[Python-ideas] Changing str(someclass) to return only the class name

[Ka-Ping Yee]

Hi there,

I get that repr() is supposed to be the precise representation
and str() is intended more to be friendly than precise.  My
concern with the proposal is just that this:

     >>> print x
     foo

...doesn't actually feel that friendly to me.  I want to know
that it's *probably* a function or *probably* a class, the same
way that today, when I see:

     >>> print x
     biscuit

     >>> print y
     [1, 2, 3]

I can guess that x is *probably* a string and y is *probably*
a list (e.g. because I know I'm not working with any custom
objects whose __str__ returns those things).

It would create a slightly higher mental burden (or slightly
higher probability of human error) if, when I see:

     >>> print x
     Splat

...I have to remember that x might be a string or a function or
a class.

I'd just like some kind of visual hint as to what it is.  Like:

     >>> print x
     foo()

or:

     >>> print x
     function foo

or:

     >>> print x
     function foo(a, b)

or:

     >>> print x
     class Bar

In fact "function foo(a, b)" would actually be rather useful
in a lot of situations, and I would argue, friendlier than "foo".


--Ping