clj-python / clj-python/libpython-clj

py/with macro doesn't bind the return value of __enter__ method

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Clojure
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Description

The py/with macro implementation doesn't correctly follow Python's with statement semantics. According to the Python documentation, the value bound in a with statement should be the return value of calling __enter__() on the context manager:

manager = (EXPRESSION)
enter = type(manager).__enter__
exit = type(manager).__exit__
value = enter(manager)  # This value should be bound to TARGET
hit_except = False

try:
    TARGET = value  # TARGET gets the return value of enter(manager)
    SUITE
...

Current Implementation

The current macro (with.clj#L45-L63) calls __enter__ but discards its return value:

(py-fn/call-attr ~varname "__enter__" nil)  ; Return value is ignored
(try
  (let [retval# (do ~@body)]
    ...

Expected Behavior

The bound variable should receive the return value of __enter__(), not the context manager itself:

(let [enter-result# (py-fn/call-attr ~varname "__enter__" nil)]
  (try
    (let [~varname enter-result#  ; Rebind to __enter__'s return value
          retval# (do ~@body)]
      ...

Why Current Tests Pass

The existing test in python_test.clj#L167 uses a WithObjClass where __enter__() returns None (implicitly), and the test methods are called on the original object. This masks the bug.

Real-World Example

A common Python pattern that fails with the current implementation:

with open('file.txt', 'r') as f:
    content = f.read()  # f should be the file object returned by __enter__

With the current macro, f would be bound to the unopened file path/manager rather than the file object returned by __enter__().

Next Steps

  1. Add test cases that verify this behavior (e.g., update WithObjClass.__enter__ to return a different object, or test with Python's built-in file context manager)
  2. Update the macro to correctly bind the return value of __enter__()

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with src/libpython_clj2/python/with.clj#L45-L63 and the existing test in test/libpython_clj2/python_test.clj#L167. Add coverage using a context manager whose enter returns a different object, then verify the bound value is that return value and the existing with behavior still passes.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
clojure, python
Domain
tooling
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
2/5
Estimated time
1-3 hours
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
58/100

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