[Tutor] Class Attribute "Overloading?"

[Vincent Gulinao]

Sorry about that. I want something like:

class foo:

    def __init__(self):

         self.attr1 = None


    def get_attr1(self):

         if not self.attr1:

             attr1 = <get value from DB, very expensive query>

             self.attr1 = attr1

         return self.attr1


 such that:

foo_instance = foo()

then:

foo_instance.get_attr1()

and

foo_instance.attr1

gets the same value.

Such that you get to derive attr1 only as needed and just once, both outside
and within foo class.

Or is it a bad idea or just plain ugly to do something like that? If it is,
kindly suggest better approach.

Thanks.


On 8/16/07, bob gailer <bgailer at alum.rpi.edu> wrote:
>
> Vincent Gulinao wrote:
> >
> > Sorry, I just started experimenting on Python classes...
> >
> > Is there any way a reference to a class attribute
> > ([class].[attribute]) be treated like a method ([class].[method]())?
> >
> Attributes are objects. A method is an object. If you want to know
> something more specific, please rephrase the question.
>
> I for one don't really know what you want.
> >
> > I have a class with DB component. Some of its attributes are derived
> > from DB and I find it impractical to derive all at once upon __init__.
> >
> > Of course we can use dictionary-like syntax ([class]["[attribute]"])
> > and use __getitem__, checking for existence and None of the attribute
> > before deriving the value from the DB. But I think [class].[attribute]
> > is more conventional (Is it?). Or someone suggest a more Pythonic way.
> >
>
>
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