[Tutor] style question: when to "hide" variable, modules

[Kent Johnson]

Kent Johnson wrote:
> The reason that is given for using accessors is that it gives you a 
> layer of flexibility; if you want to change the representation of the 
> data, or make it a computed attribute, you can do that without impacting 
> clients.
> 
> Python, instead, lets you change what attribute access means. The way to 
> do this is with 'properties'. This is kind of an advanced topic, here 
> are two references: http://www.python.org/2.2.1/descrintro.html#property
> http://www.python.org/doc/2.2.3/whatsnew/sect-rellinks.html#SECTION000340000000000000000 

Here is a blog entry that clearly explains the difference between Java and Python on this point. It 
also has a great explanation of why Python IDEs are not as popular as Java IDEs.
http://naeblis.cx/rtomayko/2005/01/20/getters-setters-fuxors

Kent