%global _empty_manifest_terminate_build 0 Name: python-sorcery Version: 0.2.2 Release: 1 Summary: Dark magic delights in Python License: MIT URL: https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery Source0: https://mirrors.nju.edu.cn/pypi/web/packages/f7/8c/15a9df10a6a2c6667a0df1079df1493831e43ecea5133f4a781646b16c1a/sorcery-0.2.2.tar.gz BuildArch: noarch Requires: python3-executing Requires: python3-littleutils Requires: python3-asttokens Requires: python3-wrapt %description # sorcery [![Build Status](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/actions/workflows/pytest.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/actions/workflows/pytest.yml) [![Coverage Status](https://coveralls.io/repos/github/alexmojaki/sorcery/badge.svg?branch=master)](https://coveralls.io/github/alexmojaki/sorcery?branch=master) [![Supports Python 3.5+, including PyPy](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/sorcery.svg)](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/sorcery) This package lets you use and write callables called 'spells' that know where they're being called from and can use that information to do otherwise impossible things. Note: previously spells had a complicated implementation that placed limitations on how they could be called. Now spells are just a thin wrapper around [`executing`](https://github.com/alexmojaki/executing) which is much better. You may be better off using `executing` directly depending on your use case. This repo is now mostly just a fun collection of things to do with it. * [Installation](#installation) * [Quick examples](#quick-examples) * [`assigned_names`](#assigned_names) * [`unpack_keys` and `unpack_attrs`](#unpack_keys-and-unpack_attrs) * [`dict_of`](#dict_of) * [`print_args`](#print_args) * [`call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr`](#call_with_name-and-delegate_to_attr) * [`maybe`](#maybe) * [`timeit`](#timeit) * [`switch`](#switch) * [`select_from`](#select_from) * [How to write your own spells](#how-to-write-your-own-spells) * [Using other spells within spells](#using-other-spells-within-spells) * [Other helpers](#other-helpers) * [Should I actually use this library?](#should-i-actually-use-this-library) ## Installation pip install sorcery ## Quick examples See the docstrings for more detail. from sorcery import (assigned_names, unpack_keys, unpack_attrs, dict_of, print_args, call_with_name, delegate_to_attr, maybe, select_from) ### `assigned_names` Instead of: foo = func('foo') bar = func('bar') write: foo, bar = [func(name) for name in assigned_names()] Instead of: class Thing(Enum): foo = 'foo' bar = 'bar' write: class Thing(Enum): foo, bar = assigned_names() ### `unpack_keys` and `unpack_attrs` Instead of: foo = d['foo'] bar = d['bar'] write: foo, bar = unpack_keys(d) Similarly, instead of: foo = x.foo bar = x.bar write: foo, bar = unpack_attrs(x) ### `dict_of` Instead of: dict(foo=foo, bar=bar, spam=thing()) write: dict_of(foo, bar, spam=thing()) (see also: `magic_kwargs`) ### `print_args` For easy debugging, instead of: print("foo =", foo) print("bar() =", bar()) write: print_args(foo, bar()) To write your own version of this (e.g. if you want to add colour), use `args_with_source`. If you like this, I recommend the `pp` function in the [`snoop`](https://github.com/alexmojaki/snoop) library. ### `call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr` Sometimes you want to create many similar methods which differ only in a string argument which is equal to the name of the method. Given this class: ```python class C: def generic(self, method_name, *args, **kwargs): ... ``` Inside the class definition, instead of: ```python def foo(self, x, y): return self.generic('foo', x, y) def bar(self, z): return self.generic('bar', z) ``` write: ```python foo, bar = call_with_name(generic) ``` For a specific common use case: ```python class Wrapper: def __init__(self, thing): self.thing = thing def foo(self, x, y): return self.thing.foo(x, y) def bar(self, z): return self.thing.bar(z) ``` you can instead write: ```python foo, bar = delegate_to_attr('thing') ``` For a more concrete example, here is a class that wraps a list and has all the usual list methods while ensuring that any