &v);
-
-  _dbus_assert (v == int64_from_seed (seed));
-
-  return TRUE;
-#else
-  return TRUE;
-#endif
-}
-
-#define MAX_SAMPLE_STRING_LEN 10
-static void
-string_from_seed (char *buf,
-                  int   len,
-                  int   seed)
-{
-  int i;
-  unsigned char v;
-
-  _dbus_assert (len < MAX_SAMPLE_STRING_LEN);
-
-  v = (unsigned char) ('A' + seed);
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < len)
-    {
-      if (v < 'A' || v > 'z')
-        v = 'A';
-
-      buf[i] = v;
-
-      v += 1;
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  buf[i] = '\0';
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-string_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                    DataBlock      *block,
-                    DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                    int             seed)
-{
-  char buf[MAX_SAMPLE_STRING_LEN];
-
-  string_from_seed (buf, node->klass->subclass_detail,
-                    seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        buf);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-string_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                   DataBlock      *block,
-                   DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                   int             seed)
-{
-  const char *v;
-  char buf[MAX_SAMPLE_STRING_LEN];
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (const char **) &v);
-
-  string_from_seed (buf, node->klass->subclass_detail,
-                    seed);
-
-  if (strcmp (buf, v) != 0)
-    {
-      _dbus_warn ("read string '%s' expected '%s'\n",
-                  v, buf);
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("test failed");
-    }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-#define BOOL_FROM_SEED(seed) (seed % 2)
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-bool_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                  DataBlock      *block,
-                  DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                  int             seed)
-{
-  unsigned char v;
-
-  v = BOOL_FROM_SEED (seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        &v);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-bool_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                 DataBlock      *block,
-                 DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                 int             seed)
-{
-  unsigned char v;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (unsigned char*) &v);
-
-  _dbus_assert (v == BOOL_FROM_SEED (seed));
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-#define BYTE_FROM_SEED(seed) ((unsigned char) int32_from_seed (seed))
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-byte_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                  DataBlock      *block,
-                  DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                  int             seed)
-{
-  unsigned char v;
-
-  v = BYTE_FROM_SEED (seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        &v);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-byte_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                 DataBlock      *block,
-                 DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                 int             seed)
-{
-  unsigned char v;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (unsigned char*) &v);
-
-  _dbus_assert (v == BYTE_FROM_SEED (seed));
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static double
-double_from_seed (int seed)
-{
-  return SAMPLE_INT32 * (double) seed + 0.3;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-double_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                    DataBlock      *block,
-                    DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                    int             seed)
-{
-  double v;
-
-  v = double_from_seed (seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        &v);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-double_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                   DataBlock      *block,
-                   DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                   int             seed)
-{
-  double v;
-  double expected;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (double*) &v);
-
-  expected = double_from_seed (seed);
-
-  if (!_DBUS_DOUBLES_BITWISE_EQUAL (v, expected))
-    {
-#ifdef DBUS_HAVE_INT64
-      _dbus_warn ("Expected double %g got %g\n bits = 0x%llx vs.\n bits = 0x%llx)\n",
-                  expected, v,
-                  *(dbus_uint64_t*)&expected,
-                  *(dbus_uint64_t*)&v);
-#endif
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("test failed");
-    }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-
-#define MAX_SAMPLE_OBJECT_PATH_LEN 10
-static void
-object_path_from_seed (char *buf,
-                       int   seed)
-{
-  int i;
-  unsigned char v;
-
-  v = (unsigned char) ('A' + seed);
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < 8)
-    {
-      if (v < 'A' || v > 'z')
-        v = 'A';
-
-      buf[i] = '/';
-      ++i;
-      buf[i] = v;
-      ++i;
-
-      v += 1;
-    }
-
-  buf[i] = '\0';
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-object_path_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                         DataBlock      *block,
-                         DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                         int             seed)
-{
-  char buf[MAX_SAMPLE_OBJECT_PATH_LEN];
-
-  object_path_from_seed (buf, seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        buf);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-object_path_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                        DataBlock      *block,
-                        DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                        int             seed)
-{
-  const char *v;
-  char buf[MAX_SAMPLE_OBJECT_PATH_LEN];
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (const char **) &v);
-
-  object_path_from_seed (buf, seed);
-
-  if (strcmp (buf, v) != 0)
-    {
-      _dbus_warn ("read object path '%s' expected '%s'\n",
-                  v, buf);
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("test failed");
-    }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-
-#define MAX_SAMPLE_SIGNATURE_LEN 10
-static void
-signature_from_seed (char *buf,
-                     int   seed)
-{
-  int i;
-  const char *s;
-  const char *sample_signatures[] = {
-    "",
-    "ai",
-    "x",
-    "a(ii)",
-    "asax"
-  };
-
-  s = sample_signatures[seed % _DBUS_N_ELEMENTS(sample_signatures)];
-
-  for (i = 0; s[i]; i++)
-    {
-      buf[i] = s[i];
-    }
-  buf[i] = '\0';
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-signature_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                       DataBlock      *block,
-                       DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                       int             seed)
-{
-  char buf[MAX_SAMPLE_SIGNATURE_LEN];
-
-  signature_from_seed (buf, seed);
-
-  return _dbus_type_writer_write_basic (writer,
-                                        node->klass->typecode,
-                                        buf);
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-signature_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                      DataBlock      *block,
-                      DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                      int             seed)
-{
-  const char *v;
-  char buf[MAX_SAMPLE_SIGNATURE_LEN];
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, node->klass->typecode);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_read_basic (reader,
-                                (const char **) &v);
-
-  signature_from_seed (buf, seed);
-
-  if (strcmp (buf, v) != 0)
-    {
-      _dbus_warn ("read signature value '%s' expected '%s'\n",
-                  v, buf);
-      _dbus_assert_not_reached ("test failed");
-    }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-struct_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                    DataBlock      *block,
-                    DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                    int             seed)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DataBlockState saved;
-  DBusTypeWriter sub;
-  int i;
-  int n_copies;
-
-  n_copies = node->klass->subclass_detail;
-
-  _dbus_assert (container->children != NULL);
-
-  data_block_save (block, &saved);
-
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_recurse_struct (writer,
-                                         &sub))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < n_copies)
-    {
-      DBusList *link;
-
-      link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (&container->children);
-      while (link != NULL)
-        {
-          TestTypeNode *child = link->data;
-          DBusList *next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (&container->children, link);
-
-          if (!node_write_value (child, block, &sub, i))
-            {
-              data_block_restore (block, &saved);
-              return FALSE;
-            }
-
-          link = next;
-        }
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (writer, &sub))
-    {
-      data_block_restore (block, &saved);
-      return FALSE;
-    }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-struct_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                   DataBlock      *block,
-                   DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                   int             seed)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DBusTypeReader sub;
-  int i;
-  int n_copies;
-
-  n_copies = node->klass->subclass_detail;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, DBUS_TYPE_STRUCT);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_recurse (reader, &sub);
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < n_copies)
-    {
-      DBusList *link;
-
-      link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (&container->children);
-      while (link != NULL)
-        {
-          TestTypeNode *child = link->data;
-          DBusList *next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (&container->children, link);
-
-          if (!node_read_value (child, block, &sub, i))
-            return FALSE;
-
-          if (i == (n_copies - 1) && next == NULL)
-            NEXT_EXPECTING_FALSE (&sub);
-          else
-            NEXT_EXPECTING_TRUE (&sub);
-
-          link = next;
-        }
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-struct_build_signature (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                        DBusString     *str)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  int i;
-  int orig_len;
-  int n_copies;
-
-  n_copies = node->klass->subclass_detail;
-
-  orig_len = _dbus_string_get_length (str);
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_append_byte (str, DBUS_STRUCT_BEGIN_CHAR))
-    goto oom;
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < n_copies)
-    {
-      DBusList *link;
-
-      link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (&container->children);
-      while (link != NULL)
-        {
-          TestTypeNode *child = link->data;
-          DBusList *next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (&container->children, link);
-
-          if (!node_build_signature (child, str))
-            goto oom;
-
-          link = next;
-        }
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_append_byte (str, DBUS_STRUCT_END_CHAR))
-    goto oom;
-
-  return TRUE;
-
- oom:
-  _dbus_string_set_length (str, orig_len);
-  return FALSE;
-}
+  return FALSE;
+}
 
