I've found myself using a Python gotcha as a feature.
I've got a budding mail filter program which keeps rule state in a
little class instance. Slightly paraphrased:
class RuleState(object):
def __init__(self, M, maildb_path, maildirs={}):
[...]
self.maildirs = maildirs
The maildirs property is a cache of Maildir objects mapped by their
pathname to avoid opening Maildirs every time they're mentioned. I
create a new RuleState every time I file a message, and of course I want
to share the cache between instances.
Normally we look on the Python default parameter value as a gotcha which
causes the unwary to reuse a single object across the board, causing
unwanted persistence of state.
But here I actually think this is a sane way to make an anonymous single
shared state object for the maildirs cache, absent the caller's intent
to use their own.
I can think of a few potential downsides, but on the whole this is going
to do exactly what I want in this case.
Would experienced users please mock me?
--
Cameron Simpson <c...@zip.com.au> DoD#743
http://www.cskk.ezoshosting.com/cs/
Real Daleks don't climb stairs.... Real Daleks level the building.
- Adrian Tritschler, ajft@ajft_sun.cs.adfa.oz.au
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