[Python-Dev] How to suppress instance __dict__?

[Guido van Rossum]

> I am generating extension types derived from a type which is derived
> from int 'int' by calling the metaclass; in order to prevent instances
> of the most-derived type from getting an instance __dict__ I am
> putting an empty tuple in the class __dict__ as '__slots__'.  The
> problem with this hack is that it disables pickling of these babies:
> 
>    "a class that defines __slots__ without defining __getstate__
>     cannot be pickled"
> 
> Yes, I can define __getstate__, __setstate__, and __getinitargs__ (the
> only one that can actually do any work, since ints are immutable),
> but I was wondering if there's a more straightforward way to suppress
> the instance __dict__ in the derived classes.

Actually, even __getinitargs__ won't work, because __init__ is called
after the object is created.  In Python 2.3, you'd use __getnewargs__,
but I expect you're still bound to supporting Python 2.2 (Python 2.3
also doesn't have the error message above when pickling).

I think you could subclass the metaclass, override __new__, and delete
the bogus __getstate__ from the type's __dict__.  Then you'll get the
default pickling behavior which ignores slots; that should work just
fine in your case. :-)

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)