Python WTF - Attribute Abbreviation

abbreviate.py

"""Attribute Abbreviation.

This file contains a metaclass that can be used to abbreviate attribute names for a class.

This is a POC made for fun.
Do yourself a favor and NEVER do this in actual code.
You've been warned.
"""

class AbbreviationError(Exception):
    pass


class Abbreviate(type):
    def __new__(mcs, name, bases, dict_):
        abbreviate = {key for key in dict_ if
                      not key.startswith("__") and key.startswith(dict_.get("PREFIX", ""))}

        if any(any(other.startswith(this) and other != this for other in abbreviate) for this in abbreviate):
            raise AbbreviationError("Ambiguous naming prevents proper abbreviation.")

        dict_["ABBREVIATE"] = abbreviate

        def __getattr__(self, name):
            names = [abbr for abbr in self.ABBREVIATE if abbr.startswith(self.PREFIX + name)]

            if len(names) > 1:
                abbrev_names = [abbrev_name[len(self.PREFIX):] for abbrev_name in names]
                raise AttributeError("Abbreviation {!r} matches too many names: {!r}.".format(name, abbrev_names))

            if not names:
                raise AttributeError("Abbreviation {!r} has no matches.".format(name))

            return getattr(self, names[0])

        dict_["__getattr__"] = __getattr__

        return type.__new__(mcs, name, bases, dict_)


class MyClass(object):
    __metaclass__ = Abbreviate

    PREFIX = "c_"

    def c_print(self, text):
        print text

    def c_add(self, a, b):
        return a + b

    def c_min(self, a, b):
        return min(a, b)

    def c_max(self, a, b):
        return max(a, b)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    my_class = MyClass()

    my_class.p("Hello, Abbreviation World!")  # Calls `my_class.c_print`

    print my_class.a(1, 2)              # Calls `my_class.add`

    print my_class.min(0, 1)            # Calls `my_class.min`

    print my_class.c_max(1, 2)          # Original method names work as well

    try:
        print my_class.m(3, 4)              # Ambiguity!
    except AttributeError as ex:
        print ex.message