[Python-ideas] Attribute Docstrings and Annotations

[Tony Lownds]

On Jan 1, 2007, at 10:21 PM, Josiah Carlson wrote:

>
> Tony Lownds <tony at PageDNA.com> wrote:
>>
>> I'd like to propose annotations and docstrings on attributes for
>> Python 3000
>> with the following Grammar and properties:
>>
>> expr_stmt: test (':' test ['=' (yield_expr|testlist)] |
>>                   augassign (yield_expr|testlist) |
>>                   [',' testlist] ('=' (yield_expr|testlist))*
>>                  )
> [snip]
>>>>> class X:
>> ...     "class docstring"
>> ...     foo: 1 = 1
>> ...     bar: 2
>> ...     "attribute docstring"
>> ...     attr = None
>> ...     "another attribute docstring"
>> ...     fields = __slots__ = ['fields', 'attr']
>> ...     "docstring ignored"
>> ...     x, y = 1, 2
>> ...
>
> I have never needed attribute annotations, and I've never heard any  
> core
> Python developer talk about it being useful to ahve them.  -1 for the
> feature in any form.
>
> The syntax as described is ugly.  -100 for the feature if it has the
> syntax provided.
>

It's the same syntax as function annotations...

def f(name: annotation = value):
       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

class F:
     name: annotation = value
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The syntax was presented on Guido's blog, too.

http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=87182

-Tony