Declarative class attributes

descriptor.py

class Descriptor:

    def __get__(self, instance, cls):
        if instance is None:
            return self
        return instance.__dict__.get(self.name)

    def bind(self, name):
        self.name = name


class Typed(Descriptor):
    def __init__(self, expected):
        self.expected = expected

    def __set__(self, instance, value):
        if value is not None and not isinstance(value, self.expected):
            raise TypeError('expected: %s' % self.expected.__name__)
        instance.__dict__[self.name] = value


def declarative(cls):
    for name, field in cls.__dict__.items():
        if isinstance(field, Descriptor):
            field.bind(name)
    return cls
    
# example
class PositiveNumber(Declarative):
    def __set__(self, instance, value):
        if value is not None:
            if not isinstance(value, [int, float]):
                raise TypeError('expected: %s' % self.expected.__name__)
            if value <= 0:
                raise ValueError('expected: positive number')
        instance.__dict__[self.name] = value
    
    
@declarative
class Role:
    id = Typed(int)
    name = Typed(str)


@declarative
class DemoClass:
    id = Typed(int)
    created_at = Typed(datetime)
    guid = Typed(uuid.UUID)
    username = Typed(str)
    password = Typed(str)
    role = Typed(Role)
    groups = Typed(list)
    height = PositiveNumber()

# With this descriptor you can create simple type validated data models
# It could help to make readable classes and avoid basic pitfalls 
# However it isn't really for value validation