64 Questions
What is the main approach to learning design in this field?
Studying examples familiar to readers
Who is the target audience for the book?
Readers with some programming experience
What is the core of design according to the text?
Figuring out pieces and interactions in a small number of ways
What is the basis for the approach to design mentioned in the text?
The rapid increase in complexity as the number of components grows
What is the preferred level of abstraction for experts, as mentioned in the text?
Shifting to find $\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}$ easier to read
How is source code and program in memory described in the text?
Source code is just text, and program in memory is just a data structure
What does treating code like data enable us to do, according to the text?
Solve hard problems in elegant ways
Under what license is the written material in the book available?
Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial 4.0 International license
What does the Hippocratic License allow you to do?
Use and remix the software on the site provided you do not violate international agreements governing human rights
What are contributors required to abide by?
Contributors are required to abide by the Code of Conduct
Where can you find the source for the book?
In the GitHub repository for the book
Under what license is the software covered?
Hippocratic License
What should you do if you want to improve the material, add new material, or ask questions?
File an issue in the GitHub repository
What do all royalties from this book go to?
The Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto
How is Python source code displayed in the book?
Formatted in a specific way
What is the preferred way to write functions in the book?
functionName()
What is a specification like the one mentioned in the text sometimes called?
Contract
What reduces cognitive load by allowing the people using related things to ignore their differences?
Polymorphism
What do the bytes in a function represent, as mentioned in the text?
Instructions
What is created in memory when Python executes a function?
Object
What is it called when we create an alias for a function by assigning it to another variable?
Aliasing
What was object-oriented programming (OOP) historically invented to solve?
Two problems
What must an object provide in order to be considered a shape?
Methods with specific names
What does a function represent in terms of bytes?
Instructions
What is the term for the process of deriving classes from a base class?
Inheritance
What is the term for allowing the people using related things to ignore their differences?
Polymorphism
What is the term for creating an alias for a function by assigning it to another variable?
Aliasing
What does a specification for an object like a generic shape in a drawing package sometimes called?
Contract
What is a method in Python?
A function that takes an object of the right kind as its first parameter
How can objects be thought of in Python?
As a special kind of dictionary
How can the problem of different behaviors for individual objects be solved in Python?
Storing the methods in a dictionary called Square that corresponds to a class
How are constructors implemented in Python?
By giving the dictionaries that implement classes a special key _new
What is the mechanism called in Python for handling different numbers of arguments?
varargs
How can multiple inheritance be implemented in Python?
Using dictionaries
What is the tool used to share code in Python?
Inheritance
What is the parameter used to capture all the positional arguments of a method being called in Python?
*args
What is the function that finds a method to call in Python?
The find function
How are class methods and static methods added to dictionary-based objects and classes in Python?
By adding them to dictionary-based objects and classes
What is the key used to implement constructors in Python?
_new
What allows taking a list or dictionary full of arguments and spreading them out in a call to match a function’s parameters in Python?
Spreading
What is the historical motivation for inventing object-oriented programming (OOP)?
To solve the problems of managing and reusing complex code and data.
What is the term used to describe the specification for an object like a generic shape in a drawing package?
A contract.
What reduces cognitive load by allowing the people using related things to ignore their differences in object-oriented programming?
Polymorphism.
What are the bytes in a function representing in object-oriented programming?
Instructions.
How is a function treated in object-oriented programming?
As an object.
What is created in memory when Python executes a function?
An object that contains the instructions.
What is the term for creating an alias for a function by assigning it to another variable in Python?
Function aliasing.
What is the term for the process of deriving classes from a base class in object-oriented programming?
Inheritance.
What allows the people using related things to ignore their differences in object-oriented programming?
Polymorphism.
How can a specification like the one mentioned in the text sometimes be called in object-oriented programming?
A contract.
What is the mechanism called in Python for handling different numbers of arguments?
Variable-length arguments or varargs.
What term is used to describe the process of sharing code in Python?
Function aliasing.
Explain the concept of spreading in Python and how it allows matching a function's parameters with a list or dictionary full of arguments.
Spreading in Python allows taking a list or dictionary full of arguments and spreading them out in a call to match a function’s parameters. It is achieved using the mechanism called varargs for handling different numbers of arguments.
Describe the implementation of constructors in Python, and how they are used to create objects of a specific type.
Constructors in Python are implemented by giving the dictionaries that implement classes a special key _new whose value is the function that builds something of that type. When an object of a specific type needs to be created, the constructor function is called to initialize the object with the required attributes and behaviors.
What is inheritance in Python, and how does it enable code sharing?
Inheritance in Python is a tool used to share code between classes. It allows a new class to inherit properties and methods from an existing class, reducing code duplication and promoting reusability.
Explain the concept of multiple inheritance in Python and how it can be implemented using dictionaries.
Multiple inheritance in Python allows a class to inherit from multiple parent classes. It can be implemented using dictionaries by having the subclass contain references to properties, functions, and other dictionaries from multiple parent classes.
How can the problem of different behaviors for individual objects be solved in Python, and what approach is used to achieve this?
