Optimizing methods away or not?

[Terry Reedy]

Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> I have a class with a method meant to verify internal program logic (not 
> data supplied by the caller). Because it is time-consuming but optional, 
> I treat it as a complex assertion statement, and optimize it away if 
> __debug__ is false:
> 
> class Parrot:
>     def __init__(self, *args):
>         print "Initialising instance..."
>         if __debug__:
>             self.verify()  # check internal program state, not args
>     if __debug__:
>         def verify(self):
>             print "Verifying..."

Given that verify is only called from within _init__, I would put 
everything within one 'if __debug__' statement.  Either inline

         if __debug__:
             <code from verify function>

or if for some reason you really don't like that, nested

         if __debug__:
            def verify():
               print "Verifying..."
            verify()

tjr