+/*
+ * Iterate through all values in the given reader, writing a copy of
+ * each value to the writer.  The reader will be moved forward to its
+ * end position.
+ *
+ * If a reader start_after is provided, it should be a reader for the
+ * same data as the reader to be written. Only values occurring after
+ * the value pointed to by start_after will be written to the writer.
+ *
+ * If start_after is provided, then the copy of the reader will be
+ * partial. This means that array lengths will not have been copied.
+ * The assumption is that you wrote a new version of the value at
+ * start_after to the writer. You have to pass in the start position
+ * and length of the new value. (If you are deleting the value
+ * at start_after, pass in 0 for the length.)
+ *
+ * If the fixups parameter is non-#NULL, then any array length that
+ * was read but not written due to start_after will be provided
+ * as a #DBusArrayLenFixup. The fixup contains the position of the
+ * array length in the source data, and the correct array length
+ * assuming you combine the source data before start_after with
+ * the written data at start_after and beyond.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer to copy to
+ * @param reader the reader to copy from
+ * @param start_after #NULL or a reader showing where to start
+ * @param start_after_new_pos the position of start_after equivalent in the target data
+ * @param start_after_new_len the length of start_after equivalent in the target data
+ * @param fixups list to append #DBusArrayLenFixup if the write was partial
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
+ */
 static dbus_bool_t
-array_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                   DataBlock      *block,
-                   DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                   int             seed)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DataBlockState saved;
-  DBusTypeWriter sub;
-  DBusString element_signature;
-  int i;
-  int n_copies;
-
-  n_copies = node->klass->subclass_detail;
-
-  _dbus_assert (container->children != NULL);
-
-  data_block_save (block, &saved);
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_init (&element_signature))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (!node_build_signature (_dbus_list_get_first (&container->children),
-                             &element_signature))
-    goto oom;
-
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_recurse_array (writer,
-                                        _dbus_string_get_const_data (&element_signature),
-                                        &sub))
-    goto oom;
-
-  i = 0;
-  while (i < n_copies)
-    {
-      DBusList *link;
-
-      link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (&container->children);
-      while (link != NULL)
-        {
-          TestTypeNode *child = link->data;
-          DBusList *next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (&container->children, link);
-
-          if (!node_write_value (child, block, &sub, i))
-            goto oom;
-
-          link = next;
-        }
-
-      ++i;
-    }
-
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (writer, &sub))
+_dbus_type_writer_write_reader_partial (DBusTypeWriter       *writer,
+                                        DBusTypeReader       *reader,
+                                        const DBusTypeReader *start_after,
+                                        int                   start_after_new_pos,
+                                        int                   start_after_new_len,
+                                        DBusList            **fixups)
+{
+  DBusTypeWriter orig;
+  int orig_type_len;
+  int orig_value_len;
+  int new_bytes;
+  int orig_enabled;
+
+  orig = *writer;
+  orig_type_len = _dbus_string_get_length (writer->type_str);
+  orig_value_len = _dbus_string_get_length (writer->value_str);
+  orig_enabled = writer->enabled;
+
+  if (start_after)
+    _dbus_type_writer_set_enabled (writer, FALSE);
+
+  if (!writer_write_reader_helper (writer, reader, start_after,
+                                   start_after_new_pos,
+                                   start_after_new_len,
+                                   fixups, FALSE))
     goto oom;
 
