(resending to the whole list) Don Taylor wrote: > I have a vague idea what a mixin class is, I would like to get a better > handle on it. > > It is a term that is used quite often in Python circles, but I can't > find a definition. > > I guess that because of multiple inheritance Python does not need a > formal way of specifying mixin classes so I presume that there is some > conventional interpretation/coding that is followed for mixin classes. > > So, what constitutes a mixin class and what are the conventional ways to > denote them in code? > > Don. > > I notice that Ruby has single inheritance plus mixin classes so maybe > somebody who knows Ruby could throw some light on in what way a mixin is > different from normal superclass.
A mixin is a class that is not intended to stand on its own, rather it adds some behaviour to the class that it is mixed in to. Some discussion here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixin http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?Mixin This page http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?MixinsForPython points to SocketServer.ForkingMixin and SocketServer.ThreadingMixin as examples from the Python standard library. HTH, Kent _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
