null.py

#!/user/bin/env python 

'''http://code.activestate.com/recipes/68205-null-object-design-pattern/'''

class Null:
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        "Ignore parameters."
        return None

    def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        "Ignore method calls."
        return self

    def __getattr__(self, mname):
        "Ignore attribute requests."
        return self

    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
        "Ignore attribute setting."
        return self

    def __delattr__(self, name):
        "Ignore deleting attributes."
        return self

    def __repr__(self):
        "Return a string representation."
        return "<Null>"

    def __str__(self):
        "Convert to a string and return it."
        return "Null"

def test():
    "Perform some decent tests, or rather: demos."

    # constructing and calling

    n = Null()
    print(n)

    n = Null('value')
    print(n)

    n = Null('value', param='value')
    print(n)

    n()
    n('value')
    n('value', param='value')
    print(n)

    # attribute handling

    n.attr1
    print('attr1', n.attr1)
    n.attr1.attr2
    n.method1()
    n.method1().method2()
    n.method('value')
    n.method(param='value')
    n.method('value', param='value')
    n.attr1.method1()
    n.method1().attr1

    n.attr1 = 'value'
    n.attr1.attr2 = 'value'

    del n.attr1
    del n.attr1.attr2.attr3

    # representation and conversion to a string
    
    assert repr(n) == '<Null>'
    assert str(n) == 'Null'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    test()