How to dynamically modify a function's local namespace?

Question

NB: This question assumes Python 2.7.3.

I\'m looking for a sane approach to dynamically modify a function\'s local namespace, preferably in a way that adds the lea

Answer 1

I'll present the only approach I can think of that is close to reasonable, and then I'll try to convince you not to use it.

def process(**kw):
  mycode = """\
print 'Value of foo is %s' % (foo,)
print 'Value of bar is %s' % (bar,)
"""
  exec mycode in kw

vars = {'foo': 2, 'bar': 3}
process(**vars)

With this approach, you have at least some protection from code-injection attacks. The dictionary containing the "local variables" of the code is specified explicitly, so you have complete control over what the variable space will be when you run the exec statement. You don't have to hack into the internals of function objects or other such.

I know that the decorator module uses exec in the implementation of @decorator to manipulate argument names in dynamically created functions, and there may be other common modules that use it. But I have been in only one situation where exec was a clear win over the alternatives in Python, and one for eval.

I do not see such a situation in your question. Unless mycode from above needs to do something really funky, like create a function with argument names given in kw, chances are you can get away with just writing the code plainly, and maybe using locals() in a pinch.

def process(**kw):
  print 'Value of foo is %s' % (kw['foo'],)
  print 'Value of bar is %s' % (kw['bar'],)

process(foo=2, bar=3)