[utils] Backport traverse_obj (etc) from yt-dlp (#31156)

* Backport traverse_obj and closely related function from yt-dlp (code by pukkandan)
* Backport LazyList, variadic(), try_call (code by pukkandan)
* Recast using yt-dlp's newer traverse_obj() implementation and tests (code by grub4k)
* Add tests for Unicode case folding support matching Py3.5+ (requires f102e3d)
* Improve/add tests for variadic, try_call, join_nonempty

Co-authored-by: dirkf <[email protected]>

2 files changed, 662 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/test/test_utils.py b/test/test_utils.py
index f1a748dde..9d364c863 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/test_utils.py
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
 
 # Various small unit tests
 import io
+import itertools
 import json
+import re
 import xml.etree.ElementTree
 
 from youtube_dl.utils import (
@@ -40,11 +42,14 @@ from youtube_dl.utils import (
     get_element_by_attribute,
     get_elements_by_class,
     get_elements_by_attribute,
+    get_first,
     InAdvancePagedList,
     int_or_none,
     intlist_to_bytes,
     is_html,
+    join_nonempty,
     js_to_json,
+    LazyList,
     limit_length,
     merge_dicts,
     mimetype2ext,
@@ -79,6 +84,8 @@ from youtube_dl.utils import (
     strip_or_none,
     subtitles_filename,
     timeconvert,
+    traverse_obj,
+    try_call,
     unescapeHTML,
     unified_strdate,
     unified_timestamp,
@@ -92,6 +99,7 @@ from youtube_dl.utils import (
     urlencode_postdata,
     urshift,
     update_url_query,
+    variadic,
     version_tuple,
     xpath_with_ns,
     xpath_element,
@@ -112,12 +120,18 @@ from youtube_dl.compat import (
     compat_getenv,
     compat_os_name,
     compat_setenv,
+    compat_str,
     compat_urlparse,
     compat_parse_qs,
 )
 
 
 class TestUtil(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    # yt-dlp shim
+    def assertCountEqual(self, expected, got, msg='count should be the same'):
+        return self.assertEqual(len(tuple(expected)), len(tuple(got)), msg=msg)
+
     def test_timeconvert(self):
         self.assertTrue(timeconvert('') is None)
         self.assertTrue(timeconvert('bougrg') is None)
@@ -1478,6 +1492,315 @@ Line 1
         self.assertEqual(clean_podcast_url('https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/chtbl.com/track/5899E/traffic.megaphone.fm/HSW7835899191.mp3'), 'https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HSW7835899191.mp3')
         self.assertEqual(clean_podcast_url('https://play.podtrac.com/npr-344098539/edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/npr/waitwait/2020/10/20201003_waitwait_wwdtmpodcast201003-015621a5-f035-4eca-a9a1-7c118d90bc3c.mp3'), 'https://edge1.pod.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/npr/waitwait/2020/10/20201003_waitwait_wwdtmpodcast201003-015621a5-f035-4eca-a9a1-7c118d90bc3c.mp3')
 
+    def test_LazyList(self):
+        it = list(range(10))
+
+        self.assertEqual(list(LazyList(it)), it)
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it).exhaust(), it)
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[5], it[5])
+
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[5:], it[5:])
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[:5], it[:5])
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[::2], it[::2])
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[1::2], it[1::2])
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[5::-1], it[5::-1])
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[6:2:-2], it[6:2:-2])
+        self.assertEqual(LazyList(it)[::-1], it[::-1])
+
+        self.assertTrue(LazyList(it))
+        self.assertFalse(LazyList(range(0)))
+        self.assertEqual(len(LazyList(it)), len(it))
+        self.assertEqual(repr(LazyList(it)), repr(it))
+        self.assertEqual(compat_str(LazyList(it)), compat_str(it))
+
+        self.assertEqual(list(LazyList(it, reverse=True)), it[::-1])
+        self.assertEqual(list(reversed(LazyList(it))[::-1]), it)
+        self.assertEqual(list(reversed(LazyList(it))[1:3:7]), it[::-1][1:3:7])
+
+    def test_LazyList_laziness(self):
+
+        def test(ll, idx, val, cache):
+            self.assertEqual(ll[idx], val)
+            self.assertEqual(ll._cache, list(cache))
+
+        ll = LazyList(range(10))
+        test(ll, 0, 0, range(1))
+        test(ll, 5, 5, range(6))
+        test(ll, -3, 7, range(10))
+
+        ll = LazyList(range(10), reverse=True)
+        test(ll, -1, 0, range(1))
+        test(ll, 3, 6, range(10))
+
+        ll = LazyList(itertools.count())
+        test(ll, 10, 10, range(11))
+        ll = reversed(ll)
+        test(ll, -15, 14, range(15))
+
+    def test_try_call(self):
+        def total(*x, **kwargs):
+            return sum(x) + sum(kwargs.values())
+
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(None), None,
+                         msg='not a fn should give None')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(lambda: 1), 1,
+                         msg='int fn with no expected_type should give int')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(lambda: 1, expected_type=int), 1,
+                         msg='int fn with expected_type int should give int')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(lambda: 1, expected_type=dict), None,
+                         msg='int fn with wrong expected_type should give None')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(total, args=(0, 1, 0, ), expected_type=int), 1,
+                         msg='fn should accept arglist')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(total, kwargs={'a': 0, 'b': 1, 'c': 0}, expected_type=int), 1,
