[Python-Dev] Object customization

[Tim Peters]

[/F]
>  -0.90000000000000002 on documenting this as "this
>  can be used to store static data in a function"

-1 on that part from me.  I never recommended to do it, I merely predicted
that people *will* do it.  And, they will.

>  +1 on the feature itself.

I remain +0.

[Barry]
> Works for me!  I think function attrs would be a lousy place to put
> statics anyway.

Yes, but the alternatives are also lousy:  a global, or abusing default
args.

    def f():
        f.n = f.n + 1
        return 42
    f.n = 0
    ...
    print "f called", f.n, "times"

vs

    _f_n = 0
    def f():
        global _f_n
        _f_n = _f_n + 1
        return 42
    ...
    print "f called", _f_n, "times"

vs

    def f(n=[0]):
        n[0] = n[0] + 1
        return 42
    ...
    print "f called ??? times"

As soon as s person bumps into the first way, they're likely to adopt it,
simply because it's less lousy than the others on first sight.