[capi-sig] How to pass arguments to tp_new and tp_init from subtypes?

[Mateusz Loskot]

Hi,

I'm reading the PEP 253 [1] on subtyping and there are plenty of good
recommendations on how to structure the types, call tp_new and tp_init
slots, etc.
But, it lacks an important note on passing arguments from sub to super type.
It seems the PEP is unfinished as per the note:

(XXX There should be a paragraph or two about argument passing here.)

So, I'm trying to extrapolate some strategies well known from the Python
classes [2] subtyping, especially techniques that each level
strips-off arguments, etc.

I'm looking for techniques to achieve similar effect to this, but
in using plain Python C API (3.x):

class Shape:
    def __init__(self, shapename, **kwds):
        self.shapename = shapename
        super().__init__(**kwds)

class ColoredShape(Shape):
    def __init__(self, color, **kwds):
        self.color = color
        super().__init__(**kwds)

What would be the equivalent in C API?

Also, how to deal with similar situation but with arguments
specific to derived class expected in different order, it is given
at the end of the args tuple (or kwds dict, I assume principle would be same).

Here is some (pseudo-)code that illustrates the situation:

class Base:
   def __init__(self, x, y, z):
      self.x = x
      self.y = y
      self.z = z

class Derived(Base):
   def __init__(self, x, y, a):
      self.a = a
      super().__init__(x, y, None):

Note, if the 'a' was expected first:

Derived.__init__(self, a, x, y)

it would be similar situation to the Shape and ColoredShape above.
It would be easier to deal with, I assume.

[1] http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0253/
[2] http://rhettinger.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/super-considered-super/

Best regards,
-- 
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net