-  _dbus_string_free (&element_signature);
+  _dbus_type_writer_set_enabled (writer, orig_enabled);
   return TRUE;
 
  oom:
-  data_block_restore (block, &saved);
-  _dbus_string_free (&element_signature);
-  return FALSE;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-array_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                  DataBlock      *block,
-                  DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                  int             seed)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DBusTypeReader sub;
-  int i;
-  int n_copies;
-
-  n_copies = node->klass->subclass_detail;
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY);
-
-  if (n_copies > 0)
-    {
-      _dbus_assert (!_dbus_type_reader_array_is_empty (reader));
-
-      _dbus_type_reader_recurse (reader, &sub);
-
-      i = 0;
-      while (i < n_copies)
-        {
-          DBusList *link;
-
-          link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (&container->children);
-          while (link != NULL)
-            {
-              TestTypeNode *child = link->data;
-              DBusList *next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (&container->children, link);
-
-              if (!node_read_value (child, block, &sub, i))
-                return FALSE;
-
-              if (i == (n_copies - 1) && next == NULL)
-                NEXT_EXPECTING_FALSE (&sub);
-              else
-                NEXT_EXPECTING_TRUE (&sub);
-
-              link = next;
-            }
-
-          ++i;
-        }
-    }
-  else
+  if (!writer->type_pos_is_expectation)
     {
-      _dbus_assert (_dbus_type_reader_array_is_empty (reader));
+      new_bytes = _dbus_string_get_length (writer->type_str) - orig_type_len;
+      _dbus_string_delete (writer->type_str, orig.type_pos, new_bytes);
     }
+  new_bytes = _dbus_string_get_length (writer->value_str) - orig_value_len;
+  _dbus_string_delete (writer->value_str, orig.value_pos, new_bytes);
 
