New Param: ported create_param() function and unit tests

ipalib/parameter.py

@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ class DefaultFrom(ReadOnly):
 
 def parse_param_spec(spec):
     """
-    Parse a param spec into to (name, kw).
+    Parse shorthand ``spec`` into to ``(name, kw)``.
 
-    The ``spec`` string determines the param name, whether the param is
+    The ``spec`` string determines the parameter name, whether the parameter is
-    required, and whether the param is multivalue according the following
+    required, and whether the parameter is multivalue according the following
     syntax:
 
     ======  =====  ========  ==========
@@ -605,12 +605,16 @@ class Int(Param):
 
     """
 
+    type = int
+
 
 class Float(Param):
     """
 
     """
 
+    type = float
+
 
 class Bytes(Param):
     """
@@ -752,3 +756,45 @@ class Str(Bytes):
                 name=name,
                 length=self.length,
             )
+
+
+def create_param(spec):
+    """
+    Create an `Str` instance from the shorthand ``spec``.
+
+    This function allows you to create `Str` parameters (the most common) from
+    a convenient shorthand that defines the parameter name, whether it is
+    required, and whether it is multivalue.  (For a definition shorthand
+    syntax, see the `parse_param_spec()` function.)
+
+    If ``spec`` is an ``str`` instance, it will be used to create a new `Str`
+    parameter, which will be returned.  For example:
+
+    >>> s = create_param('hometown?')
+    >>> s
+    Str('hometown?')
+    >>> (s.name, s.required, s.multivalue)
+    ('hometown', False, False)
+
+    On the other hand, if ``spec`` is already a `Param` instance, it is
+    returned unchanged.  For example:
+
+    >>> b = Bytes('cert')
+    >>> create_param(b) is b
+    True
+
+    As a plugin author, you will not call this function directly (which would
+    be no more convenient than simply creating the `Str` instance).  Instead,
+    `frontend.Command` will call it for you when it evaluates the
+    ``takes_args`` and ``takes_options`` attributes, and `frontend.Object`
+    will call it for you when it evaluates the ``takes_params`` attribute.
+
+    :param spec: A spec string or a `Param` instance.
+    """
+    if isinstance(spec, Param):
+        return spec
+    if type(spec) is not str:
+        raise TypeError(
+            TYPE_ERROR % ('spec', (str, Param), spec, type(spec))
+        )
+    return Str(spec)

tests/test_ipalib/test_parameter.py

@@ -748,3 +748,35 @@ class test_Str(ClassChecker):
             assert dummy.message == \
                 '%(name)s must be exactly %(length)d characters'
             dummy = dummy_ugettext(translation)
+
+
+def test_create_param():
+    """
+    Test the `ipalib.parameter.create_param` function.
+    """
+    f = parameter.create_param
+
+    # Test that Param instances are returned unchanged:
+    params = (
+        parameter.Param('one?'),
+        parameter.Int('two+'),
+        parameter.Str('three*'),
+        parameter.Bytes('four'),
+    )
+    for p in params:
+        assert f(p) is p
+
+    # Test that the spec creates an Str instance:
+    for spec in ('one?', 'two+', 'three*', 'four'):
+        (name, kw) = parameter.parse_param_spec(spec)
+        p = f(spec)
+        assert p.param_spec is spec
+        assert p.name == name
+        assert p.required is kw['required']
+        assert p.multivalue is kw['multivalue']
+
+    # Test that TypeError is raised when spec is neither a Param nor a str:
+    for spec in (u'one', 42, parameter.Param, parameter.Str):
+        e = raises(TypeError, f, spec)
+        assert str(e) == \
+            TYPE_ERROR % ('spec', (str, parameter.Param), spec, type(spec))