rsc3/doc-schelp/HelpSource/Classes/Object.schelp

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class:: Object
summary:: abstract superclass of all objects
categories:: Core>Kernel, Language>OOP
related:: Classes/Class, Guides/Intro-to-Objects, Reference/Classes
description::
Object is the root class of all other classes. All objects are indirect instances of class Object. We call the "receiver" the object the message is sent to: code::receiver.method(argument)::.
classmethods::
private:: prNewCopyArgs, prNew
method::readArchive
Read in an object from a text archive.
code::
(
a = Array.fill(100, { 100.rand });
a.writeArchive(PathName.tmp ++ "myArray");
b = Object.readArchive(PathName.tmp ++ "myArray");
a == b; // true
)
/////////
// closed Function
(
f = { 1 + 2 };
f.writeArchive(PathName.tmp ++ "myFunc"); // succeeds
)
// open Function
(
var num;
num = 2;
f = { num + 2 };
f.writeArchive(PathName.tmp ++ "myFunc"); // fails
)
::
argument::pathname
A String containing the archive file's path.
method::new
Create a new instance. The creation of new instances of any Object actually happens in this method (or with code::newCopyArgs::) when it is called by a child class. See link::Guides/WritingClasses::.
method::newCopyArgs
Creates a new instance and copies the arguments to the instance variables in the order that the variables were defined. If the superclass's code::new:: method requires arguments, the first arguments passed to code::newCopyArgs:: will be passed on to that method, and the following arguments will be copied to this class's instance variables. Class variables are ignored.
code::
MyClass {
var a, b, c;
*new {
arg arg1, arg2, arg3;
// will copy arg1, arg2, arg3 to variables a, b, c
^super.newCopyArgs(arg1, arg2, arg3);
}
}
::
instancemethods::
private::addFunc, addFuncTo, removeFunc, removeFuncFrom
subsection::Class Membership
method::class
Answer the class of the receiver.
code::
5.class;
::
method::respondsTo
Answer a link::Classes/Boolean:: whether the receiver understands the message selector.
code::
5.respondsTo('+'); // true
5.respondsTo('indexOf'); // false
::
argument::aSymbol
A selector name. Must be a link::Classes/Symbol::.
method::isKindOf
Answer a Boolean indicating whether the receiver is a direct or indirect instance of aClass. Use of this message in code must be questioned, because it often indicates a missed opportunity to exploit object polymorphism.
code::
5.isKindOf(Number); // true
5.isKindOf(String); // false
::
method::isMemberOf
Answer a Boolean whether the receiver is a direct instance of aClass. Use of this message in code is almost always a design mistake.
code::
5.isMemberOf(Number); // false
5.isMemberOf(Integer); // true
::
subsection::Accessing
method::size
Different classes respond to this message differently. Object always returns 0.
subsection::Copying
method::copy
Make a copy of the receiver. The implementation of this message depends on the object's class. In class Object, copy calls shallowCopy.
method::shallowCopy
Makes a copy of the object. The copy's named and indexed instance variables refer to the same objects as the receiver.
method::deepCopy
Recursively copies the object and all of the objects contained in the instance variables, and so on down the structure. This method works with cyclic graphs.
method::copyImmutable
If object is immutable then return a shallow copy, else return receiver.
subsection::Conversion
To convert an object of a certain class into a similar object of another class, Object provides a number of methods.
method::as
Returns a similar new Object of a different class.
code::
[1, 2, 3].as(Set);
Pwhite(0.0, 1.0, 10).as(Set);
::
method::asArray
Returns an Array with the receiver, unless it is an Array already.
code::
[1, 2, 3].asArray;
5.asArray;
::
method::asCompileString
Returns a String that can be interpreted to reconstruct a copy of the receiver. For the complementary method, see link::Classes/String#-interpret::.
code::
a = { 10.do { 10.postln } };
a.asCompileString.postcs;
a.postcs;
::
method::cs
Shorthand for link::#-asCompileString::.
