Python: override __init__ args in __new__

Question

I have a __new__ method as follows:

class MyClass(object):
   def __new__(cls, *args):
      new_args = []
      args.sort()
      prev = args.pop(0)
      while args:
         next = args.pop(0)
         if prev.compare(next):
            prev = prev.combine(next)
         else:
            new_args.append(prev)
            prev = next
         if some_check(prev):
            return SomeOtherClass()
      new_args.append(prev)
      return super(MyClass, cls).__new__(cls, new_args)

   def __init__(self, *args):
       ...

However, this fails with a deprecation warning:

DeprecationWarning: object.__new__() takes no parameters

SomeOtherClass can optionally get created as the args are processed, that's why they are being processed in __new__ and not in __init__

What is the best way to pass new_args to __init__?

Otherwise, I'll have to duplicate the processing of args in __init__ (without some_check)

Answer 1

Edit: Came up with a better solution - the following wasn't behaving consistently enough.

---

I've solved my own question by stumbling on some unexpectedly simple behaviour:

return cls(*new_args)

instead of

return super(MyClass, cls).__new__(cls, *new_args)

It doesn't go into an infinite recursion, as I expected, so long as new_args is not the same as the original args given to __new__.

Answer 2

Since you don't even necessarily create a MyClass object, why not just put new into a separate function new(*args) that returns a MyClass or SomeOtherClass object as necessary?

This will be a bit neater since you know that everywhere you put MyClass() you get a MyClass object back, and not potentially SomeOtherClass, which could be a bit confusing.

Answer 3

Well... this one works for me

>>> class B():
    def __new__(cls, *args):
        def is_str(x): return type(x) is str

        print("__new__ parameters are: ", args)

        if any(map(is_str, args)):
            new_args = list(map(int, args))
            ret = cls(*new_args)
            print('ret args', ret.args)
            ret._skip_init = True
            return ret

        return super().__new__(cls)

    def __init__(self, *args):
        if hasattr(self, '_skip_init') and self._skip_init:
            print("init skipped")
            return
        print("__init__ parameters are: ", args)
        self.args = args


>>> b = B('1', '2', '3', '4')
__new__ parameters are:  ('1', '2', '3', '4')
__new__ parameters are:  (1, 2, 3, 4)
__init__ parameters are:  (1, 2, 3, 4)
ret args (1, 2, 3, 4)
init skipped
>>> 
>>> 
>>> b.args
(1, 2, 3, 4)

EDIT :

or here is a better and more general answer:

class B():
    def __new__(cls, *args, run_init=False):
        if not run_init:
            # process your argument here
            # change the argument as you want
            args = [5, 7, 4, 2, 3]  # changing the argument

            self = cls(*args, run_init=True)
            return self

        return super().__new__(cls)

    def __init__(self, *args, run_init=False):
        if not run_init:
            print("init skipped")
            return

        # your __init__ code goes here
        print("__init__ parameters are: ", args)
        self.args = args

tried on my python 3.7.3 :

>>> b = B('1', '2', '3', '4')
__init__ parameters are:  (5, 7, 4, 2, 3)
init skipped
>>> b.args
(5, 7, 4, 2, 3)