possibly a dumb question

[Hans Nowak]

Adonis wrote:
> sure:
> 
> class foo:
>     def __init__(self, value):
>         return value
> x = foo(0)
> print x ;yeilds 0

So you want to have an object, but use it like it has a certain value, like 0.

This is possible, but only to a certain extent. After x = foo(0), x will always 
be a reference to the instance of foo (unles you rebind it of course). It will 
not be a reference to the value you passed to the foo instance.

In the case of printing, you can define a __repr__ or __str__ method that 
return the value rather than the boring <__main__.Foo instance at 0x008F9EC8>:

 >>> class foo:
	def __init__(self, value):
		self.value = value
	def __repr__(self):
		return repr(self.value)
	
 >>> f = foo(0)
 >>> f
0

By defining other magic methods, you can do more, e.g. treat it like f was a 
number, etc. This may, or may not, be what you're looking for.

If not, using f.value rather than f may be your best bet...

HTH,

-- 
Hans (base64.decodestring('d3VybXlAZWFydGhsaW5rLm5ldA=='))
# decode for email address ;-)
The Pythonic Quarter:: http://www.awaretek.com/nowak/