makeClass (
        name,
        bases,
        dict,
        )

makeClass(name, bases, dict) - enhanced class creation

Automatically generates a metaclass that satisfies metaclass constraints inherited from the supplied base classes, and then calls it to create a new class. It can be used as a __metaclass__ value, or can be directly called as a substitute to using new.classobject() to dynamically create classes.

If the supplied dictionary contains a __metaclasses__ entry, it will be taken to be a sequence of metaclasses which should take first priority in the base classes of the generated metaclass. The next highest priority is given to the dictionary's __metaclass__ entry, if any, and then priority is according to the order of the base classes which introduce the metaclass constraints.

ClassType (the "classic" class type) is automatically excluded from the constraints, as is the makeClass function itself (just in case you used the function as an explicit metaclass). makeClass() will only return a "classic" class if all the base classes are classic, and no __metaclass__ or __metaclasses__ entries supply any non-classic types. Effectively, makeClass() fully supports the three most popular Python metatypes: "classic classes", "new-style types", and ExtensionClass. You cannot, however, combine ExtensionClasses with new-style types, because their root metatypes are different. That is, type(type) is type, and type(ExtensionClass) is ExtensionClass. There may be other ways to create illegal metatype combinations, but they should be detected and result in a TypeError.

Generated metaclasses are cached for reuse, and they are automatically given classnames which are the concatenation of their base metaclasses' names. So if you set __metaclasses__ to ThreadSafe, Persistent (or if your bases are instances of ThreadSafe and Persistent), the derived metaclass will be called ThreadSafe_Persistent. That is, the return from makeClass() will be of type (have a __class__ of) ThreadSafe_Persistent.

Metaclasses are derived according to the algorithm in the book "Putting Metaclasses to Work", by Ira R. Forman and Scott H. Danforth. It, and Guido's metaclass tutorial for Python 2.2, are highly recommended reading for making the best use of this capability. But a brief word to the wise:

• Write your metaclasses co-operatively! Don't assume that your metaclass will be the first or last one to handle a particular method call.

• In general, when programming with new-style classes, don't assume you know what the inheritance order is. Always use 'super()'; super() is your friend. :) Remember that your immediate base class today, may have other classes sandwiched between you and it tomorrow, if one of your subclasses so desires!