recursive_descent.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

# Recursive descent wrapper for objects containing objects

import functools

def recursive_descent(fn):
    @functools.wraps(fn)
    def wrapped(self, *args, **kwargs):
        fn(self, *args, **kwargs)
        # Could dynamically pick the name of the 'objects' list
        # by doing self.__dict__(name)...
        for obj in self.objects:
            wrapped(obj, *args, **kwargs)
    return wrapped

class Test(object):

    def __init__(self, name, children):
        self.name = name
        self.objects = children

    @recursive_descent
    def display(self, mes):
        print self.name + " says: " + mes

# Two levels of children under root
root = Test("root", [Test("Child {}".format(i), [Test("Grandchild {}".format(j), []) for j in range(10)]) for i in range(10)])
# A third level for just one grandchild
root.objects[-1].objects[-1].objects = [Test("GREATGRANDCHILD", [])]
# Recursively descend
root.display('hi!')