[Python-Dev] dir, part 2 (original) (raw)

tomer filiba tomerfiliba at gmail.com
Mon Nov 6 16:02:51 CET 2006

so, if you remember, i suggested adding dir to objects, so as to make dir() customizable, remove the deprecated methods and members, and make it symmetrical to other built-in functions.

you can see the original post here: http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-July/067095.html which was generally accepted by the forum: http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2006-July/067139.html

so i went on, now that i have some spare time, to research the issue. the current dir() works as follows: () builtin_dir calls PyObject_Dir to do the trick () if the object is NULL (dir with no argument), return the frame's locals () if the object is a module, we're just using it's dict () if the object is a type, we're using it's dict and bases, but not class (so as not to show the metaclass) () otherwise, it's a "normal object", so we take it's dict, along with methods, members, and dir(class) () create a list of keys from the dict, sort, return

we'll have to change that if we were to introduce dir. my design is: () builtin_dir, if called without an argument, returns the frame's locals () otherwise, it calls PyObject_Dir(self), which would dispatch self.dir() () if self doesn't have dir, default to object.dir(self) () the default object.dir implementation would do the same as today: collect dict, members, methods, and dir(class). by py3k, we'll remove looking into methods and members. () type objects and module objects would implement dir to their liking (as PyObject_Dir does today) () builtin_dir would take care of sorting the list returned by PyObject_Dir

so first i'd want you people to react on my design, maybe you'd find flaws whatever. also, should this become a PEP?

and last, how do i add a new method slot? does it mean i need to change all type-object definitions throughout the codebase? do i add it to some protocol? or directly to the "object protocol"?

-tomer

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