def _get_base_state(self):
        '''
        Get the base state of the object, as defined by the app.layout code, as a python dict
        '''
        base_app_inst = self.stateless_app.as_dash_app().as_dash_instance() # pylint: disable=no-member

        # Get base layout response, from a base object
        base_resp = base_app_inst.locate_endpoint_function('dash-layout')()

        base_obj = json.loads(base_resp.data.decode('utf-8'))

        # Walk the base layout and find all values; insert into base state map
        obj = {}
        base_app_inst.walk_tree_and_extract(base_obj, obj)
        return obj
Get the base state of the object, as defined by the app.layout code, as a python dict