Implement serialization and deserialization of a block

block.go

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/gob"
+	"log"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -13,6 +16,19 @@ type Block struct {
 	Nonce         int
 }
 
+// Serialize serializes the block
+func (b *Block) Serialize() []byte {
+	var result bytes.Buffer
+	encoder := gob.NewEncoder(&result)
+
+	err := encoder.Encode(b)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return result.Bytes()
+}
+
 // NewBlock creates and returns Block
 func NewBlock(data string, prevBlockHash []byte) *Block {
 	block := &Block{time.Now().Unix(), []byte(data), prevBlockHash, []byte{}, 0}
@@ -29,3 +45,16 @@ func NewBlock(data string, prevBlockHash []byte) *Block {
 func NewGenesisBlock() *Block {
 	return NewBlock("Genesis Block", []byte{})
 }
+
+// DeserializeBlock deserializes a block
+func DeserializeBlock(d []byte) *Block {
+	var block Block
+
+	decoder := gob.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(d))
+	err := decoder.Decode(&block)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return &block
+}