Set a flag on the function or a global?

[Ben Finney]

Chris Angelico <rosuav at gmail.com> writes:

> On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 9:57 AM, Steven D'Aprano
> <steve+comp.lang.python at pearwood.info> wrote:
> > I can use a flag set on the function object itself:
> >
> > edir.dunders = False
>
> For most situations, the last one is extremely surprising - attributes
> on functions aren't normally meant to be changed by outside callers,
> it always feels wrong (they belong to the function itself).

I'm surprised by your assertion. To my mind, outside callers get simple
and direct access to the attribute, whereas the code of the function
itself does not have such easy access; unlike ‘self’ for the current
instance of a class, there's no obvious name to use for referring to the
function object within the function object's own code.

In what sense do they “belong to” the function itself *more than* to
outside callers?

-- 
 \       “It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do |
  `\       is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument |
_o__)                        will play itself.” —Johann Sebastian Bach |
Ben Finney