Python super() not implemented

The following code generates SyntaxError: super() is only valid in derived class constructors

        class foo:
            def bar(self):
                print('bar')

        class foo2(foo):
            def bar(self):
                print('bar2')
                super().bar()
                # foo.bar(self) # workaround

The error message seems to imply it works in derived constructors, but using it there generates the same error.

[kovidgoyal]

I’ll just note that as far as the DRYness of super() is concerned, that is trivially achieved, by aliasing

BaseClass = SomeClass

class Subclass(BaseClass):
   ...

Now you only need to rename SomeClass in one place. Not to mention that with modern refactoring tools, renaming a class everywhere it is used is trivial to do, except in the very rare case of a codebase with lots of different classes all named with the exact same name.

Also IMO even using super() in the simple inheritance case is an antipattern, because it makes your code much less readable. Now someone reading through your sub-class has to remember what the super class is everytime they see super(), and there is no easy way to jump to the definition of the superclass without first going to the top of the sub class to get the name of the super class.

Basically, super() improves (marginally, over aliasing) maintainability for someone very familiar with the code, at the cost of readability for everyone else.

[boxed]

As ever: amazing turn around time!