How to get the special method names by reflection?

[Jim Jinkins]

Each new version of Python is likely to change the lists of keywords, 
builtin names, special method names, etc.  Working through these lists 
to update the syntax coloring file definitions for my favorite editors 
has been time-consuming and error-prone.

I wrote the program below to make it easier for me and for anyone who 
has a different editor.  It automatically gets keywords, builtin names, 
and object methods.

But the only way I have figured out to get the special method names is 
to cut and paste from the online Python Reference, then extract the 
names with the program.  __add__, __hash__, and __getitem__ are examples 
of special names.

Is a way to get the special method names by reflection?  Is there 
another group of words that should be highlighted?

Thanks,

	Jim Jinkins	<Jim -dot_ Jinkins _at- ComPorts :dot: com>

# MakeSyntaxList.py
"""Make lists of Python symbols to cut and paste into a syntax coloring file

In this version the special method names in file SpecialMethods.txt are 
obtained by extracting all sections from the Python Reference
Manual, Section 3.3 Special Names.

Redirect this program's stdout to a text file.  Cut and paste to build a
syntax coloring file for your prefered programmer's editor.
"""

import keyword
import types
import re
import sys

def printList(lst, title):
     print "\n\n\n;;;;;;;; %s ;;;;;;;;" % title
     for le in lst:
         print le

if __name__ == "__main__":
     all_keywords = keyword.kwlist
     all_keywords.sort()

     all_builtins = dir(__builtins__)
     all_builtins.sort()
     # Split all_builtins
     builtinExceptions = []
     builtinNonExceptions = []
     for s in all_builtins:
         if s in ["license", "copyright", "credits", "help"]:
             builtinNonExceptions.append(s)
         else:
             try:
                 obj = eval("%s()" % s)
                 if isinstance(obj, Exception):
                     builtinExceptions.append(s)
                 else:
                     builtinNonExceptions.append(s)
             except Exception, e:
                 builtinNonExceptions.append(s)

     all_types = dir(types)
     all_types.sort()

     object_methods = dir(object)
     object_methods.sort()

     try:
         f = open("SpecialMethods.txt", "r")
     except IOError, e:
         print "%s" % e
         print "Create SpecialMethods.txt by extracting all text from the "
         print "Python Reference Manual, Section 3.3 Special Names."
         sys.exit(1)
     lines = f.readlines()
     f.close()
     pat = re.compile("^.*(__([a-zA-Z0-9]+(_[a-zA-Z0-9]+)*)__).*$")
     sms = []
     for ln in lines:
         m = pat.match(ln)
         if m:
             sms.append(m.group(1))
     sms.sort()
     # Remove duplicate names
     special_methods = [sms[0]] + [sms[i] for i in range(1, len(sms))
             if sms[i] != sms[i - 1]]

     printList(all_keywords, "Python keywords")
     # printList(all_builtins, "All builtin names")
     printList(builtinNonExceptions, "Builtin names not including 
exceptions")
     printList(builtinExceptions, "Builtin exception classes")
     printList(object_methods, "Object methods")
     printList(special_methods, "Special methods")
     printList(all_types, "Type names")