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-array_build_signature (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                       DBusString     *str)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  int orig_len;
-
-  orig_len = _dbus_string_get_length (str);
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_append_byte (str, DBUS_TYPE_ARRAY))
-    goto oom;
-
-  if (!node_build_signature (_dbus_list_get_first (&container->children),
-                             str))
-    goto oom;
-
-  return TRUE;
-
- oom:
-  _dbus_string_set_length (str, orig_len);
-  return FALSE;
-}
-
- /* 10 is random just to add another seed that we use in the suite */
-#define VARIANT_SEED 10
-
-static dbus_bool_t
-variant_write_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                     DataBlock      *block,
-                     DBusTypeWriter *writer,
-                     int             seed)
-{
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DataBlockState saved;
-  DBusTypeWriter sub;
-  DBusString content_signature;
-  TestTypeNode *child;
-
-  _dbus_assert (container->children != NULL);
-  _dbus_assert (_dbus_list_length_is_one (&container->children));
-
-  child = _dbus_list_get_first (&container->children);
-
-  data_block_save (block, &saved);
-
-  if (!_dbus_string_init (&content_signature))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (!node_build_signature (child,
-                             &content_signature))
-    goto oom;
-
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_recurse_variant (writer,
-                                          _dbus_string_get_const_data (&content_signature),
-                                          &sub))
-    goto oom;
-
-  if (!node_write_value (child, block, &sub, VARIANT_SEED))
-    goto oom;
-
-  if (!_dbus_type_writer_unrecurse (writer, &sub))
-    goto oom;
-
-  _dbus_string_free (&content_signature);
-  return TRUE;
+  *writer = orig;
 
- oom:
-  data_block_restore (block, &saved);
-  _dbus_string_free (&content_signature);
   return FALSE;
 }
 
-static dbus_bool_t
-variant_read_value (TestTypeNode   *node,
-                    DataBlock      *block,
-                    DBusTypeReader *reader,
-                    int             seed)
+/**
+ * Iterate through all values in the given reader, writing a copy of
+ * each value to the writer.  The reader will be moved forward to its
+ * end position.
+ *
+ * @param writer the writer to copy to
+ * @param reader the reader to copy from
+ * @returns #FALSE if no memory
+ */
+dbus_bool_t
+_dbus_type_writer_write_reader (DBusTypeWriter       *writer,
+                                DBusTypeReader       *reader)
 {
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DBusTypeReader sub;
-  TestTypeNode *child;
-
-  _dbus_assert (container->children != NULL);
-  _dbus_assert (_dbus_list_length_is_one (&container->children));
-
-  child = _dbus_list_get_first (&container->children);
-
-  check_expected_type (reader, DBUS_TYPE_VARIANT);
-
-  _dbus_type_reader_recurse (reader, &sub);
-
-  if (!node_read_value (child, block, &sub, VARIANT_SEED))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  NEXT_EXPECTING_FALSE (&sub);
-
-  return TRUE;
+  return _dbus_type_writer_write_reader_partial (writer, reader, NULL, 0, 0, NULL);
 }
 
+/*
+ * If disabled, a writer can still be iterated forward and recursed/unrecursed
+ * but won't write any values. Types will still be written unless the
+ * writer is a "values only" writer, because the writer needs access to
+ * a valid signature to be able to iterate.
+ *
+ * @param writer the type writer
+ * @param enabled #TRUE if values should be written
+ */
 static void
-container_destroy (TestTypeNode *node)
+_dbus_type_writer_set_enabled (DBusTypeWriter   *writer,
+                               dbus_bool_t       enabled)
 {
-  TestTypeNodeContainer *container = (TestTypeNodeContainer*) node;
-  DBusList *link;
-
-  link = _dbus_list_get_first_link (&container->children);
-  while (link != NULL)
-    {
-      TestTypeNode *child = link->data;
-      DBusList *next = _dbus_list_get_next_link (&container->children, link);
-
-      node_destroy (child);
-
-      _dbus_list_free_link (link);
-
-      link = next;
-    }
+  writer->enabled = enabled != FALSE;
 }
 
-#endif /* DBUS_BUILD_TESTS */
+/** @} */ /* end of DBusMarshal group */
+
+/* tests in dbus-marshal-recursive-util.c */