+                         msg='fn should accept kwargs')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(lambda: 1, expected_type=dict), None,
+                         msg='int fn with no expected_type should give None')
+        self.assertEqual(try_call(lambda x: {}, total, args=(42, ), expected_type=int), 42,
+                         msg='expect first int result with expected_type int')
+
+    def test_variadic(self):
+        self.assertEqual(variadic(None), (None, ))
+        self.assertEqual(variadic('spam'), ('spam', ))
+        self.assertEqual(variadic('spam', allowed_types=dict), 'spam')
+
+    def test_traverse_obj(self):
+        _TEST_DATA = {
+            100: 100,
+            1.2: 1.2,
+            'str': 'str',
+            'None': None,
+            '...': Ellipsis,
+            'urls': [
+                {'index': 0, 'url': 'https://www.example.com/0'},
+                {'index': 1, 'url': 'https://www.example.com/1'},
+            ],
+            'data': (
+                {'index': 2},
+                {'index': 3},
+            ),
+            'dict': {},
+        }
+
+        # Test base functionality
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('str',)), 'str',
+                         msg='allow tuple path')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ['str']), 'str',
+                         msg='allow list path')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, (value for value in ("str",))), 'str',
+                         msg='allow iterable path')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, 'str'), 'str',
+                         msg='single items should be treated as a path')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, None), _TEST_DATA)
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, 100), 100)
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, 1.2), 1.2)
+
+        # Test Ellipsis behavior
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, Ellipsis),
+                              (item for item in _TEST_DATA.values() if item is not None),
+                              msg='`...` should give all values except `None`')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('urls', 0, Ellipsis)), _TEST_DATA['urls'][0].values(),
+                              msg='`...` selection for dicts should select all values')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, (Ellipsis, Ellipsis, 'url')),
+                         ['https://www.example.com/0', 'https://www.example.com/1'],
+                         msg='nested `...` queries should work')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, (Ellipsis, Ellipsis, 'index')), range(4),
+                              msg='`...` query result should be flattened')
+
+        # Test function as key
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, lambda x, y: x == 'urls' and isinstance(y, list)),
+                         [_TEST_DATA['urls']],
+                         msg='function as query key should perform a filter based on (key, value)')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, lambda _, x: isinstance(x[0], compat_str)), {'str'},
+                              msg='exceptions in the query function should be caught')
+
+        # Test alternative paths
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, 'fail', 'str'), 'str',
+                         msg='multiple `paths` should be treated as alternative paths')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, 'str', 100), 'str',
+                         msg='alternatives should exit early')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, 'fail', 'fail'), None,
+                         msg='alternatives should return `default` if exhausted')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, (Ellipsis, 'fail'), 100), 100,
+                         msg='alternatives should track their own branching return')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('dict', Ellipsis), ('data', Ellipsis)), list(_TEST_DATA['data']),
+                         msg='alternatives on empty objects should search further')
+
+        # Test branch and path nesting
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('urls', (3, 0), 'url')), ['https://www.example.com/0'],
+                         msg='tuple as key should be treated as branches')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('urls', [3, 0], 'url')), ['https://www.example.com/0'],
+                         msg='list as key should be treated as branches')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('urls', ((1, 'fail'), (0, 'url')))), ['https://www.example.com/0'],
+                         msg='double nesting in path should be treated as paths')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(['0', [1, 2]], [(0, 1), 0]), [1],
+                         msg='do not fail early on branching')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('urls', ((1, ('fail', 'url')), (0, 'url')))),
+                              ['https://www.example.com/0', 'https://www.example.com/1'],
+                              msg='triple nesting in path should be treated as branches')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, ('urls', ('fail', (Ellipsis, 'url')))),
+                         ['https://www.example.com/0', 'https://www.example.com/1'],
+                         msg='ellipsis as branch path start gets flattened')
+
+        # Test dictionary as key
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: 100, 1: 1.2}), {0: 100, 1: 1.2},
