__name__ on new-style classes

[Michael Hudson]

Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> writes:

> "Gonçalo Rodrigues" wrote:
> > 
> > One can change the name of a classic class but not of a new-style one
> > (see below for example). Is this a bug or a feature, and if the latter
> > is there any reason for the change?
> 
> It's a feature.  The reason for the change is that I've never seen an
> example of a use for it (as opposed to changing an instance's __class__).
> If you have one, let us know.

I've done it, in code that went like:

def wrap(klass):
    class Wrapped(klass):
        ... stuff ...
    Wrapped.__name__ = 'Wrapped(%s.%s)'%(klass.__module__.__name__,
                                         klass.__name)
    return Wrapped

It makes for slightly better error messages.

Cheers,
M.