Methods vs. Properties about boost-histogram

[HDembinski]

We need to set some rules and then follow them consistently.

1. Classes and functions should go by the same names.

2. Pure accessor methods can be properties, like .rank and .size. Methods which actually compute something should stay methods, even if they do not accept arguments (currently). As you said, it is more future-proof to use methods.

3. and 4. "Settable methods", are there any? I don't like .content for indexed and I don't like a Python version of indexed.

[HDembinski]

Boost-Histogram is not ready for a release, if by release you mean a version that is a fixed interface that we are not going to change in future versions. I have a couple of issues with the current interface of Boost-Histogram and those need to resolved before a release.

[henryiii]

By release, I mean an alpha version on PyPI that people can more easily test. It would come with alpha-status warnigns but we will need to get further testing from groups interested in trying boost-histogram. But we will try to provide a reasonably stable interface if possible - don't worry too much by the "few days", it might be 1-3 weeks, and that would be okay.

[HDembinski]

Ok, but there can be no release before we settle the open issues regarding the interface.

[HDembinski]

I think we can close this with the compromise:

Free functions in boost::histogram are also free functions here, and in addition there are methods with the same name attached to the histogram class. This way there is some interface bloat, but numpy is doing something similar so it is not all that surprising.

I understand that methods are useful for people who use IDEs with certain types of autocompletion. Since the C++ library uses free functions, however, the Python interface should also support that, to not put mental strain on people who use both the C++ and the Python interface.

[HDembinski]

Can we make histogram::rank and histogram::size into properties?

[henryiii]

Yes

[henryiii]

I think all these are changed/fixed, correct? Can we close?