+                         msg='dict key should result in a dict with the same keys')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: ('urls', 0, 'url')}),
+                         {0: 'https://www.example.com/0'},
+                         msg='dict key should allow paths')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: ('urls', (3, 0), 'url')}),
+                         {0: ['https://www.example.com/0']},
+                         msg='tuple in dict path should be treated as branches')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: ('urls', ((1, 'fail'), (0, 'url')))}),
+                         {0: ['https://www.example.com/0']},
+                         msg='double nesting in dict path should be treated as paths')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: ('urls', ((1, ('fail', 'url')), (0, 'url')))}),
+                         {0: ['https://www.example.com/1', 'https://www.example.com/0']},
+                         msg='triple nesting in dict path should be treated as branches')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: 'fail'}), {},
+                         msg='remove `None` values when dict key')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: 'fail'}, default=Ellipsis), {0: Ellipsis},
+                         msg='do not remove `None` values if `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: 'dict'}), {0: {}},
+                         msg='do not remove empty values when dict key')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: 'dict'}, default=Ellipsis), {0: {}},
+                         msg='do not remove empty values when dict key and a default')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TEST_DATA, {0: ('dict', Ellipsis)}), {0: []},
+                         msg='if branch in dict key not successful, return `[]`')
+
+        # Testing default parameter behavior
+        _DEFAULT_DATA = {'None': None, 'int': 0, 'list': []}
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, 'fail'), None,
+                         msg='default value should be `None`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, 'fail', 'fail', default=Ellipsis), Ellipsis,
+                         msg='chained fails should result in default')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, 'None', 'int'), 0,
+                         msg='should not short cirquit on `None`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, 'fail', default=1), 1,
+                         msg='invalid dict key should result in `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, 'None', default=1), 1,
+                         msg='`None` is a deliberate sentinel and should become `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, ('list', 10)), None,
+                         msg='`IndexError` should result in `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, (Ellipsis, 'fail'), default=1), 1,
+                         msg='if branched but not successful return `default` if defined, not `[]`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, (Ellipsis, 'fail'), default=None), None,
+                         msg='if branched but not successful return `default` even if `default` is `None`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, (Ellipsis, 'fail')), [],
+                         msg='if branched but not successful return `[]`, not `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_DEFAULT_DATA, ('list', Ellipsis)), [],
+                         msg='if branched but object is empty return `[]`, not `default`')
+
+        # Testing expected_type behavior
+        _EXPECTED_TYPE_DATA = {'str': 'str', 'int': 0}
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_EXPECTED_TYPE_DATA, 'str', expected_type=compat_str), 'str',
+                         msg='accept matching `expected_type` type')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_EXPECTED_TYPE_DATA, 'str', expected_type=int), None,
+                         msg='reject non matching `expected_type` type')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_EXPECTED_TYPE_DATA, 'int', expected_type=lambda x: compat_str(x)), '0',
+                         msg='transform type using type function')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_EXPECTED_TYPE_DATA, 'str',
+                                      expected_type=lambda _: 1 / 0), None,
+                         msg='wrap expected_type function in try_call')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_EXPECTED_TYPE_DATA, Ellipsis, expected_type=compat_str), ['str'],
+                         msg='eliminate items that expected_type fails on')
+
+        # Test get_all behavior
+        _GET_ALL_DATA = {'key': [0, 1, 2]}
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_GET_ALL_DATA, ('key', Ellipsis), get_all=False), 0,
+                         msg='if not `get_all`, return only first matching value')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_GET_ALL_DATA, Ellipsis, get_all=False), [0, 1, 2],
+                         msg='do not overflatten if not `get_all`')
+
+        # Test casesense behavior
+        _CASESENSE_DATA = {
+            'KeY': 'value0',
+            0: {
+                'KeY': 'value1',
+                0: {'KeY': 'value2'},
+            },
+            # FULLWIDTH LATIN CAPITAL LETTER K
+            '\uff2bey': 'value3',
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_CASESENSE_DATA, 'key'), None,
+                         msg='dict keys should be case sensitive unless `casesense`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_CASESENSE_DATA, 'keY',