methods which usually create a new list actually create a new wrapper: ```python class MyListWrapper(object): def __init__(self, lst): self.list = lst def _make_new_wrapper(self, method_name, *args, **kwargs): method = getattr(self.list, method_name) new_list = method(*args, **kwargs) return type(self)(new_list) append, extend, clear, __repr__, __str__, __eq__, __hash__, \ __contains__, __len__, remove, insert, pop, index, count, \ sort, __iter__, reverse, __iadd__ = spells.delegate_to_attr('list') copy, __add__, __radd__, __mul__, __rmul__ = spells.call_with_name(_make_new_wrapper) ``` Of course, there are less magical DRY ways to accomplish this (e.g. looping over some strings and using `setattr`), but they will not tell your IDE/linter what methods `MyListWrapper` has or doesn't have. ### `maybe` While we wait for the `?.` operator from [PEP 505](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0505/), here's an alternative. Instead of: None if foo is None else foo.bar() write: maybe(foo).bar() If you want a slightly less magical version, consider [pymaybe](https://github.com/ekampf/pymaybe). ### `timeit` Instead of ```python import timeit nums = [3, 1, 2] setup = 'from __main__ import nums' print(timeit.repeat('min(nums)', setup)) print(timeit.repeat('sorted(nums)[0]', setup)) ``` write: ```python import sorcery nums = [3, 1, 2] if sorcery.timeit(): result = min(nums) else: result = sorted(nums)[0] ``` ### `switch` Instead of: ```python if val == 1: x = 1 elif val == 2 or val == bar(): x = spam() elif val == dangerous_function(): x = spam() * 2 else: x = -1 ``` write: ```python x = switch(val, lambda: { 1: 1, {{ 2, bar() }}: spam(), dangerous_function(): spam() * 2 }, default=-1) ``` This really will behave like the if/elif chain above. The dictionary is just some nice syntax, but no dictionary is ever actually created. The keys are evaluated only as needed, in order, and only the matching value is evaluated. ### `select_from` Instead of: ```python cursor.execute(''' SELECT foo, bar FROM my_table WHERE spam = ? AND thing = ? ''', [spam, thing]) for foo, bar in cursor: ... ``` write: ```python for foo, bar in select_from('my_table', where=[spam, thing]): ... ``` ## How to write your own spells Decorate a function with `@spell`. An instance of the class `FrameInfo` will be passed to the first argument of the function, while the other arguments will come from the call. For example: ```python from sorcery import spell @spell def my_spell(frame_info, foo): ... ``` will be called as just `my_spell(foo)`. The most important piece of information you are likely to use is `frame_info.call`. This is the `ast.Call` node where the spell is being called. [Here](https://greentreesnakes.readthedocs.io/en/latest/nodes.html) is some helpful documentation for navigating the AST. Every node also has a `parent` attribute added to it. `frame_info.frame` is the execution frame in which the spell is being called - see the [inspect](https://docs.python.org/3/library/inspect.html) docs for what you can do with this. Those are the essentials. See [the source](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/blob/master/sorcery/spells.py) of various spells for some examples, it's not that complicated. ### Using other spells within spells Sometimes you want to reuse the magic of one spell in another spell. Simply calling the other spell won't do what you want - you want to tell the other spell to act as if it's being called from the place your own spell is called. For this, add insert `.at(frame_info)` between the spell you're using and its arguments. Let's look at a concrete example. Here's the definition of the spell `args_with_source`: ```python @spell def args_with_source(frame_info, *args): """ Returns a list of pairs of: - the source code of the argument - the value of the argument for each argument. For example: args_with_source(foo(), 1+2) is the same as: [ ("foo()", foo()), ("1+2", 3) ] """ ... ``` The magic of `args_with_source` is that it looks at its arguments wherever it's called and extracts their source code. Here is a simplified implementation of the `print_args` spell which uses that magic: ```python @spell def simple_print_args(frame_info, *args): for source, arg in