[Python-Dev] decorator support

[Raymond Hettinger]

In my experiments with decorators, it is common to wrap the original
function with a new function.

After creating the new function, there are efforts to make it look like
the old:

  newf.__doc__  = oldf.__doc__        # copy the docstring
  newf.__dict__.update(oldf.__dict__) # copy attributes
  newf.__name__ = oldf.__name__       # keep the name (new in Py2.4)

All is well and good except the argspec.  Running help() on the new
function gives:

     funcname(*args, **kwds)
        The original docstring

Running help() on the original function gives:

     funcname(arg1, arg2)
        The original docstring

So, it would be nice if there were some support for carrying forward the
argspec to inform help(), calltips(), and inspect().

FWIW, I do know that with sufficient gyrations a decorator could do this
on its own, but it is way too difficult for general use.



Raymond