+                                      casesense=False), 'value0',
+                         msg='allow non matching key case if `casesense`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_CASESENSE_DATA, '\uff4bey',  # FULLWIDTH LATIN SMALL LETTER K
+                                      casesense=False), 'value3',
+                         msg='allow non matching Unicode key case if `casesense`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_CASESENSE_DATA, (0, ('keY',)),
+                                      casesense=False), ['value1'],
+                         msg='allow non matching key case in branch if `casesense`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_CASESENSE_DATA, (0, ((0, 'keY'),)),
+                                      casesense=False), ['value2'],
+                         msg='allow non matching key case in branch path if `casesense`')
+
+        # Test traverse_string behavior
+        _TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA = {'str': 'str', 1.2: 1.2}
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA, ('str', 0)), None,
+                         msg='do not traverse into string if not `traverse_string`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA, ('str', 0),
+                                      _traverse_string=True), 's',
+                         msg='traverse into string if `traverse_string`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA, (1.2, 1),
+                                      _traverse_string=True), '.',
+                         msg='traverse into converted data if `traverse_string`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA, ('str', Ellipsis),
+                                      _traverse_string=True), list('str'),
+                         msg='`...` branching into string should result in list')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA, ('str', (0, 2)),
+                                      _traverse_string=True), ['s', 'r'],
+                         msg='branching into string should result in list')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_TRAVERSE_STRING_DATA, ('str', lambda _, x: x),
+                                      _traverse_string=True), list('str'),
+                         msg='function branching into string should result in list')
+
+        # Test is_user_input behavior
+        _IS_USER_INPUT_DATA = {'range8': list(range(8))}
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(_IS_USER_INPUT_DATA, ('range8', '3'),
+                                      _is_user_input=True), 3,
+                         msg='allow for string indexing if `is_user_input`')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_IS_USER_INPUT_DATA, ('range8', '3:'),
+                                           _is_user_input=True), tuple(range(8))[3:],
+                              msg='allow for string slice if `is_user_input`')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_IS_USER_INPUT_DATA, ('range8', ':4:2'),
+                                           _is_user_input=True), tuple(range(8))[:4:2],
+                              msg='allow step in string slice if `is_user_input`')
+        self.assertCountEqual(traverse_obj(_IS_USER_INPUT_DATA, ('range8', ':'),
+                                           _is_user_input=True), range(8),
+                              msg='`:` should be treated as `...` if `is_user_input`')
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError, msg='too many params should result in error'):
+            traverse_obj(_IS_USER_INPUT_DATA, ('range8', ':::'), _is_user_input=True)
+
+        # Test re.Match as input obj
+        mobj = re.match(r'^0(12)(?P<group>3)(4)?$', '0123')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, Ellipsis), [x for x in mobj.groups() if x is not None],
+                         msg='`...` on a `re.Match` should give its `groups()`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, lambda k, _: k in (0, 2)), ['0123', '3'],
+                         msg='function on a `re.Match` should give groupno, value starting at 0')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, 'group'), '3',
+                         msg='str key on a `re.Match` should give group with that name')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, 2), '3',
+                         msg='int key on a `re.Match` should give group with that name')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, 'gRoUp', casesense=False), '3',
+                         msg='str key on a `re.Match` should respect casesense')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, 'fail'), None,
+                         msg='failing str key on a `re.Match` should return `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, 'gRoUpS', casesense=False), None,
+                         msg='failing str key on a `re.Match` should return `default`')
+        self.assertEqual(traverse_obj(mobj, 8), None,
+                         msg='failing int key on a `re.Match` should return `default`')
+
+    def test_get_first(self):
+        self.assertEqual(get_first([{'a': None}, {'a': 'spam'}], 'a'), 'spam')
+
+    def test_join_nonempty(self):
+        self.assertEqual(join_nonempty('a', 'b'), 'a-b')
+        self.assertEqual(join_nonempty(
+            'a', 'b', 'c', 'd',
+            from_dict={'a': 'c', 'c': [], 'b': 'd', 'd': None}), 'c-d')
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 23a65a81c..e3c3ccff9 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ from .compat import (
     compat_HTTPError,
     compat_basestring,
     compat_chr,
+    compat_collections_abc,