code::
{ 10.do { 10.postln } }.cs;
"Strings don't post with surrounding quotes.".cs;
::
subsection::Archiving
Object implements methods for writing and retrieving objects from disk. Note that you cannot archive instances of Thread and its subclasses (i.e. Routine), or open Functions (i.e., a Function which refers to variables from outside its own scope).
method::writeArchive
Write an object to disk as a text archive.
argument::pathname
A String containing the resulting file's path.
subsection::Equality and Identity
method::==
Answer whether the receiver equals anotherObject. The definition of equality depends on the class of the receiver. The default implementation in Object is to answer if the two objects are identical.
note:: Whenever == is overridden in a class, hash should be overridden as well.::
code::
5.0 == 5; // true
5.0 === 5; // false
a = [1, 2, 3]; b = [1, 2, 3];
a == b; // equal
a === b; // not identical
"worth trying" == "worth trying"; // equal
::
method::===
Answer whether the receiver is the exact same object as anotherObject.
code::
5.0 === 5; // false
"worth trying" === "worth trying"; // not identical
'worth trying' === 'worth trying'; // identical (symbols are unique)
::
method::!=
Answer whether the receiver does not equal anotherObject. The default implementation in Object is to answer if the two objects are not identical (see below).
method::fuzzyEqual
Returns the degree of equality between two objects with regard to a given precision. Objects to compare must support max, substraction, and division.
code::
5.0.fuzzyEqual(5.0, 0.5); // 1 - full equality
5.25.fuzzyEqual(5.0, 0.5); // 0.5 - 50 % equality
5.9.fuzzyEqual(5.0, 0.5); // 0 - no equality
::
returns::A number in the range 0 to 1.
method::compareObject
Tests if two Objects (of the same class) are the same in a certain respect: It returns true if instVarNames are equal in both. If none are given, all instance variables are tested (see also: link::#-instVarHash::)
code::
a = Pseq([1, 2, 3], inf); b = Pseq([100, 200, 300], inf);
a.compareObject(b, [\repeats]); // true
a.compareObject(b, [\list]); // false
::
method::hash
Answer a code used to index into a hash table. This is used by Dictionary and Set and their subclasses to implement fast object lookup. Objects which are equal == should have the same hash values. Whenever == is overridden in a class, hash should be overridden as well.
code::
a = "worth trying"; b = "worth trying";
a.hash;
b.hash;
::
method::identityHash
Answer a code used to index into a hash table. This method is implemented by a primitive and is not overridden. Objects which are identical === should have the same hash values.
code::
a = "worth trying"; b = "worth trying";
a.identityHash;
b.identityHash;
::
method::instVarHash
Returns a combined hash value for the object's instance variables and the object's class. If none are given, all instance variables are tested (see also: link::#-compareObject::).
code::
a = Pseq([1, 2, 3], inf); b = Pseq([100, 200, 300], inf);
a.instVarHash([\repeats]); // same
b.instVarHash([\repeats]);
a.instVarHash([\list]); // different
b.instVarHash([\list]);
a = Pseq([1, 2, 3], inf); b = Prand([1, 2, 3], inf);
a.instVarHash([\list]); // different
b.instVarHash([\list]);
::
subsection::Testing
method::isNil
Answer a Boolean indicating whether the receiver is nil.
method::notNil
Answer a Boolean indicating whether the receiver is not nil.
method::isNumber
Answer a Boolean indicating whether the receiver is an instance of Number.
method::isInteger
Answer a Boolean indicating whether the receiver is an instance of Integer.
method::isFloat
Answer a Boolean indicating whether the receiver is an instance of Float.
method::?
If the receiver is nil then answer anObject, otherwise answer the receiver.
method::??
If the receiver is nil, evaluate the link::Classes/Function:: and return the result.
method::!?
If the receiver is not nil, evaluate the link::Classes/Function:: passing in the receiver as argument and return the result, otherwise return nil.
note::
The function will be inlined if it contains no variables or arguments.
::
discussion::
This method allow building up chains of actions to be performed on an object (possibly across several methods) without having to check if the object is nil or not. After all the desired actions are performed, link::#-??:: can be used to check if result the result is nil and supply a default value in that case.