args_with_source.at(frame_info)(*args): print(source, '=', arg) ``` Then when you call `simple_print_args(foo(), 1+2)`, the `Call` node of that expression will be passed down to `args_with_source.at(frame_info)` so that the source is extracted from the correct arguments. Simply writing `args_with_source(*args)` would be wrong, as that would give the source `"*args"`. ### Other helpers That's all you really need to get started writing a spell, but here are pointers to some other stuff that might help. See the docstrings for details. The module `sorcery.core` has these helper functions: - `node_names(node: ast.AST) -> Tuple[str]` - `node_name(node: ast.AST) -> str` - `statement_containing_node(node: ast.AST) -> ast.stmt:` `FrameInfo` has these methods: - `assigned_names(...)` - `get_source(self, node: ast.AST) -> str` ## Should I actually use this library? If you're still getting the hang of Python, no. This will lead to confusion about what is normal and expected in Python and will hamper your learning. In a serious business or production context, I wouldn't recommend most of the spells unless you're quite careful. Their unusual nature may confuse other readers of the code, and tying the behaviour of your code to things like the names of variables may not be good for readability and refactoring. There are some exceptions though: - `call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr` - `assigned_names` for making `Enum`s. - `print_args` when debugging If you're writing code where performance and stability aren't critical, e.g. if it's for fun or you just want to get some code down as fast as possible and you can polish it later, then go for it. The point of this library is not just to be used in actual code. It's a way to explore and think about API and language design, readability, and the limits of Python itself. It was fun to create and I hope others can have fun playing around with it. Come [have a chat](https://gitter.im/python-sorcery/Lobby) about what spells you think would be cool, what features you wish Python had, or what crazy projects you want to create. If you're interested in this stuff, particularly creative uses of the Python AST, you may also be interested in: - [executing](https://github.com/alexmojaki/executing) the backbone of this library - [snoop](https://github.com/alexmojaki/snoop): a feature-rich and convenient debugging library which also uses `executing` as well as various other magic and tricks - [birdseye](https://github.com/alexmojaki/birdseye): a debugger which records the value of every expression - [MacroPy](https://github.com/lihaoyi/macropy): syntactic macros in Python by transforming the AST at import time %package -n python3-sorcery Summary: Dark magic delights in Python Provides: python-sorcery BuildRequires: python3-devel BuildRequires: python3-setuptools BuildRequires: python3-pip %description -n python3-sorcery # sorcery [![Build Status](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/actions/workflows/pytest.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/actions/workflows/pytest.yml) [![Coverage Status](https://coveralls.io/repos/github/alexmojaki/sorcery/badge.svg?branch=master)](https://coveralls.io/github/alexmojaki/sorcery?branch=master) [![Supports Python 3.5+, including PyPy](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/sorcery.svg)](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/sorcery) This package lets you use and write callables called 'spells' that know where they're being called from and can use that information to do otherwise impossible things. Note: previously spells had a complicated implementation that placed limitations on how they could be called. Now spells are just a thin wrapper around [`executing`](https://github.com/alexmojaki/executing) which is much better. You may be better off using `executing` directly depending on your use case. This repo is now mostly just a fun collection of things to do with it. * [Installation](#installation) * [Quick examples](#quick-examples) * [`assigned_names`](#assigned_names) * [`unpack_keys` and `unpack_attrs`](#unpack_keys-and-unpack_attrs) * [`dict_of`](#dict_of) * [`print_args`](#print_args) * [`call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr`](#call_with_name-and-delegate_to_attr) * [`maybe`](#maybe) * [`timeit`](#timeit) * [`switch`](#switch) * [`select_from`](#select_from) * [How to write your own spells](#how-to-write-your-own-spells) * [Using other spells within spells](#using-other-spells-within-spells) * [Other helpers](#other-helpers) * [Should I actually use this library?](#should-i-actually-use-this-library) ## Installation pip install sorcery ## Quick examples See the docstrings for more detail. from sorcery import (assigned_names, unpack_keys, unpack_attrs, dict_of, print_args, call_with_name, delegate_to_attr, maybe, select_from) ### `assigned_names` Instead of: foo = func('foo') bar = func('bar') write: foo, bar = [func(name) for name in assigned_names()] Instead of: class Thing(Enum): foo = 'foo' bar = 'bar' write: class Thing(Enum): foo, bar = assigned_names() ### `unpack_keys` and `unpack_attrs` Instead of: foo = d['foo'] bar = d['bar'] write: foo, bar = unpack_keys(d) Similarly, instead of: foo = x.foo bar = x.bar write: foo, bar = unpack_attrs(x) ### `dict_of` Instead of: dict(foo=foo, bar=bar, spam=thing()) write: dict_of(foo, bar, spam=thing()) (see also: `magic_kwargs`) ### `print_args` For easy debugging, instead of: print("foo =", foo) print("bar() =", bar()) write: print_args(foo, bar()) To write your own version of this (e.g. if you want to add colour), use `args_with_source`. If you like this, I recommend the `pp` function in the [`snoop`](https://github.com/alexmojaki/snoop) library. ### `call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr` Sometimes you want to create many similar methods which differ only in a string argument which is equal to the name of the method. Given this class: ```python class C: def generic(self, method_name, *args, **kwargs): ... ``` Inside the class definition, instead of: ```python def foo(self, x, y): return self.generic('foo', x, y) def bar(self, z): return self.generic('bar', z) ``` write: ```python foo, bar = call_with_name(generic) ``` For a specific common use case: ```python class Wrapper: def __init__(self, thing): self.thing = thing def foo(self, x, y): return self.thing.foo(x, y) def bar(self, z): return self.thing.bar(z) ``` you can instead write: ```python foo, bar = delegate_to_attr('thing') ``` For a more concrete example, here is a class that wraps a list and has all the usual list methods while ensuring that any methods which usually create a new list actually create a new wrapper: ```python class MyListWrapper(object): def __init__(self, lst): self.list = lst def _make_new_wrapper(self, method_name, *args, **kwargs): method = getattr(self.list, method_name) new_list = method(*args, **kwargs) return type(self)(new_list) append, extend, clear, __repr__, __str__, __eq__, __hash__, \ __contains__, __len__, remove, insert, pop, index, count, \ sort, __iter__, reverse, __iadd__ = spells.delegate_to_attr('list') copy, __add__, __radd__, __mul__, __rmul__ = spells.call_with_name(_make_new_wrapper) ``` Of course, there are less magical DRY ways to accomplish this (e.g. looping over some strings and using `setattr`), but they will not tell your IDE/linter what methods `MyListWrapper` has or doesn't have. ### `maybe` While we wait for the `?.` operator from [PEP 505](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0505/), here's an alternative. Instead of: None if foo is None else foo.bar() write: maybe(foo).bar() If you want a slightly less magical version, consider [pymaybe](https://github.com/ekampf/pymaybe). ### `timeit` Instead of ```python import timeit nums = [3, 1, 2] setup = 'from __main__ import nums' print(timeit.repeat('min(nums)', setup)) print(timeit.repeat('sorted(nums)[0]', setup)) ``` write: ```python import sorcery nums = [3, 1, 2] if sorcery.timeit(): result = min(nums) else: result = sorted(nums)[0] ``` ### `switch` Instead of: ```python if val == 1: x = 1 elif val == 2 or val == bar(): x = spam() elif val == dangerous_function(): x = spam() * 2 else: x = -1 ``` write: ```python x = switch(val, lambda: { 1: 1, {{ 2, bar() }}: spam(), dangerous_function(): spam() * 2 }, default=-1) ``` This really will behave like the if/elif chain above. The dictionary is just some nice syntax, but no dictionary is