[Python-Dev] Re: Sets: elt in dict, lst.include

[Skip Montanaro]

>>>>> "Tim" == Tim Peters <tim.one@home.com> writes:

    >> (Obviously, lists *do* understand __getitem__ at some level.  Why
    >> isn't it exposed in the method table?)

    Tim> The old type/class split: list is a type, and types spell their
    Tim> "method tables" in ways that have little in common with how classes
    Tim> do it.

The problem that rolls around in the back of my mind from time-to-time is
that since Python doesn't currently support interfaces, checking for
specific methods seems to be the only reasonable way to determine if a
object does what you want or not.

What would break if we decided to simply add __getitem__ (and other sequence
methods) to list object's method table?  Would they foul something up or
would simply sit around quietly waiting for hasattr to notice them?

Skip