     compat_cookiejar,
     compat_ctypes_WINFUNCTYPE,
     compat_etree_fromstring,
@@ -1685,6 +1686,7 @@ USER_AGENTS = {
 
 
 NO_DEFAULT = object()
+IDENTITY = lambda x: x
 
 ENGLISH_MONTH_NAMES = [
     'January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May', 'June',
@@ -3867,6 +3869,105 @@ def detect_exe_version(output, version_re=None, unrecognized='present'):
         return unrecognized
 
 
+class LazyList(compat_collections_abc.Sequence):
+    """Lazy immutable list from an iterable
+    Note that slices of a LazyList are lists and not LazyList"""
+
+    class IndexError(IndexError):
+        def __init__(self, cause=None):
+            if cause:
+                # reproduce `raise from`
+                self.__cause__ = cause
+            super(IndexError, self).__init__()
+
+    def __init__(self, iterable, **kwargs):
+        # kwarg-only
+        reverse = kwargs.get('reverse', False)
+        _cache = kwargs.get('_cache')
+
+        self._iterable = iter(iterable)
+        self._cache = [] if _cache is None else _cache
+        self._reversed = reverse
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        if self._reversed:
+            # We need to consume the entire iterable to iterate in reverse
+            for item in self.exhaust():
+                yield item
+            return
+        for item in self._cache:
+            yield item
+        for item in self._iterable:
+            self._cache.append(item)
+            yield item
+
+    def _exhaust(self):
+        self._cache.extend(self._iterable)
+        self._iterable = []  # Discard the emptied iterable to make it pickle-able
+        return self._cache
+
+    def exhaust(self):
+        """Evaluate the entire iterable"""
+        return self._exhaust()[::-1 if self._reversed else 1]
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _reverse_index(x):
+        return None if x is None else ~x
+
+    def __getitem__(self, idx):
+        if isinstance(idx, slice):
+            if self._reversed:
+                idx = slice(self._reverse_index(idx.start), self._reverse_index(idx.stop), -(idx.step or 1))
+            start, stop, step = idx.start, idx.stop, idx.step or 1
+        elif isinstance(idx, int):
+            if self._reversed:
+                idx = self._reverse_index(idx)
+            start, stop, step = idx, idx, 0
+        else:
+            raise TypeError('indices must be integers or slices')
+        if ((start or 0) < 0 or (stop or 0) < 0
+                or (start is None and step < 0)
+                or (stop is None and step > 0)):
+            # We need to consume the entire iterable to be able to slice from the end
+            # Obviously, never use this with infinite iterables
+            self._exhaust()
+            try:
+                return self._cache[idx]
+            except IndexError as e:
+                raise self.IndexError(e)
+        n = max(start or 0, stop or 0) - len(self._cache) + 1
+        if n > 0:
+            self._cache.extend(itertools.islice(self._iterable, n))
+        try:
+            return self._cache[idx]
+        except IndexError as e:
+            raise self.IndexError(e)
+
+    def __bool__(self):
+        try:
+            self[-1] if self._reversed else self[0]
+        except self.IndexError:
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        self._exhaust()
+        return len(self._cache)
+
+    def __reversed__(self):
+        return type(self)(self._iterable, reverse=not self._reversed, _cache=self._cache)
+
+    def __copy__(self):
+        return type(self)(self._iterable, reverse=self._reversed, _cache=self._cache)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        # repr and str should mimic a list. So we exhaust the iterable
+        return repr(self.exhaust())
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return repr(self.exhaust())
+
+
 class PagedList(object):
     def __len__(self):
         # This is only useful for tests
@@ -4092,6 +4193,10 @@ def multipart_encode(data, boundary=None):
     return out, content_type
 
 
+def variadic(x, allowed_types=(compat_str, bytes, dict)):
+    return x if isinstance(x, compat_collections_abc.Iterable) and not isinstance(x, allowed_types) else (x,)
+
+
 def dict_get(d, key_or_keys, default=None, skip_false_values=True):
     if isinstance(key_or_keys, (list, tuple)):
         for key in key_or_keys:
@@ -4102,6 +4207,23 @@ def dict_get(d, key_or_keys, default=None, skip_false_values=True):
     return d.get(key_or_keys, default)
 
 
+def try_call(*funcs, **kwargs):
+
+    # parameter defaults
+    expected_type = kwargs.get('expected_type')
+    fargs = kwargs.get('args', [])
+    fkwargs = kwargs.get('kwargs', {})
+
+    for f in funcs:
+        try:
+            val = f(*fargs, **fkwargs)
+        except (AttributeError, KeyError, TypeError, IndexError, ZeroDivisionError):
+            pass
+        else:
+            if expected_type is None or isinstance(val, expected_type):
+                return val
+
+
 def try_get(src, getter, expected_type=None):
     if not isinstance(getter, (list, tuple)):
         getter = [getter]
@@ -5835,3 +5957,220 @@ def clean_podcast_url(url):
                 st\.fm # https://podsights.com/docs/
             )/e
         )/''', '', url)
+
+
+def traverse_obj(obj, *paths, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Safely traverse nested `dict`s and `Sequence`s
+
+    >>> obj = [{}, {"key": "value"}]
+    >>> traverse_obj(obj, (1, "key"))
+    "value"
+
+    Each of the provided `paths` is tested and the first producing a valid result will be returned.
