variable naming query

[Neil Cerutti]

On 2007-07-12, Ben Finney <bignose+hates-spam at benfinney.id.au> wrote:
>> self.__myvariable
>
> Indicates to the reader that the attribute '__myvariable' is
> not available by that name outside the object, and name
> mangling is automatically done to discourage its use from
> outside the object.

>From _Python Reference Manual (2.3.2) Reserved Classes of
Identifiers:
  
  __* 

      Class-private names. Names in this category, when used
      within the context of a class definition, are re-written to
      use a mangled form to help avoid name clashes between
      ``private'' attributes of base and derived classes.

Further, from the _Python Tutorial (9.6) Private Variables_:

  (Buglet: derivation of a class with the same name as the base
  class makes use of private variables of the base class
  possible.) 

In other words, it's a misfeature that's best avoided.

-- 
Neil Cerutti