vbgunz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: ... > Python in a nutshell explains on page 80: Delegating to superclass > method (5.1.6.2 in the ebook) that the first example above (extending
I'm not using "delegate" in any specialized technical sense, e.g. (picking from a google search on [define:delegate]), "person designated to act for or represent another or others". Here, object, not person, of course. What the Learning book chooses to call ``delegate'' is commonly known in the programming world by the (lousy) name "Template Method design pattern" (I like to call it "self-delegation", but that's just me). I regret Ascher and Lutz's choice to muddy the waters by implying that "delegate" has this very specialized meaning... > above, what is the purpose of calling a sub class method from a super > class instance? What is the application to such a design? The reason I > ask is because it is honest to god confusing and I've heard of > delegates before... Forget the naming: the purpose of the Template Method design pattern is to abstract the structure in the superclass while allowing subclasses to see to the details. A great pattern (w/a lousy name). Several of my presentations (you can find them in the english-language half of www.aleax.it) touch on design patterns in Python. I guess I'll have to write a real essay about that sooner or later -- meanwhile, try to make do with my presentations, my posts <http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=&num=50&scoring=r&hl=en&as_epq=tem plate+method&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_ugroup=&as_usubject=&as_uauthors=alex+mart elli&lr=&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=&as_mind=1&as_minm=1&as_miny=1981&as_maxd=21&a s_maxm=3&as_maxy=2006&safe=off>, and what you can find by google search on ["template method" design pattern]... Alex -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
