My Python annoyances

[Ben Collver]

Chris Mellon wrote:
> You should "check" for the methods by calling them. If the object
> doesn't support the method in question, you will get a runtime
> exception. Premature inspection of an object is rarely useful and
> often outright harmful.

That makes sense, thank you for the response.

What about the case where I have an array of objects that represent some 
particular binary file format.  If the object is a file, then I want to 
copy its contents.  If the object is a string, then I want to write the 
string.  And so forth.

Should I assume that an object is file-like if it has a read method, and 
that I can call the read method without unexpected side effects?

Ben