[Tutor] Getting/setting attributes

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:06:50 am lists wrote:

> As I understand it, it makes most sense to set/get the attribute of
> an object using a method rather than doing it directly.

Heavens no!!! That's backwards!

It might be justified in languages like Java, where you can't easily 
change your mind about direct attribute access. There's also a school 
of thought that disapproves of direct attribute access for a number of 
philosophical reasons, but if you strongly agree with that philosophy 
you'll probably find Python isn't a good language for you. (It has to 
do how much the compiler should forbid the programmer from doing, and 
how much software reliability that buys you.)

90% of the time, stick to direct attribute access, especially for short 
scripts and pre-release versions of software. If and only if you find 
that too limiting, or perhaps not limiting enough, then change to using 
getter and setter functions and properties.



-- 
Steven D'Aprano