Good Style in Python Objects

Question

Most of my programming prior to Python was in C++ or Matlab. I don\'t have a degree in CS (almost completed a PhD in physics), but have done some courses and a good amount o

Answer 1

The more pythonic way is to avoid tedious objects if you don't have to.

class UnionFind(object):
    def __init__(self, members=10, data=None):
        """union-find data structure for Kruskal's algorithm
        members are ignored if data is provided
        """
        if not data:
            self.data = [self.default_data() for i in range(members)]
            for d in self.data:
                d.size   = 1
                d.leader = d
                d.next   = None
                d.last   = d
        else:
            self.data = data

    def default_data(self):
        """create a starting point for data"""
        return Data(**{'last': None, 'leader':None, 'next': None, 'size': 1})

    def find(self, element):
        return element.leader

    def union(self, leader1, leader2):
        if leader2.leader is leader1:
            return
        if leader1.size >= leader2.size:
            newleader = leader1
            oldleader = leader2
        else:
            newleader = leader2
            oldleader = leader1

        newleader.size = leader1.size + leader2.size

        d = oldleader
        while d is not None:
            d.leader = newleader
            d = d.next

        newleader.last.next = oldleader
        newleader.last = oldleader.last

        oldleader.size = 0
        oldleader.last = None

class Data(object):
    def __init__(self, **data_dict):
        """convert a data member dict into an object"""
        self.__dict__.update(**data_dict)