Initializer breakage in base.py for Python >= v2.6

[jason@…]

I got this error trying to run PARPG on a brand-new installation:

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Traceback (most recent call last):

File "run.py", line 149, in <module>

main()

File "run.py", line 145, in main

app = PARPG()

File "run.py", line 87, in init

self.model.loadMap(str(TDS.readSetting("MapFile?")))

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/engine.py", line 266, in loadMap

self.loadObjects(map_file[:-4] + "_objects.xml")

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/engine.py", line 121, in loadObjects

self.createGameObjects(other_handler.local_info)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/engine.py", line 137, in createGameObjects

obj = createObject(info, extra)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/objects/init.py", line 52, in createObject

return getAllObjects()[obj_type](ID, info)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/objects/actors.py", line 275, in init

super(NonPlayerCharacter?, self).init(ID, kwargs)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/objects/base.py", line 91, in init

super(GameObject?,self).init (kwargs)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/objects/base.py", line 209, in init

super(Living,self).init (kwargs)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/objects/base.py", line 222, in init

super(Scriptable,self).init (kwargs)

File "/home/jason/FIFE/clients/parpg/scripts/objects/base.py", line 238, in init

super(CharStats?,self).init (kwargs)

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I ran this on Ubuntu 9.04 with the default Python installation, Python 2.6.2.0.

[jason@…]

This error cropped up because of the changes made in Python 2.6. Note that this error did not manifest on Windows machines running 2.6. The only reason I can think is that the reporter was running ActiveState? Python, and ActiveState? often applies patches to the vanilla source before packing it for release.

The technique used to initialize base classes that are multiply-inherited is not Python 2.6+ friendly. The current strategy depends on cooperative super() calls in every base class. Because the root of the inheritance tree is the Python class 'object', eventually object.init() is called with two arguments, like this:

super( <blah>, self ).init( self, kwargs )

where 'kwargs' are passed into the caller's init(). Pre-Python 2.6, this worked fine, because object.init() ignored all of its arguments.

I have confirmed that both the vanilla Python 2.6.2.0 distribution as well as the Ubuntu 9.04 distribution both exhibit this behavior.

My suggestion is to replace the cooperative super() calls with simple, explicit calls to base class initializers. This actually simplifies the code, IMHO. For one, it removes the seemingly random 'super()' calls in classes with no base (other than 'object'). For another, it makes it patently obvious what's going on.

I've attached a patch (taken at FIFE/clients/parpg) that contains my changes to base.py and actors.py. Submitted for your approval.

[anonymous]

Patch taken from clients/parpg for ticket fix code.

[tZee_parpg]

Thanks for the patch. :)

[Simonced]

Good patch, it's working on a second machine natively installed with python2.6. Good Job!