+    The next path will also be tested if the path branched but no results could be found.
+    Supported values for traversal are `Mapping`, `Sequence` and `re.Match`.
+    A value of None is treated as the absence of a value.
+
+    The paths will be wrapped in `variadic`, so that `'key'` is conveniently the same as `('key', )`.
+
+    The keys in the path can be one of:
+        - `None`:           Return the current object.
+        - `str`/`int`:      Return `obj[key]`. For `re.Match, return `obj.group(key)`.
+        - `slice`:          Branch out and return all values in `obj[key]`.
+        - `Ellipsis`:       Branch out and return a list of all values.
+        - `tuple`/`list`:   Branch out and return a list of all matching values.
+                            Read as: `[traverse_obj(obj, branch) for branch in branches]`.
+        - `function`:       Branch out and return values filtered by the function.
+                            Read as: `[value for key, value in obj if function(key, value)]`.
+                            For `Sequence`s, `key` is the index of the value.
+        - `dict`            Transform the current object and return a matching dict.
+                            Read as: `{key: traverse_obj(obj, path) for key, path in dct.items()}`.
+
+        `tuple`, `list`, and `dict` all support nested paths and branches.
+
+    @params paths           Paths which to traverse by.
+    Keyword arguments:
+    @param default          Value to return if the paths do not match.
+    @param expected_type    If a `type`, only accept final values of this type.
+                            If any other callable, try to call the function on each result.
+    @param get_all          If `False`, return the first matching result, otherwise all matching ones.
+    @param casesense        If `False`, consider string dictionary keys as case insensitive.
+
+    The following are only meant to be used by YoutubeDL.prepare_outtmpl and are not part of the API
+
+    @param _is_user_input    Whether the keys are generated from user input.
+                            If `True` strings get converted to `int`/`slice` if needed.
+    @param _traverse_string  Whether to traverse into objects as strings.
+                            If `True`, any non-compatible object will first be
+                            converted into a string and then traversed into.
+
+
+    @returns                The result of the object traversal.
+                            If successful, `get_all=True`, and the path branches at least once,
+                            then a list of results is returned instead.
+                            A list is always returned if the last path branches and no `default` is given.
