IDEA for super (Re: [Python-Dev] Classes and Metaclasses in Smalltalk)

[Greg Ewing]

Guido:

> Will we need to add a "::" operator to Python???

If so, I hope we can find a syntax that doesn't remind
one of C++ so much...

I have an idea! 

How about spelling super(self, MyBaseClass) as

   MyBaseClass[self]

This can be thought of as a sort of "cast" which turns self
into an object which behaves like it were an instance of
MyBaseClass. Then we can write

   MyBaseClass[self].foo(args)

Advantages:
* Concise and uncluttered
* No new syntax needed
* Can be implemented using existing mechanisms
* Doesn't even remotely resemble anything in C++ :-)

Greg Ewing, Computer Science Dept, +--------------------------------------+
University of Canterbury,	   | A citizen of NewZealandCorp, a	  |
Christchurch, New Zealand	   | wholly-owned subsidiary of USA Inc.  |
greg@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz	   +--------------------------------------+