TypeError: Error when calling the metaclass bases

I've created a new category called "decode" that's going to be the home of compiler (and other) detritus such as the python error:

TypeError: Error when calling the metaclass bases

For this one, the answer is that you probably named a python class the same thing as the module (i.e., the file) that it's in. You then imported the module and attempted to use it like a class. You did this because you, like me, were probably a Java programmer not that long ago :-). The way to fix it is to import the module.class instead of just the module. Or, for sanity's sake, change the name of the class or the module so that it's more obvious what's being imported.

I think we're all doing the world a favor by helping out the Oracle with a few hints when we run across these things and there isn't a good answer already documented.