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Python Object-Oriented Python Dice Roller Comparing and Combining Dice

Akshaan Mazumdar
Akshaan Mazumdar
3,787 Points
Posted by Akshaan Mazumdar
Akshaan Mazumdar
3,787 Points

In the last magic method - radd- Kenneth says something which has me confused!! >>> int(self) + other VS self + other

In the r_add function we do int(self) + other , which I understand will add self.value and other

BUT ! Kenneth also says that if we do self + other it will be the same .

Please elaborate how it will be same?

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

Great question! Let's step through what is happening.

When a Die is added to another Die, the following happens

In the r_add function we do int(self) + other , which I understand will add self.value and other

BUT ! Kenneth also says that if we do self + other it will be the same .

The method __radd__, a reflected add, is called when D6 is on the right side of the addition operator.

The code below (with return int(self) + other) produces the following results. Comments added after output.

$ python
Python 3.6.3 (default, Oct  3 2017, 21:45:48) 
[GCC 7.2.0] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> from dice import *
>>> d1 = D6(value= 2)
running D6.__init__  # called when instantiating D6 
running Die.__init__ # called by super from D6
>>> d2 = D6(value= 6)
running D6.__init__  # called when instantiating D6
running Die.__init__  # called by super from D6
>>> d1 + d2
running D6.__add__  # d1 on left side of operator call, so call d1.__add__ with other = d2
running Die.__int__  # d1.__add__ calls int(self) which calls the parent's __int__ => gets int value 2
# now has 2 + d2
running D6.__radd__ with int(self)  # d2 on right side of operator, so call d2.__radd__ with other=2
running Die.__int__  # d2.__radd__ calls parents __int__ on itself => gets integer value 6
# now has 6 + 2
8

If the __radd__ is changed to use self + other then the addition flow changes:

>>> d1 + d2
>>> d1 + d2
running D6.__add__  # d1 on left side of operator call its __add__ with other = d2
running Die.__int__  # d1.__add__ calls int(self) which calls the parent's __int__ => gets int value 2
# now has 2 + d2
# -- same to this point --
running D6.__radd__ with self + other  # d2 on right side of operator, so call d2.__radd__ with other=2
# now has d2 + 2
running D6.__add__  #d2 now on left side of operator, so call d2.__add__ with other=2
running Die.__int__ # d2.__add__ calls int(self) which calls the parent's __int__ => gets int value 6
# now has 6 + 2
8

So, in the end, using int(self) saves one method call.

Code used in above output:

dice.py 
import random


class Die:
    def __init__(self, sides=2, value=0):
        print("running Die.__init__")
        if not sides >= 2:
            raise ValueError("Must have at least 2 sides")
        if not isinstance(sides, int):
            raise ValueError("Sides must be a whole number")
        self.value = value or random.randint(1, sides)

    def __int__(self):
        print("running Die.__int__")
        return self.value


class D6(Die):
    def __init__(self, value=0):
        print("running D6.__init__")
        super().__init__(sides=6, value=value)

    def __eq__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__eq__")
        return int(self) == other

    def __ne__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__ne__")
        return int(self) == other

    def __gt__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__gt__")
        return int(self) > other

    def __lt__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__le__")
        return int(self) < other

    def __ge__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__ge__")
        return int(self) > other or int(self) == other

    def __le__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__le__")
        return int(self) < other or int(self) == other

    def __add__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__add__")
        return int(self) + other

    def __radd__(self, other):
        print("running D6.__radd__ with int(self)")
        return int(self) + other