Multiple constructors: the Pythonic way?

Question

I have a container class that holds data. When the container is created, there are different methods to pass data.

1. Pass a file which contains the data
2. Pass the data directly via arguments
3. Don't pass data; just create an empty container

In Java, I would create three constructors. Here's how it would look like if it were possible in Python:

class Container:

    def __init__(self):
        self.timestamp = 0
        self.data = []
        self.metadata = {}

    def __init__(self, file):
        f = file.open()
        self.timestamp = f.get_timestamp()
        self.data = f.get_data()
        self.metadata = f.get_metadata()

    def __init__(self, timestamp, data, metadata):
        self.timestamp = timestamp
        self.data = data
        self.metadata = metadata

In Python, I see three obvious solutions, but none of them is pretty:

A: Using keyword arguments:

def __init__(self, **kwargs):
    if 'file' in kwargs:
        ...
    elif 'timestamp' in kwargs and 'data' in kwargs and 'metadata' in kwargs:
        ...
    else:
        ... create empty container

B: Using default arguments:

def __init__(self, file=None, timestamp=None, data=None, metadata=None):
    if file:
        ...
    elif timestamp and data and metadata:
        ...
    else:
        ... create empty container

C: Only provide constructor to create empty containers. Provide methods to fill containers with data from different sources.

def __init__(self):
    self.timestamp = 0
    self.data = []
    self.metadata = {}

def add_data_from_file(file):
    ...

def add_data(timestamp, data, metadata):
    ...

Solutions A and B are basically the same. I don't like doing the if/else, especially since I have to check if all arguments required for this method were provided. A is a bit more flexible than B if the code is ever to be extended by a fourth method to add data.

Solution C seems to be the nicest, but the user has to know which method he requires. For example: he cant do c = Container(args) if he doesn't know what args is.

Whats the most Pythonic solution?

Answer 1

You can't have multiple methods with same name in Python. Function overloading - unlike in Java - isn't supported.

Use default parameters or **kwargs and *args arguments.

You can make static methods or class methods with the @staticmethod or @classmethod decorator to return an instance of your class, or to add other constructors.

I advise you to do:

class F:

    def __init__(self, timestamp=0, data=None, metadata=None):
        self.timestamp = timestamp
        self.data = list() if data is None else data
        self.metadata = dict() if metadata is None else metadata

    @classmethod
    def from_file(cls, path):
       _file = cls.get_file(path)
       timestamp = _file.get_timestamp()
       data = _file.get_data()
       metadata = _file.get_metadata()       
       return cls(timestamp, data, metadata)

    @classmethod
    def from_metadata(cls, timestamp, data, metadata):
        return cls(timestamp, data, metadata)

    @staticmethod
    def get_file(path):
        # ...
        pass

⚠ Never have mutable types as defaults in python. ⚠ See here.