Testing self.__variables, class.__variables and inheritance in Python

classnames_test.py

class ParentClass(object):

    __special = ''

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        self.__class__.__special = 'ParentClass'
        self.__special = 'ParentClass'
        print self.__dict__

    def special(self):
        return self.__special

    @classmethod
    def special_class(cls):
        return cls.__special


class ChildClassOne(ParentClass):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        self.__special = 'ChildClassOne'
        super(ChildClassOne, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)


class ChildClassTwo(ParentClass):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        self.__doc_type = 'ChildClassTwo'
        # try commenting this line out, it's an attribute error
        self.__class__.__special = 'ChildClassTwo'
        super(ChildClassTwo, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)

    def special(self):
        return self.__doc_type

    @classmethod
    def doc_type_class(cls):
        return cls.__special


if __name__ == '__main__':
    parent_class = ParentClass()
    child_class_one = ChildClassOne()
    child_class_two = ChildClassTwo()
    """
    {'_ParentClass__special': 'ParentClass'}
    {'_ChildClassOne__special': 'ChildClassOne', '_ParentClass__special': 'ParentClass'}
    {'_ParentClass__special': 'ParentClass', '_ChildClassTwo__special': 'ChildClassTwo'}
    """

    print ""

    print ParentClass.special_class()
    print ChildClassOne.special_class()
    print ChildClassTwo.special_class()
    """
    ParentClass
    ParentClass
    ChildClassTwo
    """


    print ""

    print parent_class.special()
    print child_class_one.special()
    print child_class_two.special()
    """
    ParentClass
    ParentClass
    ChildClassTwo
    """