python class properties

Question

I\'m trying to find the best way to extend a class variable. Hopefully an example of the method I\'ve come up with so far will make this clear.

class A(object):         


        

Answer 1

Could use a metaclass:

class AutoExtendingFoo(type):

    def __new__(cls, name, bases, attrs):
        foo = []
        for base in bases:
           try:
               foo.extend(getattr(base, 'foo'))
           except AttributeError:
               pass
        try:
            foo.extend(attrs.pop('foo_additions'))
        except KeyError:
            pass
        attrs['foo'] = foo
        return type.__new__(cls, name, bases, attrs)

class A(object):
    __metaclass__ = AutoExtendingFoo
    foo_additions = ['thing1', 'thing2']
    # will have A.foo = ['thing1', 'thing2']

class B(A):
    foo_additions = ['thing3', 'thing4']
    # will have B.foo = ['thing1', 'thing2', 'thing3', 'thing4']

class C(A):
    pass
    # will have C.foo = ['thing1', 'thing2']

class D(B):
    pass
    # will have D.foo = ['thing1', 'thing2', 'thing3', 'thing4']