ever actually created. The keys are evaluated only as needed, in order, and only the matching value is evaluated. ### `select_from` Instead of: ```python cursor.execute(''' SELECT foo, bar FROM my_table WHERE spam = ? AND thing = ? ''', [spam, thing]) for foo, bar in cursor: ... ``` write: ```python for foo, bar in select_from('my_table', where=[spam, thing]): ... ``` ## How to write your own spells Decorate a function with `@spell`. An instance of the class `FrameInfo` will be passed to the first argument of the function, while the other arguments will come from the call. For example: ```python from sorcery import spell @spell def my_spell(frame_info, foo): ... ``` will be called as just `my_spell(foo)`. The most important piece of information you are likely to use is `frame_info.call`. This is the `ast.Call` node where the spell is being called. [Here](https://greentreesnakes.readthedocs.io/en/latest/nodes.html) is some helpful documentation for navigating the AST. Every node also has a `parent` attribute added to it. `frame_info.frame` is the execution frame in which the spell is being called - see the [inspect](https://docs.python.org/3/library/inspect.html) docs for what you can do with this. Those are the essentials. See [the source](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/blob/master/sorcery/spells.py) of various spells for some examples, it's not that complicated. ### Using other spells within spells Sometimes you want to reuse the magic of one spell in another spell. Simply calling the other spell won't do what you want - you want to tell the other spell to act as if it's being called from the place your own spell is called. For this, add insert `.at(frame_info)` between the spell you're using and its arguments. Let's look at a concrete example. Here's the definition of the spell `args_with_source`: ```python @spell def args_with_source(frame_info, *args): """ Returns a list of pairs of: - the source code of the argument - the value of the argument for each argument. For example: args_with_source(foo(), 1+2) is the same as: [ ("foo()", foo()), ("1+2", 3) ] """ ... ``` The magic of `args_with_source` is that it looks at its arguments wherever it's called and extracts their source code. Here is a simplified implementation of the `print_args` spell which uses that magic: ```python @spell def simple_print_args(frame_info, *args): for source, arg in args_with_source.at(frame_info)(*args): print(source, '=', arg) ``` Then when you call `simple_print_args(foo(), 1+2)`, the `Call` node of that expression will be passed down to `args_with_source.at(frame_info)` so that the source is extracted from the correct arguments. Simply writing `args_with_source(*args)` would be wrong, as that would give the source `"*args"`. ### Other helpers That's all you really need to get started writing a spell, but here are pointers to some other stuff that might help. See the docstrings for details. The module `sorcery.core` has these helper functions: - `node_names(node: ast.AST) -> Tuple[str]` - `node_name(node: ast.AST) -> str` - `statement_containing_node(node: ast.AST) -> ast.stmt:` `FrameInfo` has these methods: - `assigned_names(...)` - `get_source(self, node: ast.AST) -> str` ## Should I actually use this library? If you're still getting the hang of Python, no. This will lead to confusion about what is normal and expected in Python and will hamper your learning. In a serious business or production context, I wouldn't recommend most of the spells unless you're quite careful. Their unusual nature may confuse other readers of the code, and tying the behaviour of your code to things like the names of variables may not be good for readability and refactoring. There are some exceptions though: - `call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr` - `assigned_names` for making `Enum`s. - `print_args` when debugging If you're writing code where performance and stability aren't critical, e.g. if it's for fun or you just want to get some code down as fast as possible and you can polish it later, then go for it. The point of this library is not just to be used in actual code. It's a way to explore and think about API and language design, readability, and the limits of