[Python-Dev] concerns regarding callable() method

[Andrew Koenig]

> I have seen in PEP 3100 that callable() function is planned to be
> removed in Python 3000 with this replacement: "just call the object
> and catch the exception???".  For one, the object (if it is
> callable) can raise exception itself, so you need to somehow to
> differentiate between exception raised inside its __call__ and
> exception raised if object is not callable to begin with.

I seem to recall bringing up the same issue a while ago; at the time, the
answer was that if you need it, you can write your own:

	def callable(x):
		return hasattr(x, '__call__')

My own preference would be for such queries to be defined abstractly as a
built-in part of the language, but apparently my preference is out of sync
with the community in this particular respect.