Examples:
code::
x !? ( _ * 3 ) ?? { "It was a nil, so I give a default value".postln; Point(1,1) }
::
With code::x = nil::, this will result in:
teletype::
It was a nil, so I give a default value
Point( 1, 1 )
::
But if code::x = Point(3,4)::, the result will be:
teletype::
Point( 9, 12 )
::
Nested nil checks:
code::
(
x = nil;
y = Point(3,4);
z = Point(5,6);
x !? { |x| y !? { |y| z !? { |z| x.rho * y.rho * z.rho } } }
)
::
Results in teletype::nil::
code::
(
x = Point(1,2);
y = Point(3,4);
z = Point(5,6);
x !? { |x| y !? { |y| z !? { |z| x.rho * y.rho * z.rho } } }
)
::
Results in teletype::87.321245982865::
method::pointsTo
Returns true if receiver has a direct reference to obj.
code::
a = 9;
b = [1, a, 6, 8];
c = [1, b, 5];
c.pointsto(b); // true
c.pointsto(a); // false
::
method::mutable
Returns true if receiver is mutable.
code::
a = #[1, 2, 3]; b = [1, 2, 3];
a.mutable; // false
b.mutable; // true
::
method::frozen
Returns true if receiver is frozen.
method::switch
Object implements a switch method which allows for conditional evaluation with multiple cases. These are implemented as pairs of test objects (tested using if this == test.value) and corresponding functions to be evaluated if true. In order for switch to be inlined (and thus be as efficient as nested if statements) the matching values must be literal Integers, Floats, Chars, Symbols and the functions must have no variables or arguments.
discussion::
code::
(
var x, z;
z = [0, 1, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2];
switch (z.choose.postln,
1, { \no },
1.1, { \wrong },
1.3, { \wrong },
1.5, { \wrong },
2, { \wrong },
0, { \true }
).postln;
)
::
or:
code::
(
var x, z;
z = [0, 1, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2];
x = switch (z.choose)
{1} { \no }
{1.1} { \wrong }
{1.3} { \wrong }
{1.5} { \wrong }
{2} { \wrong }
{0} { \true };
x.postln;
)
::
subsection::Messaging
Instead of directly sending a method to an object, a method may be invoked given a method selector only (a Symbol). The other arguments may be provided by passing them directly, from an environment. If it is not known whether the receiver implements the method, tryPerform only sends if it does, and superPerform invokes the method of the superclass.
method::perform
The selector argument must be a Symbol. Sends the method named by the selector with the given arguments to the receiver.
If the first argument is an Array or List, this method behaves like code::performMsg::. However, this usage is discouraged, and code::performMsg:: ought to be used instead.
method::performList
The selector argument must be a Symbol. Sends the method named by the selector with the given arguments to the receiver. If the last argument is a List or an Array, then its elements are unpacked and passed as arguments.
code::
a = { |a, b, c| postf("% plus % plus % is %\n", a, b, c, a + b + c); "" };
a.performList(\value, [1, 2, 3]);
::
method::performMsg
The argument must be a List or Array whose first element is a Symbol representing a method selector. The remaining elements are unpacked and passed as arguments to the method named by the selector.
code::
a = { |a, b, c| postf("% plus % plus % is %\n", a, b, c, a + b + c); "" };
a.performMsg([\value, 1, 2, 3]);
::
method::performWithEnvir
argument:: selector
A Symbol representing a method selector.
argument:: envir
The remaining arguments derived from the environment and passed as arguments to the method named by the selector.
discussion::
code::
a = { |a, b, c| postf("% plus % plus % is %\n", a, b, c, a + b + c); "" };
a.performWithEnvir(\value, (a: 1, c: 3, d: 4, b: 2));
::
method::performKeyValuePairs
argument:: selector
A Symbol representing a method selector.
argument:: pairs
Array or List with key-value pairs.
