New-style Classes

Unfortunately, new-style classes have not yet been integrated into Python's standard documention. Fear not, however; many people have worked to provide useful information on creating and using new-style classes:

• Unifying types and classes (aka descrintro) is Guido's essay on new-style classes and should be your starting point.
• Raymond Hettinger's How-To Guide for Descriptors focuses on the single most useful aspect of new-style classes (which includes properties).
• Mike Fletcher's PyCon 2005 talk, Descriptors: From functional wart to decorator madness via properties introduces the Descriptor API.
• Python 2.3 Method Resolution Order (MRO) covers multiple inheritance.
• Metaclasses will make your head explode. Here are several approaches to discussing them:
  • David Mertz and Michele Simionato's DeveloperWorks article
  • Alex Martelli's slideshow
  • Mike Fletcher's slideshow
• Types and Objects is the start of a new-style class tutorial with lots of figures and examples, but it's rough and not complete.