[Python-Dev] Classes that claim to be defined in __builtin__ but aren't

[Jim Fulton]

James Y Knight wrote:
> There's a fair number of classes that claim they are defined in 
> __builtin__, but do not actually appear there. For example:
> 
>  >>> def qual(clazz):
> ...     return clazz.__module__ + '.' + clazz.__name__
> ...
>  >>> qual(types.GeneratorType)
> '__builtin__.generator'
>  >>> qual(types.FunctionType)
> '__builtin__.function'
>  >>> qual(types.MethodType)
> '__builtin__.instancemethod'
>  >>> qual(types.NoneType)
> '__builtin__.NoneType'
>  >>> qual(types.GeneratorType)
> '__builtin__.generator'
>  >>> __builtin__.generator
> AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'generator'
> [[[etc.]]]
> 
> IMO classes ought to actually appear in __builtin__ if they claim they 
> are defined there. Doing otherwise breaks reflection, as you have to add 
> a special case for these class names to use the appropriate object from 
> the types module instead.  Thoughts?

I agree.

> If it isn't desirable to have these 
> names appear in __builtin__, perhaps their '__module__' should be 
> changed to another module where they are defined?

+1

Jim

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