Swizzle

Introduction

Swizzle is a Python package that enhances attribute access, allowing for flexible retrieval of multiple attributes based on specified arrangements of their names.

Managing object attributes efficiently can sometimes become cumbersome, especially when you need to access multiple attributes in various combinations. Swizzle simplifies this process by extending Python's attribute access mechanisms, enabling you to access attributes in any order or combination without explicitly referencing the instance every time or defining new methods for each combination.

Features

• Dynamic Attribute Access: Retrieve multiple attributes in any specified arrangement.
• Reduced Boilerplate: Eliminate redundant code by avoiding multiple getter methods.
• Integration with Existing Classes: Works seamlessly with regular classes, dataclass, and even Enum types.
• Customizable Matching: Control attribute matching behavior with parameters like sep.

Installation

From PyPI

Install Swizzle via pip:

pip install swizzle

From GitHub

Install the latest version directly from GitHub:

pip install git+https://github.com/janthmueller/swizzle.git

Getting Started

Basic Usage with the @swizzle Decorator

Apply the @swizzle decorator to your class:

import swizzle

@swizzle
class Vector:
    def __init__(self, x, y, z):
        self.x = x
        self.y = y
        self.z = z

v = Vector(1, 2, 3)

# Access attributes in different orders
print(v.yzx)  # Output: Vector(y=2, z=3, x=1)

Using Swizzle with dataclass

Swizzle integrates smoothly with Python's dataclass:

import swizzle
from dataclasses import dataclass

@swizzle
@dataclass
class Point:
    x: int
    y: int
    z: int

p = Point(1, 2, 3)

print(p.zxy)  # Output: Point(z=3, x=1, y=2)

Swizzling Enums with meta=True

Enable attribute swizzling directly on the class by setting meta=True:

import swizzle
from enum import IntEnum

@swizzle(meta=True)
class Axis(IntEnum):
    X = 1
    Y = 2
    Z = 3

print(Axis.YXZ)  # Output: Axis(Y=<Axis.Y: 2>, X=<Axis.X: 1>, Z=<Axis.Z: 3>)

Advanced Usage

Swizzled Named Tuples with swizzledtuple

Create swizzled named tuples inspired by namedtuple:

from swizzle import swizzledtuple

Vector = swizzledtuple('Vector', 'x y z')

v = Vector(1, 2, 3)

print(v.yzx)        # Output: Vector(y=2, z=3, x=1)
print(v.yzx.xxzyzz) # Output: Vector(x=1, x=1, z=3, y=2, z=3, z=3)

Custom Separators

Attributes are matched from left to right, starting with the longest substring match. This behavior can be controlled by the sep argument in the swizzle decorator:

import swizzle

@swizzle(meta=True, sep='_')
class BoundingBox:
    x = 10
    y = 20
    w = 100
    h = 200

print(BoundingBox.x_y_w_h)  # Output: BoundingBox(x=10, y=20, w=100, h=200)

Understanding Swizzling

Swizzling allows:

• Rearrangement: Access attributes in any order (e.g., v.yzx).
• Duplication: Access the same attribute multiple times (e.g., v.xxy).
• Dynamic Composition: Create new instances with desired attribute arrangements.

Benefits

• Efficient Attribute Management: Simplify complex attribute combinations.
• Dynamic Access Patterns: No need for predefined attribute combinations.
• Cleaner Codebase: Reduce redundancy and improve maintainability.
• Enhanced Readability: Code becomes more expressive and intuitive.

Conclusion

Swizzle is a powerful tool that streamlines attribute management in Python. It offers a flexible and efficient way to access and manipulate object attributes, making your code cleaner and more maintainable.

License

This project is licensed under the terms of the MIT license. See the LICENSE file for details.

Contributions

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to submit a Pull Request or open an Issue on GitHub.

Acknowledgments

Inspired by swizzling in graphics programming, Swizzle brings similar flexibility to Python attribute management.

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Give Swizzle a try and see how it can simplify your Python projects!