dictish_object.py

#!/usr/bin/env python


class BaseClass(object):
    bar = 'baz'


class PantsMixin(object):

    @property
    def public_attrs(self):
        start = self._public_attrs
        start.update({'for more info': 'GET THEE SOME ACCESSES!'})
        return start

    @property
    def private_attrs(self):
        start = self._private_attrs
        start.update({'and even more things': True})
        return start

    def serialize(self, access=False):
        if access:
            return self.private_attrs
        return self.public_attrs if self.ext == 'banana' else {'banana mode!!!': 'activated'}

    def __iter__(self):
        return self.serialize().iteritems()


class Foo(BaseClass, PantsMixin):

    def __init__(self):
        self.ber = 'bor'
        self.ext = 'banana'
        self._private_attrs = {'private_bar': self.bar + self.ber, 'ber': self.ber}
        self._public_attrs = {'bar': self.bar}


if __name__ == '__main__':
    f = Foo()
    print(dict(f))
    print(f.serialize(access=True))
    f.ext = 'definintely not a banana'
    print(dict(f))