[Python-Dev] doc behavior in class definitions (original) (raw)

Martin Maly Martin.Maly at microsoft.com
Fri Oct 7 21:15:04 CEST 2005

Hello Python-Dev,

My name is Martin Maly and I am a developer at Microsoft, working on the IronPython project with Jim Hugunin. I am spending lot of time making IronPython compatible with Python to the extent possible.

I came across a case which I am not sure if by design or a bug in Python (Python 2.4.1 (#65, Mar 30 2005, 09:13:57)). Consider following Python module:

module begin

"module doc"

class c: print doc doc = "class doc" (1) print doc

print c.doc

module end

When ran, it prints:

module doc class doc class doc

Based on the binding rules described in the Python documentation, I would expect the code to throw because binding created on the line (1) is local to the class block and all the other doc uses should reference that binding. Apparently, it is not the case.

Is this bug in Python or are doc strings in classes subject to some additional rules?

Thanks Martin

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