Function metadata (like Java annotations) in Python

[Paddy]

oripel wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to attach some attributes to functions and methods, similar
> to Java annotations and .NET attributes.
> I also want to use a convenient decorator for it, something along the
> lines of
>
> @attr(name="xander", age=10)
> def foo():
>   ...
>
> Assigning attributes to the function will work, as will assigning keys
> and values to a dictionary in an attribute. But if there are more
> decorators in the way, this could fail:
>
> @onedec
> @attr(...)
> @twodec
> def foo():
>   ...
>
> Given 'foo' now, how do I find the attributes?
>
> Assigning to a global attribute registry (some interpreter-global
> dictionary), although less desirable, might have been acceptable, but
> then how do I identify the function after it's been wrapped in more
> decorators?
>
> Also, it may be nice to have the following work as well:
>
> @attr(name="Xander")
> @attr(age=10)
> @somedec
> @attr(hobby="knitting")
> def foo():
>   ...
>
>
> Any thoughts? Am I rehashing something old that my search skills didn't
> uncover?
>
> Thanks!
> Ori.

I wrote up my investigation into function attributes and decorators on
my blog:

http://paddy3118.blogspot.com/2006/05/python-function-attributes.html
http://paddy3118.blogspot.com/2006/05/function-attributes-assigned-by.html

What do you think?

- Paddy.