autoself 1.0.0

Automagically add 'self' argument to method definitions

autoself: automagically add 'self' argument to method definitions.

First, a disclaimer. Explicit self is good. Bytecode hacks are bad.
Put them together and it's quite clear that THIS MODULE IS AN ABOMINATION!
But, it's a neat excursion into python's lower levels and if you *really*
*really* want to save yourself some keystrokes (like, you're desperately
trying to hack into the Death Star's security system to override the trash
compactor as its cold metal jaws slowly squeeze you to a purple paste) then
it can help you do that. But, stop and consider Guido's proclamation on
the matter:

Having self be explicit is a *good thing*. It makes the code clear by
removing ambiguity about how a variable resolves. It also makes the
difference between functions and methods small.
"Things that will Not Change in Python 3000":
http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-3099/#core-language

This module is not about making 'self' implicit. It doesn't try to change
the way methods work, or make any semantic changes whatsoever. It does one
simple thing: automatically adds the 'self' argument to method definitions.
Think of it as a post-processor for method definitions.

It provides a single function <autoself>. Given a function as argument,
<autoself> will return an equivalent function that takes the variable 'self'
as an extra argument in position zero. If the function does not refer to a
variable named 'self', then it is returned unmodified.

For example, defining the method <likes> using:

def likes(self,ham,eggs):
print self, "likes", ham, "and", eggs

Is equivalent to defining it in the following way:

def likes(ham,eggs):
print self, "likes", ham, "and", eggs
likes = autoself(likes)

Or neater, using the @autoself decorator. Of course, this isn't going to save
you any typing! <autoself> can also be applied to a class, and will
autoselfify all functions in that class's dict:

class HeapsLessTyping:
def likes(ham,eggs):
print self, "likes", ham, "and", eggs
def hates(spam):
print self, "hates", spam
HeapsLessTyping = autoself(HeapsLessTyping)

When it becomes available (Python 2.6?), it will be even more convenient to
use this with the class decorator syntax:

@autoself
class HeapsLessTyping:
def likes(ham,eggs):
print self, "likes", ham, "and", eggs
def hates(spam):
print self, "hates", spam

Want to save even more typing? <autoself> can be used as a metaclass to
work it's magic on all classes defined in a module:

__metaclass__=autoself
class LookNoSelf:
def __init__(my,special,args):
self.my = my
self.special = special
self.args = args
class FiveKeystrokesSaved:
def __init__(this,works,great):
self.this = this
self.works = works
self.great = great

Using this style, you will see a net saving in keystrokes with only
five method definitions per module!