Is there a way to convert a python dictionary string with some values as python commands?

Question

How to convert this to a dictionary?

params = "{'cat_features':[X.columns.get_loc(i) for i in cat_vars], 
'num_boost_round':100, 'eta':.01, 'reg_lambda':1.8, 'verbose':False, 
'loss_function':'MultiClass','early_stopping_rounds':5}"

without the first part [X.columns.get_loc(i) for i in cat_vars] I can run ast.literal_eval(), but that doesn't work if there is python code in the string. Any idea how to solve this?

You can use the eval function instead, if you are sure that X.columns.get_loc(i) has no dependencies on external data source; otherwise the use of eval would introduce security risks. — blhsing
– blhsing, Commented Feb 7, 2019 at 21:45
This screams X-Y problem. Why are you dynamically executing a string as python code? Why not create a function and call that function? — juanpa.arrivillaga
– juanpa.arrivillaga, Commented Feb 7, 2019 at 22:14
This is reading a dictionary from a config file. By default the values are read as strings. I need to convert the string into an evaluation... and yes... i can trust the contents of the string but that's not what I asked. — Matt Elgazar
– Matt Elgazar, Commented Feb 7, 2019 at 23:58

user2864740 · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-07 21:53:50Z

3

You can use plain eval.

However, using eval is is risky if the string comes from an non-trusted source because a properly crafted string could execute anything on the computer where the program is running.

edited Feb 7, 2019 at 21:53

user2864740

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answered Feb 7, 2019 at 21:45

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