Decorator keyword options

[Michael Sparks]

Paul McGuire wrote:
> Please visit the PythonDecorators Wiki
> page, and navigate to section 6.1 Indicators (or follow this link
>
http://www.python.org/moin/PythonDecorators#head-61f608dbce6ba75b2317d7825d8529997f56fc9e
> )
> (not sure how reliable this is?)  I have started numbering the options
> in preparation for another voting thread, if you have other proposals,
> please include them on this Wiki page, along with your +/0/-
> commentary.

A couple of comments I'd personally make...
   * If you look at longer lists of decorators, what strikes me
     personally is that any format is declaring properties of the
     function that follows.
 
   * It's worth considering is ability for people to search effectively
     for what a piece of syntax means, especially if it's something not
     likely to be heavily used by code. (Consider what happens if you
     google for the phrase: to be or not to be)

     For example would "properties" (not listed as an option) give any
     indication that the function is being changed? "decorate" to a
     greater extent does. "modifiers" or "decorators" (call a spade a
     spade?) might be clearer, is just a noun.

A very useful way of dividing up decorators was posted a week or so
back, which formed the structure of section 6. Personally I think
something similar might be useful here:

   * Use noun or verb
      * If noun, singular or plural? (Sheep excepted)
      * If verb, active or passive
   * Hint at properties or actions
   * Whether to link with the def or not.

"decorate" falls into the verb, passive, action category I think.
"modifiers" falls into the noun, plural, property category I think.
"using" would fall into verb, active, action, linked category

Personally I think noun, plural, property is a non-starter for most
situations (eg classmethod, staticmethod). There's probably similar
examples that work well.

Regards,


Michael.
-- 
Michael.Sparks at rd.bbc.co.uk    
British Broadcasting Corporation, Research and Development
Kingswood Warren, Surrey KT20 6NP

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