Very, Very Green Python User

[Terry Hancock]

On 12 Mar 2006 17:58:43 -0800
hanumizzle at gmail.com wrote:
> Double-underscore methods are rewritten with the class
> name? That's an ugly hack, but remember I'm coming from
> Perl. If the language doesn't pull many other hijinks,
> that's OK.

This is GvR's way of saying "do not use double-underscore
methods". ;-)

You shouldn't ever see the mangled _<classname>__<method>
form, unless you've been very, very naughty.

And if you have been, well, we promise not to tell anybody,
but it's Your Problem [TM].

Seriously, truly private methods are generally not something
you want to mess with in Python. Quite frequently, people
with a C++ or Java background come here and ask for them. A
Frequently Repeated Thread ensues:

0) I want private methods in Python

1) you don't need 'em

2) C++ and Java have 'em and the book says you have to
   have 'em, or you aren't doin' OOP

3) total hogwash -- I can use compiler directives to
   defeat C++/Java "private" variables anyday, so it
   doesn't accomplish anything that isn't easier to
   do by putting "__" in front of it to tell the client
   programmer not to use it.

Then we all go back to coding.

Cheers and good luck with your project,  ;-)
Terry

-- 
Terry Hancock (hancock at AnansiSpaceworks.com)
Anansi Spaceworks http://www.AnansiSpaceworks.com