discussion::
code::
a = { |a, b, c| postf("% plus % plus % is %\n", a, b, c, a + b + c); "" };
a.performKeyValuePairs(\value, [\a, 1, \b, 2, \c, 3, \d, 4]);
::
method::tryPerform
Like 'perform', but tryPerform passes the method to the receiver only if the receiver understands the method name. If the receiver doesn't implement that method, the result is nil. Note that this does not catch errors like 'try' does (see Exception). If the receiver does have a matching method but that method throws an error, execution will halt. But, 'tryPerform' is faster than 'try'.
code::
(a: 1, b: 2, c: 3).tryPerform(\keysValuesDo, { |key, value| [key, value].postln });
// Array does not understand keysValuesDo -- result is nil
[1, 2, 3].tryPerform(\keysValuesDo, { |key, value| [key, value].postln });
// Error occurs within keysValuesDo -- error is thrown back to halt execution
(a: 1, b: 2, c: 3).tryPerform(\keysValuesDo, { |key, value| [key, value].flippityblargh });
::
method::superPerform
Like perform, superPerform calls a method, however it calls the method on the superclass.
selector: A Symbol representing a method selector.
args: Method arguments.
method::superPerformList
Like performList, superPerformList calls a method, however it calls the method on the superclass.
selector: A Symbol representing a method selector.
args: Method arguments. If the last argument is a List or an Array, then its elements are unpacked and passed as arguments.
method::multiChannelPerform
Perform selector with multichannel expansion. See also: link::Guides/Multichannel-Expansion::.
argument:: selector
A Symbol representing a method selector.
argument:: ... args
Method arguments which, if they contain an array, will call the method multiple times for each sub-element.
discussion::
code::
a = { |a, b, c| format("% plus % times % is %", a, b, c, a + b * c).quote; };
a.multiChannelPerform(\value, [1, 10, 100, 1000], [2, 7, 9], [3, 7]);
["foo","bar"].multiChannelPerform('++',["l","bro","t"]);
::
subsection::Unique Methods
Method definitions not yet implemented may be added to an Object instance.
method::addUniqueMethod
Add a unique method.
code::
a = 5;
a.addUniqueMethod(\sayHello, { |to| "hello " ++ to ++ ", I am 5" });
a.sayHello;
::
method::removeUniqueMethod
Remove a unique method.
code::
a.removeUniqueMethod(\sayHello);
a.sayHello;
::
method::removeUniqueMethods
Remove all unique methods of an Object.
subsection::Dependancy
method::addDependant
Add aDependant to the receiver's list of dependants.
method::removeDependant
Remove aDependant from the receiver's list of dependants.
method::dependants
Returns an IdentitySet of all dependants of the receiver.
method::changed
Notify the receiver's dependants that the receiver has changed. The object making the change should be passed as theChanger.
method::update
An object upon which the receiver depends has changed. theChanged is the object that changed and theChanger is the object that made the change.
method::release
Remove all dependants of the receiver. Any object that has had dependants added must be released in order for it or its dependants to get garbage collected.
subsection::Error Support
Object implements a number of methods which throw instances of Error. A number of methods (e.g. doesNotUnderstand) are 'private' and do not normally need to be called directly in user code. Others, such as those documented below can be useful for purposes such as object oriented design (e.g. to define an abstract interface which will be implemented in subclasses) and deprecation of methods. The reserved keyword thisMethod can be used to refer to the enclosing method. See also Method and Function (for exception handling).
method::throw
Throws the receiver as an Exception, which may or may not be caught and handled by any enclosing Function.
method::subclassResponsibility
Throws a SubclassResponsibilityError. Use this to indicate that this method should be defined in all subclasses of the receiver.
discussion::
code::
someMethod {
this.subclassResponsibility(thisMethod);
}
::
method::shouldNotImplement
Throws a ShouldNotImplementError. Use this to indicate that this inherited method should not be defined or used in the receiver.
method::deprecated
Throws a DeprecatedError. Use this to indicate that the enclosing method has been replaced by a better one (possibly in another class), and that it will likely be removed in the future. Unlike other errors, DeprecatedError only halts execution if code::Error.debug == true::. In all cases it posts a warning indicating that the method is deprecated and what is the recommended alternative.
discussion::
code::
foo {
this.deprecated(thisMethod, ThisOrSomeOtherObject.findMethod(\foo);
... // execution of this method will continue unless Error.debug == true
}
// For a class method:
*bar {
this.deprecated(thisMethod, OtherClass.class.findMethod(\bar));
...
