non-factory functions?

[Richard Brodie]

"Mike Rudnick" <mike.rudnick at mobilian.com> wrote in message
news:3d4e9cba.0110240911.409a66a at posting.google.com...
> I'm new to Python but have a good C/C++ background.  I'm having
> difficulty finding out what Python "factory" functions are.  Are all
> Python functions "factory" functions?

The usual usage is that a factory function is one that returns
a class object. It may select between available classes with the
same interface:

pseudocode example:

def getGraphicsToolkit():
    if hasHardwareAcceleration():
        return AcceleratedToolkit()
    else
        return SimpleToolkit()

toolkit = getGraphicsToolkit()
toolkit.drawCircle(3)