P!

The @ syntax is for Python decorators. They are used to decorate one function (or method) with another function (or method). The decorator pattern allows one object to decorate another object. In my example the difference isn’t very clear since the core class only has one method. I can’t see any elegant way of implementing the decorator pattern using Python decorators. (I’d also like to point out that your comment adds some weight to my mate’s suggestion that there’s a confusion about the decorator pattern among Python programmers due to Python’s @-style function/method decorator.)

I couldn’t use baseclass.method as you suggest. YahooWriter has two base classes, which one would I choose? Also, how would I make one base class “jump” over to the other? No, I need to exploit the MRO and that’s exactly what super allows me to do.

super is not deprecated in any way. PEP 3135 will even make my example a bit nicer once it’s implemented.

@decorate def method: pass

Also, I think super is not used anymore. Should have been baseclass.method .