Python itself. It was fun to create and I hope others can have fun playing around with it. Come [have a chat](https://gitter.im/python-sorcery/Lobby) about what spells you think would be cool, what features you wish Python had, or what crazy projects you want to create. If you're interested in this stuff, particularly creative uses of the Python AST, you may also be interested in: - [executing](https://github.com/alexmojaki/executing) the backbone of this library - [snoop](https://github.com/alexmojaki/snoop): a feature-rich and convenient debugging library which also uses `executing` as well as various other magic and tricks - [birdseye](https://github.com/alexmojaki/birdseye): a debugger which records the value of every expression - [MacroPy](https://github.com/lihaoyi/macropy): syntactic macros in Python by transforming the AST at import time %package help Summary: Development documents and examples for sorcery Provides: python3-sorcery-doc %description help # sorcery [![Build Status](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/actions/workflows/pytest.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/actions/workflows/pytest.yml) [![Coverage Status](https://coveralls.io/repos/github/alexmojaki/sorcery/badge.svg?branch=master)](https://coveralls.io/github/alexmojaki/sorcery?branch=master) [![Supports Python 3.5+, including PyPy](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/sorcery.svg)](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/sorcery) This package lets you use and write callables called 'spells' that know where they're being called from and can use that information to do otherwise impossible things. Note: previously spells had a complicated implementation that placed limitations on how they could be called. Now spells are just a thin wrapper around [`executing`](https://github.com/alexmojaki/executing) which is much better. You may be better off using `executing` directly depending on your use case. This repo is now mostly just a fun collection of things to do with it. * [Installation](#installation) * [Quick examples](#quick-examples) * [`assigned_names`](#assigned_names) * [`unpack_keys` and `unpack_attrs`](#unpack_keys-and-unpack_attrs) * [`dict_of`](#dict_of) * [`print_args`](#print_args) * [`call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr`](#call_with_name-and-delegate_to_attr) * [`maybe`](#maybe) * [`timeit`](#timeit) * [`switch`](#switch) * [`select_from`](#select_from) * [How to write your own spells](#how-to-write-your-own-spells) * [Using other spells within spells](#using-other-spells-within-spells) * [Other helpers](#other-helpers) * [Should I actually use this library?](#should-i-actually-use-this-library) ## Installation pip install sorcery ## Quick examples See the docstrings for more detail. from sorcery import (assigned_names, unpack_keys, unpack_attrs, dict_of, print_args, call_with_name, delegate_to_attr, maybe, select_from) ### `assigned_names` Instead of: foo = func('foo') bar = func('bar') write: foo, bar = [func(name) for name in assigned_names()] Instead of: class Thing(Enum): foo = 'foo' bar = 'bar' write: class Thing(Enum): foo, bar = assigned_names() ### `unpack_keys` and `unpack_attrs` Instead of: foo = d['foo'] bar = d['bar'] write: foo, bar = unpack_keys(d) Similarly, instead of: foo = x.foo bar = x.bar write: foo, bar = unpack_attrs(x) ### `dict_of` Instead of: dict(foo=foo, bar=bar, spam=thing()) write: dict_of(foo, bar, spam=thing()) (see also: `magic_kwargs`) ### `print_args` For easy debugging, instead of: print("foo =", foo) print("bar() =", bar()) write: print_args(foo, bar()) To write your own version of this (e.g. if you want to add colour), use `args_with_source`. If you like this, I recommend the `pp` function in the [`snoop`](https://github.com/alexmojaki/snoop) library. ### `call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr` Sometimes you want to create many similar methods which differ only in a string argument which is equal to the name of the method. Given this class: ```python class C: def generic(self, method_name, *args, **kwargs): ... ``` Inside the class definition, instead of: ```python def foo(self, x, y): return self.generic('foo', x, y) def bar(self, z): return