python - should I use static methods or top-level functions

Question

I come from a Java background and I\'m new to python. I have a couple scripts that share some helper functions unique to the application related to reading and writing file

Answer 1

It a question of namespace pollution. If you have a module with multiple classes and some functions that only make sense for a certain class and its descendents, then make that a static method. The static method can be called either by using the class name or by using an object of the class.

>>> class A(object):
...     @staticmethod
...     def static_1():
...             print 'i am static'
...     def a(self):
...             self.static_1()
...
>>> A.static_1()
i am static
>>> a=A()
>>> a.a()
i am static
>>> a.static_1()
i am static
>>> class B(A):
...     pass
...
>>> b=B()
>>> b.static_1()
i am static
>>>