override class variable in python?

Question

Below, base_id and _id is a class variable and shared among all child classes.
Is there a way to separate them into each class?

Answer 1

If you don't want to violate the DRY principle like falsetru suggests, you'll need to use metaclasses. I was thinking of writing something up, but there's already a good long description of metaclasses on SO, so check it out.

Metaclasses, in short, let you control subclass creation.

Basically, what you need to do is, upon the creation of a subclass of Parent, add the _id member to the newly-created subclass.