[Python-ideas] JavaScript-Style Object Creation in Python (using a constructor function instead of a class to create objects)

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 11:24:53AM -0700, Guido van Rossum wrote:

> 4. Easily allow to specify a conversion function. For example I have
> some code like below:
>     note that I can store a numpy array while keeping hashability and
> I can make it convert
>    to a numpy array in the constructor.
> 
>  @attr.s(cmp=False, hash=False)
>  class SvgTransform(SvgPicture):
>      child = attr.ib()
>      matrix = attr.ib(convert=numpy.asarray)


I find that completely enigmatic, there's far too much implicit 
behaviour going on behind the scenes. I couldn't even begin to guess 
what SvgTransform as a class does, or what SvgTransform.child and 
SvgTransform.matrix are.

I suppose that's okay for experts to whom the attrs module is second 
nature, but I think this approach is far too "magical" for my tastes. 
Instead of trying to cover every possible use-case from a single 
decorator with a multitude of keyword arguments, I think covering the 
simple cases is enough. Explicitly overriding methods is not a bad 
thing! It is much more comprehensible to see an explicit class with 
methods than a decorator with multiple keyword arguments and callbacks.

I like the namedtuple approach: I think it hits the sweet spot between 
"having to do everything by hand" and "everything is magical".



-- 
Steve