}
::
subsection::Printing and Introspection
method::post
Print a string representation of the receiver to the post window.
code::
"hello".post; "hello".post; "";
::
method::postln
Print a string representation of the receiver followed by a newline.
code::
"hello".postln; "hello".postln; "";
::
method::postc
Print a string representation of the receiver preceded by comments.
code::
"hello".postc; "hello".postc; "";
::
method::postcln
Print a string representation of the receiver preceded by comments, followed by a newline.
code::
"hello".postcln; "hello".postcln; "";
::
method::postcs
Print the compile string representation of the receiver, followed by a newline.
code::
"hello".postcs; "hello".postcs; "";
::
method::dump
Print a detailed low level representation of the receiver to the post window.
code::
List[1, 2, 3].dump;
::
subsection::System Information
method::gcInfo
Posts garbage collector information in a table format.
discussion::
list::
## flips: the number of times the GC "flipped", i.e. when it finished incremental scanning of all reachable objects
## collects: the number of partial collections performed
## nalloc: total number of allocations
## alloc: total allocation in bytes
## grey: the number of "grey" objects, i.e. objects that point to reachable objects and are not determined to be (un)reachable yet
::
Then for each size class: numer of black, white and free objects, total number of objects and the total set size.
code::
flips 241 collects 689096 nalloc 40173511 alloc 322496998 grey 346541
0 bwf t sz: 882 0 368573 369455 2955640
1 bwf t sz: 6197 122 5702377 5708696 91339136
2 bwf t sz: 947 4 1500009 1500960 48030720
3 bwf t sz: 8056 65201 301800 375057 24003648
4 bwf t sz: 4047 145 3457 7649 979072
5 bwf t sz: 422 1 431 854 218624
6 bwf t sz: 124 2 72 198 101376
7 bwf t sz: 153504 1 0 153505 157189120
8 bwf t sz: 22 0 0 22 45056
9 bwf t sz: 5 0 0 5 20480
10 bwf t sz: 5 0 0 5 40960
12 bwf t sz: 2 0 0 2 65536
13 bwf t sz: 1 0 0 1 65536
19 bwf t sz: 1 0 3 4 16777216
tot bwf t sz: 174215 65476 7876722 8116413 341832120
::
You can also query the amount of free memory with code::Object.totalFree:: and dump the currently grey objects with code::Object.dumpGrey::. More memory status methods are: largestFreeBlock, gcDumpSet, and gcSanity.
subsection::Iteration
method::do
Object evaluates the function with itself as an argument, returning the result. Different classes respond to this message differently.
discussion::
code::
f = { |x, i| [x, i].postln; };
[1, 2, 3].do(f); // Array.do
10.do(f); // Integer.do
($Q).do(f); // Object.do
::
method::generate
Object iterates by the message do, sent to the receiver.
This method is used internally by list comprehensions.
method::dup
Duplicates the receiver n times, returning an array of n copies. Different classes respond to this message differently. The shortcut "!" can be used in place.
discussion::
code::
8.dup(10);
8 ! 10; // same as above
x = [[1], [2], [3]].dup(5);
x[0] === x[1]; // false: copies receiver.
x[0][0] === x[1][0] // true: doesn't deepCopy receiver
{ 1.0.rand }.dup(5) // other objects respond differently to dup
::
subsection:: Scheduling
method:: awake
This method is called by a link::Classes/Clock:: on which the object was
scheduled when its scheduling time is up. It calls link::#-next::, passing
on the scheduling time in beats as an argument.
argument:: beats
The scheduling time in beats. This is equal to the current logical time
(link::Classes/Thread#-beats::).
argument:: seconds
The scheduling time in seconds. This is equal to the current logical time
(link::Classes/Thread#-seconds::).
argument:: clock
The clock on which the object was scheduled.
