[Python-Dev] New Super PEP

[Talin]

Calvin Spealman wrote:
> Comments welcome, of course. Bare with my first attempt at crafting a PEP.

See below for comments; In general, I'm having problems understanding 
some of the terms used. I don't have any comments on the technical 
merits of the PEP yet, since I don't completely understand what is being 
said.

> PEP: XXX
> Title: Super As A Keyword
> Version: $Revision$
> Last-Modified: $Date$
> Author: Calvin Spealman <ironfroggy at gmail.com>
> Status: Draft
> Type: Standards Track
> Content-Type: text/x-rst
> Created: 30-Apr-2007
> Python-Version: 2.6
> Post-History:
> 
> 
> Abstract
> ========
> 
> The PEP defines the proposal to enhance the super builtin to work implicitly
> upon the class within which it is used and upon the instance the current
> function was called on. The premise of the new super usage suggested is as
> follows:
> 
>     super.foo(1, 2)
> 
> to replace the old:
> 
>     super(Foo, self).foo(1, 2)
> 
> 
> Rationale
> =========
> 
> The current usage of super requires an explicit passing of both the class and
> instance it must operate from, requiring a breaking of the DRY (Don't Repeat
> Yourself) rule. This hinders any change in class name, and is often considered
> a wart by many.
> 
> 
> Specification
> =============
> 
> Replacing the old usage of super, calls to the next class in the MRO (method
> resolution order) will be made without an explicit super object creation,
> by simply accessing an attribute on the super type directly, which will
> automatically apply the class and instance to perform the proper lookup. The
> following example demonstrates the use of this.

I don't understand the phrase 'by simply accessing an attribute on the 
super type directly'. See below for for more detail.

>     ::
> 
>         class A(object):
>             def f(self):
>                 return 'A'
> 
>         class B(A):
>             def f(self):
>                 return 'B' + super.f()
> 
>         class C(A):
>             def f(self):
>                 return 'C' + super.f()
> 
>         class D(B, C):
>             def f(self):
>                 return 'D' + super.f()
> 
>         assert D().f() == 'DBCA'
> 

The example is clear enough.

> The proposal adds a dynamic attribute lookup to the super type, which will
> automatically determine the proper class and instance parameters. Each super
> attribute lookup identifies these parameters and performs the super lookup on
> the instance, as the current super implementation does with the explicit
> invokation of a super object upon a class and instance.

When you say 'the super type' I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean 
the next class in the MRO, or the base class in which the super method 
is defined? Or something else? What defines the 'proper' class?

Can we have a definition of what a "super object" is?

> The enhancements to the super type will define a new __getattr__ classmethod
> of the super type, which must look backwards to the previous frame and locate
> the instance object. This can be naively determined by located the local named
> by the first argument to the function. Using super outside of a function where
> this is a valid lookup for the instance can be considered undocumented in its
> behavior.

As I am reading this I get the impression that the phrase 'the super 
type' is actually referring to the 'super' keyword itself - for example, 
  you say that the super type has a new __getattr__ classmethod, which I 
read as saying that you can now say "super.x".

> Every class will gain a new special attribute, __super__, which is a super
> object instansiated only with the class it is an attribute of. In this
> capacity, the new super also acts as its own descriptor, create an instance-
> specific super upon lookup.

I'm trying to parse that first sentence. How about "Every class will 
gain a new special attribute, __super__, which refers to an instance of 
the associated super object for that class".

What does the phrase 'the new super' refer to - they keyword 'super', 
the super type, or the super object?

> Much of this was discussed in the thread of the python-dev list, "Fixing super
> anyone?" [1]_.
> 
> Open Issues
> -----------
> 
> __call__ methods
> ''''''''''''''''
> 
> Backward compatability of the super type API raises some issues. Names, the
> lookup of the __call__ of the super type itself, which means a conflict with
> doing an actual super lookup of the __call__ attribute. Namely, the following
> is ambiguous in the current proposal:
> 
>     ::
> 
>         super.__call__(arg)
> 
> Which means the backward compatible API, which involves instansiating the super
> type, will either not be possible, because it will actually do a super lookup
> on the __call__ attribute, or there will be no way to perform a super lookup on
> the __call__ attribute. Both seem unacceptable, so any suggestions are welcome.
> 
> super type's new getattr
> ''''''''''''''''''''''''
> 
> To give the behavior needed, the super type either needs a way to do dynamic
> lookup of attributes on the super type object itself or define a metaclass for
> the builtin type. This author is unsure which, if either, is possible with C-
> defined types.
> 
> When should we create __super__ attributes?
> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
> 
> They either need to be created on class creation or on __super__ attribute
> lookup. For the second, they could be cached, of course, which seems like it
> may be the best idea, if implicit creation of a super object for every class is
> considered too much overhead.
> 
> 
> References
> ==========
> 
> .. [1] Fixing super anyone?
>    (http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-3000/2007-April/006667.html)
> 
> 
> Copyright
> =========
> 
> This document has been placed in the public domain.
> 
> 
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