Will python never intend to support private, protected and public?

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 06:31:44 +0200, Fredrik Lundh wrote:

> en.karpachov at ospaz.ru wrote:
> 
>> Looks like you must know every one of the base classes of the NotSoSecret,
>> whether there is some base class named Secret? And, if so, you must also
>> know these classes _implementation_
> 
> that information isn't hidden, so there's nothing "you must know".  finding out
> is a matter of writing a very small program, or tinkering at the interactive prompt
> for a couple of seconds.

Which of course is only possible because Python does not hide information,
it uses semi-private attributes rather than secret private ones, and
allows close to full introspection.

Still, en.karpachov at ospaz.ru's point that you must know the base classes
is correct. It is *easy* to find them out (NotSoSecret.__bases__ should do
it), but if you don't you are taking a chance that your class name doesn't
clash with one of the bases.

In other words, this is a Gotcha, not a world-shattering disaster.


-- 
Steven.