The problem of different behaviors for individual objects in Python can be solved by storing the methods in a dictionary called Square that corresponds to a class, and having each individual square contain a reference to that higher-level dictionary. This approach allows every single object to behave slightly differently while storing different values and the same behaviors.
Explain the role of the final version of call in Python and how it captures and spreads positional arguments of the method being called.
The final version of call in Python declares a parameter called *args to capture all the positional arguments of the method being called, and then spreads them in the actual call. This mechanism allows flexibility in handling different numbers of positional arguments.
What is monkey patching in Python, and how can it be understood in terms of dictionaries containing references to properties and functions?
Monkey patching in Python refers to the practice of modifying or extending the behavior of modules or classes at runtime. It can be understood in terms of dictionaries containing references to properties, functions, and other dictionaries, allowing dynamic changes to the behavior of objects and classes.
Explain the role of varargs in Python and how it enables functions to handle different numbers of arguments.
Varargs in Python provide a mechanism for handling different numbers of arguments in functions. It allows functions to accept a variable number of arguments, which can be passed as a list or tuple, promoting flexibility and adaptability in function definitions.
What is the purpose of the _new key in dictionaries that implement classes in Python, and how does it relate to the concept of constructors?
The _new key in dictionaries that implement classes in Python stores the function that builds something of that type, serving as the constructor for creating new objects. It is used to initialize objects with the required attributes and behaviors, ensuring proper object construction.
How does Python use recursion to find a method to call, and what differences in understandability and efficiency can be observed compared to using a loop?
Python can use recursion to find a method to call by repeatedly calling itself to search for the appropriate method. When compared to using a loop, recursion may offer improved understandability but could potentially lead to less efficiency in certain cases.
Explain the concept of objects as a special kind of dictionary in Python, and how methods are related to objects.
In Python, objects can be thought of as a special kind of dictionary, where each object contains its own set of attributes and behaviors. Methods, which are functions that operate on objects, take the object of the right kind as their first parameter, allowing them to interact with the specific object's data.
What is the role of dictionaries in implementing objects in Python, and how does it enable every single object to behave slightly differently?
In Python, dictionaries play a key role in implementing objects by allowing every single object to behave slightly differently. By storing methods in a dictionary that corresponds to a class and having each individual object contain a reference to that higher-level dictionary, the unique behaviors of individual objects can be achieved.
Study Notes
Python Object System Overview
- Functions can be stored in data structures like lists and dictionaries without altering their connection to the original name.
- Objects can be thought of as a special kind of dictionary, and a method is a function that takes an object of the right kind as its first parameter.
- Implementing objects as dictionaries allows every single object to behave slightly differently, but we want objects to store different values and the same behaviors.
- Storing the methods in a dictionary called Square that corresponds to a class and having each individual square contain a reference to that higher-level dictionary can solve the problem of different behaviors for individual objects.
- Methods defined so far operate on the values stored in the object’s dictionary, but none of them take any extra arguments as input.
- Python provides a mechanism called varargs for handling different numbers of arguments, and spreading allows taking a list or dictionary full of arguments and spreading them out in a call to match a function’s parameters.
- Inheritance is a tool used to share code, and it works in Python by adding a method called density to the original Shape class that uses other methods defined by the class.
- Constructors are implemented by giving the dictionaries that implement classes a special key _new whose value is the function that builds something of that type.
- Multiple inheritance, class methods, static methods, and monkey patching can all be understood in terms of dictionaries that contain references to properties, functions, and other dictionaries.
- The final version of call declares a parameter called *args to capture all the positional arguments of the method being called and then spreads them in the actual call.
- Multiple inheritance can be implemented using dictionaries, and class methods and static methods can be added to dictionary-based objects and classes.
- The find function that finds a method to call can be modified to use recursion instead of a loop, and differences in understandability and efficiency can be observed.
Python Object System Overview
- Functions can be stored in data structures like lists and dictionaries without altering their connection to the original name.
- Objects can be thought of as a special kind of dictionary, and a method is a function that takes an object of the right kind as its first parameter.
- Implementing objects as dictionaries allows every single object to behave slightly differently, but we want objects to store different values and the same behaviors.
- Storing the methods in a dictionary called Square that corresponds to a class and having each individual square contain a reference to that higher-level dictionary can solve the problem of different behaviors for individual objects.
- Methods defined so far operate on the values stored in the object’s dictionary, but none of them take any extra arguments as input.
- Python provides a mechanism called varargs for handling different numbers of arguments, and spreading allows taking a list or dictionary full of arguments and spreading them out in a call to match a function’s parameters.
- Inheritance is a tool used to share code, and it works in Python by adding a method called density to the original Shape class that uses other methods defined by the class.
- Constructors are implemented by giving the dictionaries that implement classes a special key _new whose value is the function that builds something of that type.
- Multiple inheritance, class methods, static methods, and monkey patching can all be understood in terms of dictionaries that contain references to properties, functions, and other dictionaries.
- The final version of call declares a parameter called *args to capture all the positional arguments of the method being called and then spreads them in the actual call.
- Multiple inheritance can be implemented using dictionaries, and class methods and static methods can be added to dictionary-based objects and classes.
- The find function that finds a method to call can be modified to use recursion instead of a loop, and differences in understandability and efficiency can be observed.
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