[Python-3000] State of the object system

[Terry Reedy]

"Michael Chermside" <mcherm at mcherm.com> wrote in message 
news:20060517053503.oq4mtmzuzmv4s4sw at login.werra.lunarpages.com...
> However, this is more of a practice than a prohibition... it IS
> possible to modify existing classes in Python.

If the class is defined/written in Python.

> Unfortunately, for implementation reasons you can't modify most
> built-in (and some user-defined) classes in this fashion:

Being able to add Python-coded functions as methods of compiled C-coded 
types/classes (builting or otherwise) would require some wrapping machinery 
that would slow down normal usage.

tjr