Python 2.2, creating new types from base types

[Jason Orendorff]

> I'll give your approach a try.

I've been thinking about it.
Depending on what you're modeling, you may want to model
each "layer" of the "tree" with a separate class...

class Catalog:
    # Topmost dictionary-like object
    # Use whatever data model makes sense for this level
    def __getitem__(self, key):
        # Consult the data model...
        # Return a ProductLine object

class ProductLine:
    # Use whatever data model makes sense for this level
    def __getitem__(self, key):
        # Consult the data model...
        # Insert fuzzy matching code here...
        # Return a Model object

class Model:
    # etc.

The classes that *need* all the dictionary features can
subclass UserDict; the others shouldn't...

I think you might get more mileage out of this approach.
It's so much more down-to-earth.  :-)  But of course it
depends on what you're doing.

## Jason Orendorff    http://www.jorendorff.com/