implementing a priority queue

example.py

# example.py
#
# Example of a priority queue

import heapq

class PriorityQueue:
    def __init__(self):
        self._queue = []
        self._index = 0

    def push(self, item, priority):
        heapq.heappush(self._queue, (-priority, self._index, item))
        self._index += 1

    def pop(self):
        return heapq.heappop(self._queue)[-1]

# Example use
class Item:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
    def __repr__(self):
        return 'Item({!r})'.format(self.name)

q = PriorityQueue()
q.push(Item('foo'), 1)
q.push(Item('bar'), 5)
q.push(Item('spam'), 4)
q.push(Item('grok'), 1)

print("Should be bar:", q.pop())
print("Should be spam:", q.pop())
print("Should be foo:", q.pop())
print("Should be grok:", q.pop())