self.generic('bar', z) ``` write: ```python foo, bar = call_with_name(generic) ``` For a specific common use case: ```python class Wrapper: def __init__(self, thing): self.thing = thing def foo(self, x, y): return self.thing.foo(x, y) def bar(self, z): return self.thing.bar(z) ``` you can instead write: ```python foo, bar = delegate_to_attr('thing') ``` For a more concrete example, here is a class that wraps a list and has all the usual list methods while ensuring that any methods which usually create a new list actually create a new wrapper: ```python class MyListWrapper(object): def __init__(self, lst): self.list = lst def _make_new_wrapper(self, method_name, *args, **kwargs): method = getattr(self.list, method_name) new_list = method(*args, **kwargs) return type(self)(new_list) append, extend, clear, __repr__, __str__, __eq__, __hash__, \ __contains__, __len__, remove, insert, pop, index, count, \ sort, __iter__, reverse, __iadd__ = spells.delegate_to_attr('list') copy, __add__, __radd__, __mul__, __rmul__ = spells.call_with_name(_make_new_wrapper) ``` Of course, there are less magical DRY ways to accomplish this (e.g. looping over some strings and using `setattr`), but they will not tell your IDE/linter what methods `MyListWrapper` has or doesn't have. ### `maybe` While we wait for the `?.` operator from [PEP 505](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0505/), here's an alternative. Instead of: None if foo is None else foo.bar() write: maybe(foo).bar() If you want a slightly less magical version, consider [pymaybe](https://github.com/ekampf/pymaybe). ### `timeit` Instead of ```python import timeit nums = [3, 1, 2] setup = 'from __main__ import nums' print(timeit.repeat('min(nums)', setup)) print(timeit.repeat('sorted(nums)[0]', setup)) ``` write: ```python import sorcery nums = [3, 1, 2] if sorcery.timeit(): result = min(nums) else: result = sorted(nums)[0] ``` ### `switch` Instead of: ```python if val == 1: x = 1 elif val == 2 or val == bar(): x = spam() elif val == dangerous_function(): x = spam() * 2 else: x = -1 ``` write: ```python x = switch(val, lambda: { 1: 1, {{ 2, bar() }}: spam(), dangerous_function(): spam() * 2 }, default=-1) ``` This really will behave like the if/elif chain above. The dictionary is just some nice syntax, but no dictionary is ever actually created. The keys are evaluated only as needed, in order, and only the matching value is evaluated. ### `select_from` Instead of: ```python cursor.execute(''' SELECT foo, bar FROM my_table WHERE spam = ? AND thing = ? ''', [spam, thing]) for foo, bar in cursor: ... ``` write: ```python for foo, bar in select_from('my_table', where=[spam, thing]): ... ``` ## How to write your own spells Decorate a function with `@spell`. An instance of the class `FrameInfo` will be passed to the first argument of the function, while the other arguments will come from the call. For example: ```python from sorcery import spell @spell def my_spell(frame_info, foo): ... ``` will be called as just `my_spell(foo)`. The most important piece of information you are likely to use is `frame_info.call`. This is the `ast.Call` node where the spell is being called. [Here](https://greentreesnakes.readthedocs.io/en/latest/nodes.html) is some helpful documentation for navigating the AST. Every node also has a `parent` attribute added to it. `frame_info.frame` is the execution frame in which the spell is being called - see the [inspect](https://docs.python.org/3/library/inspect.html) docs for what you can do with this. Those are the essentials. See [the source](https://github.com/alexmojaki/sorcery/blob/master/sorcery/spells.py) of various spells for some examples, it's not that complicated. ### Using other spells within spells Sometimes you want to reuse the magic of one spell in another spell. Simply calling the other spell won't do what you want - you want to tell the other spell to act as if it's being called from the place your own spell is called. For this, add insert `.at(frame_info)` between the spell you're using and its arguments. Let's look at a concrete example. Here's the definition of the spell `args_with_source`: ```python @spell def args_with_source(frame_info, *args): """ Returns a list of pairs of: - the source code of the argument - the value of the argument for each argument. For example: args_with_source(foo(), 1+2) is the same as: [ ("foo()", foo()), ("1+2", 3) ] """ ... ``` The magic of `args_with_source` is that it looks at its arguments wherever it's called and extracts their source code. Here is a simplified implementation of the `print_args` spell which uses that magic: ```python @spell def simple_print_args(frame_info, *args): for source, arg in args_with_source.at(frame_info)(*args): print(source, '=', arg) ``` Then when you call `simple_print_args(foo(), 1+2)`, the `Call` node of that expression will be passed down to `args_with_source.at(frame_info)` so that the source is extracted from the correct arguments. Simply writing `args_with_source(*args)` would be wrong, as that would give the source `"*args"`. ### Other helpers That's all you really need to get started writing a spell, but here are pointers to some other stuff that might help. See the docstrings for details. The module `sorcery.core` has these helper functions: - `node_names(node: ast.AST) -> Tuple[str]` - `node_name(node: ast.AST) -> str` - `statement_containing_node(node: ast.AST) -> ast.stmt:` `FrameInfo` has these methods: - `assigned_names(...)` - `get_source(self, node: ast.AST) -> str` ## Should I actually use this library? If you're still getting the hang of Python, no. This will lead to confusion about what is normal and expected in Python and will hamper your learning. In a serious business or production context, I wouldn't recommend most of the spells unless you're quite careful. Their unusual nature may confuse other readers of the code, and tying the behaviour of your code to things like the names of variables may not be good for readability and refactoring. There are some exceptions though: - `call_with_name` and `delegate_to_attr` - `assigned_names` for making `Enum`s. - `print_args` when debugging If you're writing code where performance and stability aren't critical, e.g. if it's for fun or you just want to get some code down as fast as possible and you can polish it later, then go for it. The point of this library is not just to be used in actual code. It's a way to explore and think about API and language design, readability, and the limits of Python itself. It was fun to create and I hope others can have fun playing around with it. Come [have a chat](https://gitter.im/python-sorcery/Lobby) about what spells you think would be cool, what features you wish Python had, or what crazy projects you want to create. If you're interested in this stuff, particularly creative uses of the Python AST, you may also be interested in: - [executing](https://github.com/alexmojaki/executing) the backbone of this library - [snoop](https://github.com/alexmojaki/snoop): a feature-rich and convenient debugging library which also uses `executing` as well as various other magic and tricks - [birdseye](https://github.com/alexmojaki/birdseye): a debugger which records the value of every expression - [MacroPy](https://github.com/lihaoyi/macropy): syntactic macros in Python by transforming the AST at import time %prep %autosetup -n sorcery-0.2.2 %build %py3_build %install %py3_install install -d -m755 %{buildroot}/%{_pkgdocdir} if [ -d doc ]; then cp -arf doc %{buildroot}/%{_pkgdocdir}; fi if [ -d docs ]; then cp -arf docs %{buildroot}/%{_pkgdocdir}; fi if [ -d example ]; then cp -arf example %{buildroot}/%{_pkgdocdir}; fi if [ -d examples ]; then cp -arf examples %{buildroot}/%{_pkgdocdir}; fi pushd %{buildroot} if [ -d usr/lib ]; then find usr/lib -type f -printf "/%h/%f\n" >> filelist.lst fi if [ -d usr/lib64 ]; then find usr/lib64 -type f -printf "/%h/%f\n" >> filelist.lst fi if [ -d usr/bin ]; then find usr/bin -type f -printf "/%h/%f\n" >> filelist.lst fi if [ -d usr/sbin ]; then find usr/sbin -type f -printf "/%h/%f\n" >> filelist.lst fi touch doclist.lst if [ -d usr/share/man ]; then find usr/share/man -type f -printf "/%h/%f.gz\n" >> doclist.lst fi popd mv %{buildroot}/filelist.lst . mv %{buildroot}/doclist.lst . %files -n python3-sorcery -f filelist.lst %dir %{python3_sitelib}/* %files help -f doclist.lst %{_docdir}/* %changelog * Wed May 10 2023 Python_Bot - 0.2.2-1 - Package Spec generated