pydeck's Deck()'s initialization method creates a reference to a model instance, so use tthat

This way, the deck instance can be registered/rendered more directly and be .update()d properly

Author: cpsievert

examples/pydeck/app.py

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import pydeck as pdk
+
+from shiny import *
+from shinywidgets import *
+
+app_ui = ui.page_fluid(
+    ui.input_slider("zoom", "Zoom", 0, 20, 6, step=1),
+    output_widget("pydeck")
+)
+
+def server(input: Inputs, output: Outputs, session: Session):
+
+    UK_ACCIDENTS_DATA = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/visgl/deck.gl-data/master/examples/3d-heatmap/heatmap-data.csv"
+
+    layer = pdk.Layer(
+        "HexagonLayer",  # `type` positional argument is here
+        UK_ACCIDENTS_DATA,
+        get_position=["lng", "lat"],
+        auto_highlight=True,
+        elevation_scale=50,
+        pickable=True,
+        elevation_range=[0, 3000],
+        extruded=True,
+        coverage=1,
+    )
+
+    view_state = pdk.ViewState(
+        longitude=-1.415,
+        latitude=52.2323,
+        zoom=6,
+        min_zoom=5,
+        max_zoom=15,
+        pitch=40.5,
+        bearing=-27.36,
+    )
+
+    deck = pdk.Deck(layers=[layer], initial_view_state=view_state)
+
+    # Register either the deck (or deck_widget) instance
+    register_widget("pydeck", deck)
+
+    @reactive.Effect()
+    def _():
+        deck.initial_view_state.zoom = input.zoom()
+        deck.update()
+
+
+app = App(app_ui, server)

shinywidgets/_shinywidgets.py

@@ -235,9 +235,7 @@ def _as_widget(x: object) -> Widget:
         try:
             from pydeck.widget import DeckGLWidget
 
-            x_ = x.to_json()  # type: ignore
-            x = DeckGLWidget()
-            x.json_input = x_
+            x = x.deck_widget
         except Exception as e:
             raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to coerce {x} into a DeckGLWidget: {e}")