Python Class Utilities

class-tools is a collection of utilities for Python classes that the author frequently needs.

What can I do with class-tools?

Quickly Add Properties to Classes

from class_tools.decorators import wrapper_property

@wrapper_property("name", default=lambda: "Bob", doc="The dog's name")
@wrapper_property("toy", default=lambda: "ball")
@wrapper_property("sharp_teeth", default=lambda: 4, type=int)
class Dog:
    pass

dog = Dog()
dog.__doc__
# "The dog's name"
dog.name
# 'Bob'
dog.toy
# 'ball'
dog.sharp_teeth = "4" # (set as a string value)
dog.sharp_teeth
# 4 (returned as int)

Add a Pretty __repr__ Method

from class_tools.decorators import *

@with_init_from_properties()
@with_repr_like_init_from_properties()
@wrapper_property("name")
@wrapper_property("furcolor")
class Cat:
    pass

cat = Cat(name="Lucy", furcolor="white")
cat
# Cat(
#     furcolor = 'white',
#     name = 'Lucy'
# )

Make Classes Comparable by Properties

from class_tools.decorators import *

@with_eq_comparing_properties()
@wrapper_property("name")
@wrapper_property("furcolor")
class Cat:
    pass

lucy = Cat()
lucy.name = "Lucy"
lucy.furcolor = "white"
lucy_clone = Cat()
lucy_clone.name = "Lucy"
lucy_clone.furcolor = "white"
gary = Cat()
gary.name = "Gary"
lucy == gary
# False
lucy == lucy_clone
# True

All of the Above

from class_tools.propertyobject import PropertyObject
from class_tools.decorators import wrapper_property

@wrapper_property("name")
@wrapper_property("height", type=float)
@wrapper_property("friends", type=list, default=list)
class Giraffe(PropertyObject):
		pass

matt = Giraffe(name="Matt")
matt.height = 3
gunther = Giraffe(name="Gunther")
gunther.friends.append(matt)
gunther
# Giraffe(
#     friends=[Giraffe(
#         friends=[],
#         height=3.0,
#         name='Matt'
#     )],
#     height=None,
#     name='Gunther'
# )

Installation

The class-tools package is best installed via pip. Run from anywhere:

python3 -m pip install --user class-tools

This downloads and installs the package from the Python Package Index.

You may also install class-tools from the repository root:

python3 -m pip install --user .

Documentation

Documentation of the class-tools package can be found here on GitLab.

Also, the command-line help page python3 -m class-tools -h is your friend.