import base64
import json
import numpy as np

class NumpyEncoder(json.JSONEncoder):

    def default(self, obj):
        """If input object is an ndarray it will be converted into a dict
        holding dtype, shape and the data, base64 encoded.
        """
        if isinstance(obj, np.ndarray):
            if obj.flags['C_CONTIGUOUS']:
                obj_data = obj.data
            else:
                cont_obj = np.ascontiguousarray(obj)
                assert(cont_obj.flags['C_CONTIGUOUS'])
                obj_data = cont_obj.data
            data_b64 = base64.b64encode(obj_data)
            return dict(__ndarray__=data_b64,
                        dtype=str(obj.dtype),
                        shape=obj.shape)
        # Let the base class default method raise the TypeError
        return json.JSONEncoder(self, obj)