subsection:: Stream Support
method:: next
Does nothing; simply returns the object itself.
method:: reset
Does nothing; simply returns the object itself.
subsection::Routine Support
Objects support the basic interface of Stream, just returning itself in response to the following messages:
next, reset, stop, free, clear, removedFromScheduler, asStream.
method::yield
Must be called from inside a Routine. Yields control to the calling thread. The receiver is the result passed to the calling thread's method. The result of yield will be the value passed to the Routine's next method the next time it is called.
method::yieldAndReset
Must be called from inside a Routine. Yields control to the calling thread. The receiver is the result passed to the calling thread's method. The Routine is reset so that the next time it is called, it will start from the beginning. yieldAndReset never returns within the Routine.
method::alwaysYield
Must be called from inside a Routine. Yields control to the calling thread. The receiver is the result passed to the calling thread's method. The Routine, when called subsequently will always yield the receiver until it is reset. alwaysYield never returns within the Routine.
method::embedInStream
Yields the receiver
method::idle
within a routine, return values (the receiver) until this time is over. (see also link::Classes/Routine#play::)
Time is measured relative to the thread's clock.
code::
a = Routine { 1.yield; 0.idle(3); 400.yield };
fork { loop { a.next.postln; 0.5.wait } };
::
method::iter
Returns a link::Classes/OneShotStream:: with the receiver as return value.
code::
a = 9.iter;
a.nextN(4);
::
method::cyc
Embeds the receiver in the stream n times (default: inf), each time resetting it.
code::
a = 9.cyc(2);
a.nextN(4);
::
method::fin
Calls next with the receiver n times only (default: 1), yielding the result.
code::
a = (10..0).iter.fin(2);
a.nextN(4);
::
method::repeat
Repeatedly embeds the receiver in the stream using a Pn (may thus be used for patterns and other objects alike)
code::
a = (0..3).iter.repeat(2);
a.nextN(9)
::
method::loop
Indefinitely embeds the receiver in the stream
code::
a = (0..3).iter.loop;
a.nextN(9)
::
method:: nextN
Returns an array with the results of calling link::#-next:: a given number of times
argument:: n
Number of message calls
argument:: inval
argument passed to the next message
code::
Routine { inf.do { |i| i.rand.yield } }.nextN(8)
::
method::streamArg
Dependent on whether an object that is passed to a stream the object will behave differently: it may be embedded in the stream or used as stream directly.
This method allows to switch between the two behaviors. For efficiency, the subclasses link::Classes/Pattern:: and link::Classes/Stream:: implement this method simply as "asStream".
argument::embed
If set to true, the object embeds itself into the stream (and thus return only once). If set to false, it returns itself forever. For simplicity, subclasses implement this method without this switch.
code::
// embedding an event
a = (z: 77);
b = Pset(\y, 8, a.streamArg(true)).asStream;
c = Pset(\y, 8, a.streamArg(false)).asStream;
b.nextN(3, ()); // this ends
c.nextN(3, ()); // this loops
// embedding a pattern
a = Pbind(\note, Pseq([1, 2]));
b = Pset(\y, 8, a.streamArg(true)).asStream;
c = Pset(\y, 8, a.streamArg(false)).asStream;
b.nextN(3, ()); // this ends
c.nextN(3, ()); // this ends, too
::
method::addFunc
method::addFuncTo
method::removeFunc
method::removeFuncFrom
The messages link::Classes/Function#-addFunc:: link::Classes/Function#-addFuncTo::, link::Classes/Function#-removeFunc::, link::Classes/Function#-removeFuncFrom:: are supported by Object.
method::instill
method::obtain
The messages link::Classes/SequenceableCollection#-instill:: and link::Classes/SequenceableCollection#-obtain::, are supported by Object.
subsection:: Math Support
method::blend
Lineraly interpolate between this and argument
code::
blend(10, 100, 0.3);
blend([1, 2, 3], [1, 3, 4], 0.5);
blend((a: 6, b: 7), (a: 0, b: [1, 2], c: 9), 0.5);
::