What python idioms for private, protected and public?

[Fredrik Lundh]

Michael Schneider wrote:

> 1) mark an object as dirty in a setter (anytime the object is changed,
> the dirty flag is set without requiring a user to set the dirty flag

properties.

> 2) enforce value constraints (even if just during debugging)

properties.  (when you no longer need to enforce things, switch back
to a plain attribute).

> 3) lazy init, don't bring the data in until needed

properties.

> 4) adding debug info

properties.

> 5) .... more here????

properties.

> It would be easy for me to say "Add public and private to python so I
> can code the way that I am used to".

huh?  what do "private" and "public" have to do with what you're describing?

> What are some python alternatives to achieve the design intents specified
> above above?

properties.

http://users.rcn.com/python/download/Descriptor.htm#properties

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