python / python/mypy

"Cannot determine type" error in `__init__` when argument has the same type as the class and accessing attribute before it's defined

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bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

from __future__ import annotations

from typing import reveal_type


class Foo:
    def __init__(self, value: Foo | None = None):
        if value:
            reveal_type(value.parent)  # Cannot determine type of "parent"
        self.parent = value

playground

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First steps

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  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the example in the linked mypy playground, focusing on the access to value.parent before self.parent is assigned. Trace the type checker's handling of this self-referential init case and verify that the erroneous "Cannot determine type" diagnostic is gone while the attribute receives the expected inferred type.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
42/100

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