What is the correct (or best) way to subclass the Python set class, adding a new instance variable?

Question

I\'m implementing an object that is almost identical to a set, but requires an extra instance variable, so I am subclassing the built-in set object. What is the best way to

Answer 1

Assuming the other answers are correct, and overriding all the methods is the only way to do this, here's my attempt at a moderately elegant way of doing this. If more instance variables are added, only one piece of code needs to change. Unfortunately if a new binary operator is added to the set object, this code will break, but I don't think there's a way to avoid that. Comments welcome!

def foocopy(f):
    def cf(self, new):
        r = f(self, new)
        r.foo = self.foo
        return r
    return cf

class Fooset(set):
    def __init__(self, s = []):
        set.__init__(self, s)
        if isinstance(s, Fooset):
            self.foo = s.foo
        else:
            self.foo = 'default'

    def copy(self):
        x = set.copy(self)
        x.foo = self.foo
        return x

    @foocopy
    def __and__(self, x):
        return set.__and__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __or__(self, x):
        return set.__or__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __rand__(self, x):
        return set.__rand__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __ror__(self, x):
        return set.__ror__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __rsub__(self, x):
        return set.__rsub__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __rxor__(self, x):
        return set.__rxor__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __sub__(self, x):
        return set.__sub__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def __xor__(self, x):
        return set.__xor__(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def difference(self, x):
        return set.difference(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def intersection(self, x):
        return set.intersection(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def symmetric_difference(self, x):
        return set.symmetric_difference(self, x)

    @foocopy
    def union(self, x):
        return set.union(self, x)


f = Fooset([1,2,4])
f.foo = 'bar'
assert( (f | f).foo == 'bar')