referencing static methods from class variable

Question

I know it's wired to have such a case but somehow I have it:

class foo
  #static method
  @staticmethod
  def test():
    pass

  # class variable
  c = {'name' : <i want to reference test method here.>}

What's the way to it?

Just for the record:

I believe this should be considered as python worst practices. Using static methods is not really pythoish way if ever...

Also, note that `staticmethod` should not usually be used. Python has normal functions for this application. — Mike Graham, Feb 03 '10 at 18:32

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 03 '10 at 18:05

5

class Foo:
    # static method
    @staticmethod
    def test():
        pass

    # class variable
    c = {'name' : test }

answered Feb 03 '10 at 18:05

Will McCutchen

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3
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score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 04 '10 at 11:14

The problem is static methods in python are descriptor objects. So in the following code:

class Foo:
    # static method
    @staticmethod
    def test():
        pass

    # class variable
    c = {'name' : test }

Foo.c['name'] is the descriptor object, thus is not callable. You would have to type Foo.c['name'].__get__(None, Foo)() to correctly call test() here. If you're unfamiliar with descriptors in python, have a look at the glossary, and there's plenty of docs on the web. Also, have a look at this thread, which seems to be close to your use-case.

To keep things simple, you could probably create that c class attribute just outside of the class definition:

class Foo(object):
  @staticmethod
  def test():
    pass

Foo.c = {'name': Foo.test}

or, if you feel like it, dive in the documentation of __metaclass__.

referencing static methods from class variable

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