Question

Can I define a Python method to be both static and instance at the same time? Something like:

class C(object):
    @staticmethod
    def a(self, arg1):
        if self:
            blah
        blah

So that I can call it with both:

C.a(arg1)
C().a(arg1)

The intent is to be able to run two sets of logics. If accessed as an instance method, it would make use of instance variables and do stuff. If access as a static method, it will do without.

Answer 1

import functools

class static_or_instance(object):
  def __init__(self, func):
    self.func = func

  def __get__(self, instance, owner):
    return functools.partial(self.func, instance)

class C(object):
  @static_or_instance
  def a(self, arg):
    if self is None:
      print "called without self:", arg
    else:
      print "called with self:", arg

C.a(42)
C().a(3)