[Python-ideas] Dict-like object with property access

Mon Jan 30 21:11:44 CET 2012

Arnaud Delobelle wrote:
> On 30 January 2012 19:25, Ethan Furman <ethan at stoneleaf.us> wrote:
>>> I do. The object has two different interfaces for the same values and
>>> that's IMO unpythonic. The Zen says
>>>>>> "There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it."
>>>> Indeed.
>>>> When you have the attribute name stored in a variable, then the one obvious
>> way is [] access.
>> If it's an attribute, the obvious way is getattr(obj, attrname)

Fair point.
I guess I'll be happy that Python will let me do it the way that works 
better for me. :)
I think the thing to keep in mind is that this Bunch type object is not 
general purpose, like a dict is: it is specialized -- only string keys, 
only keys that don't conflict with methods (or no methods, depending on 
the needs), etc., etc.
My custom object that works this way has attributes/methods divided by 
size: 10 or less and it's an attribute; more and it's a method. Works 
well for me. (10 because that's the maximum size for a field name in a 
dbf table (version 5 and below, anyway).)
~Ethan~