Why self?

[Mark McEahern]

[Matt Gerrans]
> In Python, I think the required "self" reference in methods is a
> case where the solution is worse than the problem it solves.

What problem do you think it solves?

> Since
> indentation is the method of scoping in Python, this addition of
> five characters to each instance variable is particularly annoying
> -- a one-line statement that contains several instance variables
> can easily become unmanageable.

I personally like the explicit self reference.  I think it's a good idea.
I'm not sure I can explain why, but I'll try...

Python is a dynamic language.  So you can do stuff like this:

class C:pass

c = C()

def x(self):
  if hasattr(self, "name"):
    print self.name
  else:
    print "I don't have a name yet."

C.hello = x

# These two are now equivalent:
c.hello()
C.hello(c)

How is indentation supposed to distinguish def x above as a function from an
unbound method from a bound method?

I think if you consider the full implications of the above example, you'll
understand and perhaps be able to better express than I can why explicit
reference to self in bound methods (is that the right term?) is a good
thing.

// mark

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