began cleanup in object

builtin.py

@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def Pyle_describe(arglist):
     """@desc args: OBJ; result: description list
     Return a list of OBJ's attributes.
     """
-    return arglist.car().describe()
+    return p2l(arglist.car().describe())
 
 def Pyle_debug(arglist):
     """@desc args: FLAG...; return: flags

object.py

@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ from exceptions import *
 import dep
 import utils
 
-# symbols that we need internally
+# Symbols that we need internally. These need to be created ASAP, i.e. as soon
+# as we have the root environment.
 Nil = None
 NilName = "nil"
 T = None
@@ -27,6 +28,12 @@ CurrentEnv = None
 
 
 def p2l(value):
+    """Return an Object for value.
+
+    If value is already an Object, return it; otherwise, create the appropriate
+    Object and return it.
+
+    """
     if isinstance(value, Object):
         return value
     elif type(value) is bool:
@@ -50,49 +57,96 @@ def p2l(value):
     else:
         return String(str(value))
 
+
 class Object:
-    """This is the base class for all objects, intended as purely virtual.
+
+    """This is the base class for all objects, intended as purely abstract.
+    
     There are a few default functions.
+    
     """
+    
     def __repr__(self):
+        """Return a default string representation."""
         return "#<{n}:{i}>".format(n=self.__class__.__name__, i=id(self))
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return the nicely formatted string for object."""
+        return self.__repr__()
+    
     def __iter__(self):
+        """Return an iterator for the object. Will raise an error for most."""
         return ListIterator(self)
+    
     def __bool__(self):
+        """Return the boolean value of the object."""
         return self is not Nil
+    
     def __format__(self, format_spec):
+        """Return a formatted representation of the object."""
         return str(self).__format__(format_spec)
+    
     def eq(self, obj):
+        """Return true iff object is eq to obj."""
         return self is obj
+    
     def type(self):
+        """Return the class name of object."""
         return self.__class__.__name__
+    
     def isNil(self):
+        """Return true iff the object is Nil."""
         return self is Nil
+    
     def isProper(self):
+        """Return true iff the object is a proper list."""
         return False
+    
     def dump(self):
+        """Return a text dump of the object."""
         return self.__repr__()
+    
     def cxr(self):
+        """Return car and cdr of the object. Will be an error for most."""
         raise PyleIterateAtomError(self)
+    
     def typename(self):
+        """Return the lowercase class name of object."""
         return self.__class__.__name__.lower()
+    
     def describe(self):
-        return p2l({ "type": self.typename(), "id": id(self) })
+        """Return object's attributes as a dict."""
+        return { "type": intern(self.typename()), "id": id(self) }
+    
     def car(self): raise PyleArgTypeError(self, 'car', 'list')
+    
     def cdr(self): raise PyleArgTypeError(self, 'cdr', 'list')
+    
     def rplaca(self, ob): raise PyleArgTypeError(self, 'rplaca', 'pair')
+    
     def rplacd(self, ob): raise PyleArgTypeError(self, 'rplacd', 'pair')
+    
     def isAtom(self): return False
+    
     def isEnvironment(self): return False
+    
     def isFunction(self): return False
+    
     def isList(self): return False
+    
     def isMacro(self): return False
+    
     def isNumber(self): return False
+    
     def isPair(self): return False
+    
     def isString(self): return False
+    
     def isSymbol(self): return False
+    
     def isError(self): return False
 
+
 class Error(Object):
     def __init__(self, e):
         self.e = e              # the Python exception
@@ -111,8 +165,9 @@ class Error(Object):
     def __repr__(self):
         return str(self)
     def describe(self):
-        lc = ListCollector()
-        return p2l(self.e.__dict__)
+        a = super().describe()
+        a.update(self.e.__dict__)
+        return a
     
 _gensym_counter = 8385
 
@@ -212,9 +267,9 @@ class Symbol(Object):
         else:
             raise PyleArgTypeError(self, 'cxr', 'list')
     def describe(self):
-        return p2l({ "type": intern(self.typename()),
-                     "props": p2l(self._props),
-        })
+        a = super(Symbol, self).describe()
+        a["props"] = self._props
+        return a
 
 def init_symbol():
     global Nil, T, ImmutableSymbol, FunctionSymbol, NamePropSymbol, IdPropSymbol