+    """
+
+    # parameter defaults
+    default = kwargs.get('default', NO_DEFAULT)
+    expected_type = kwargs.get('expected_type')
+    get_all = kwargs.get('get_all', True)
+    casesense = kwargs.get('casesense', True)
+    _is_user_input = kwargs.get('_is_user_input', False)
+    _traverse_string = kwargs.get('_traverse_string', False)
+
+    # instant compat
+    str = compat_str
+
+    is_sequence = lambda x: isinstance(x, compat_collections_abc.Sequence) and not isinstance(x, (str, bytes))
+    # stand-in until compat_re_Match is added
+    compat_re_Match = type(re.match('a', 'a'))
+    # stand-in until casefold.py is added
+    try:
+        ''.casefold()
+        compat_casefold = lambda s: s.casefold()
+    except AttributeError:
+        compat_casefold = lambda s: s.lower()
+    casefold = lambda k: compat_casefold(k) if isinstance(k, str) else k
+
+    if isinstance(expected_type, type):
+        type_test = lambda val: val if isinstance(val, expected_type) else None
+    else:
+        type_test = lambda val: try_call(expected_type or IDENTITY, args=(val,))
+
+    def from_iterable(iterables):
+        # chain.from_iterable(['ABC', 'DEF']) --> A B C D E F
+        for it in iterables:
+            for item in it:
+                yield item
+
+    def apply_key(key, obj):
+        if obj is None:
+            return
+
+        elif key is None:
+            yield obj
+
+        elif isinstance(key, (list, tuple)):
+            for branch in key:
+                _, result = apply_path(obj, branch)
+                for item in result:
+                    yield item
+
+        elif key is Ellipsis:
+            result = []
+            if isinstance(obj, compat_collections_abc.Mapping):
+                result = obj.values()
+            elif is_sequence(obj):
+                result = obj
+            elif isinstance(obj, compat_re_Match):
+                result = obj.groups()
+            elif _traverse_string:
+                result = str(obj)
+            for item in result:
+                yield item
+
+        elif callable(key):
+            if is_sequence(obj):
+                iter_obj = enumerate(obj)
+            elif isinstance(obj, compat_collections_abc.Mapping):
+                iter_obj = obj.items()
+            elif isinstance(obj, compat_re_Match):
+                iter_obj = enumerate(itertools.chain([obj.group()], obj.groups()))
+            elif _traverse_string:
+                iter_obj = enumerate(str(obj))
+            else:
+                return
+            for item in (v for k, v in iter_obj if try_call(key, args=(k, v))):
+                yield item
+
+        elif isinstance(key, dict):
+            iter_obj = ((k, _traverse_obj(obj, v)) for k, v in key.items())
+            yield dict((k, v if v is not None else default) for k, v in iter_obj
+                       if v is not None or default is not NO_DEFAULT)
+
+        elif isinstance(obj, compat_collections_abc.Mapping):
+            yield (obj.get(key) if casesense or (key in obj)
+                   else next((v for k, v in obj.items() if casefold(k) == key), None))
+
+        elif isinstance(obj, compat_re_Match):
+            if isinstance(key, int) or casesense:
+                try:
+                    yield obj.group(key)
+                    return
+                except IndexError:
+                    pass
+            if not isinstance(key, str):
+                return
+
+            yield next((v for k, v in obj.groupdict().items() if casefold(k) == key), None)
+
+        else:
+            if _is_user_input:
+                key = (int_or_none(key) if ':' not in key
+                       else slice(*map(int_or_none, key.split(':'))))
+
+            if not isinstance(key, (int, slice)):
+                return
+
+            if not is_sequence(obj):
+                if not _traverse_string:
+                    return
+                obj = str(obj)
+
+            try:
+                yield obj[key]
+            except IndexError:
+                pass
+
+    def apply_path(start_obj, path):
+        objs = (start_obj,)
+        has_branched = False
+
+        for key in variadic(path):
+            if _is_user_input and key == ':':
+                key = Ellipsis
+
+            if not casesense and isinstance(key, str):
+                key = compat_casefold(key)
+
+            if key is Ellipsis or isinstance(key, (list, tuple)) or callable(key):
+                has_branched = True
+
+            key_func = functools.partial(apply_key, key)
+            objs = from_iterable(map(key_func, objs))
+
+        return has_branched, objs
+
+    def _traverse_obj(obj, path, use_list=True):
+        has_branched, results = apply_path(obj, path)
+        results = LazyList(x for x in map(type_test, results) if x is not None)
+
+        if get_all and has_branched:
+            return results.exhaust() if results or use_list else None
+
+        return results[0] if results else None
+
+    for index, path in enumerate(paths, 1):
+        use_list = default is NO_DEFAULT and index == len(paths)
+        result = _traverse_obj(obj, path, use_list)
+        if result is not None:
+            return result
+
+    return None if default is NO_DEFAULT else default
+
+
+def get_first(obj, keys, **kwargs):
+    return traverse_obj(obj, (Ellipsis,) + tuple(variadic(keys)), get_all=False, **kwargs)
+
+
+def join_nonempty(*values, **kwargs):
+
+    # parameter defaults
+    delim = kwargs.get('delim', '-')
+    from_dict = kwargs.get('from_dict')
+
+    if from_dict is not None:
+        values = (traverse_obj(from_dict, variadic(v)) for v in values)
+    return delim.join(map(compat_str, filter(None, values)))