Does Processing 3 have class declarations? - processing

Our school project has us make a game using Processing 3. After some studying with the language, our team is pretty confident we can work with the project, though we do have certain reservations of the chosen language.
However, there is one major question we are wondering and could not find an answer. In C++ and many others, when you create a new class in a new file you also create a header file you can include. Does Processing 3 have something similar? I know you can "include" files by adding more tabs, which is still weird but whatever. We would like to have some sort of declarations in advance so we can comment/describe classes and their methods, rather than force each member go through lots of code to find the proper point.
In short, we want to be able to do something like this:
Example.pde
class Example {
//Description
Example();
//Description
void doSomething(int variable);
}
//Other team members don't have to worry past this,
//as they have already seen the public interface
Example::Example()
{
//Constructor
}
void Example::doSomething(int variable)
{
//Function
}
Or do we have to always to like this:
Example.pde
class Example {
//Description
Example()
{
//Constructor
}
//Description
void doSomething(int variable)
{
//Function
}
}

Processing is written in Java, so you can only do things that Java supports. Java does not support header files, so no, you can't use header files in Processing.
However, it sounds like what you're really looking for is an interface.
interface Example {
void doSomething(int variable);
}
class MyExample implements Example{
public MyExample(){
//Constructor
}
void doSomething(int variable){
//Function
}
}
With this, you would only need to show other team members the interface, not the class. As long as they program to the interface, they don't need to ever see the class implementation.
More info on interfaces can be found in the Processing reference.

Related

ExcelDna - Excel can't access function in base class

When Excel tries to call a method in a abstract base class i get a Run-Time error
"Cannot run Marco 'MarcoName'. The macro may not be available"
I can run code from the super class.
The code is similar to this
public abstract class MyBaseClass
{
public static bool MyMethod(string path)
{
if(Valid(path))
{return true;}
return false;
}
}
This code is in a separate assembly imported via a nuget package
The calling code is similar to the below
public class MyClass : MyBaseClass
{
public static bool MyOtherMethod()
{
return true;
}
}
Marking the methods with the "[ExcelFunction]" attribute has no effect.
I am loading the xll file like so,
Application.RegisterXLL (path)
I call the method like so,
Application.Run("MyMethod", path)
Only code in assemblies that are included in the <ExternalLibrary ... /> list in the .dna file are scanned for functions to register. Maybe your external assembly is not mentioned there.
Also, abstract types were not always considered. It looks like this changed at some point, if I look at the code that scans the assemblies here: https://github.com/Excel-DNA/ExcelDna/blob/57c2d0a499a044f6cd1c4ae2c9fbf5b084159dea/Source/ExcelDna.Integration/AssemblyLoader.cs#L93
So it might depend on your Excel-DNA version too.
Easiest might be to have a class with all the functions you want to export, where you can add the Excel-specific attributes (<ExcelFunction .../>) and just forward the calls internally.

modules contract by interface, diagram, logic, general informations

Here is my question, I hope that I'll write it correctly because it is a precise question.
I wonder how to use the interfaces as a contract between two modules. When I draw the module diagrams I never knows which of the modules as the circle and which has the half-open circle. A clear way on how to make the distinction would be very appreciated!
I don't want an example on how to use an interface because I know the properties of the interfaces (behaviors, etc).
Let's say that I got 2 modules, one contains the Bussiness logic, so I'll call it "Model", the other contains the GUI so I'll call it "View".
The view needs a Treeview and a Matrix on each nodes. So we got a tree-like hierarchie that the Model knows about, and for each node we want to fill a matrix of values.
root
- node1
-- leaf1
-- leaf2
- node2
- node3
-- leaf3
-- leaf4
My guts are telling me that I should do something like this:
interface IModelHierarchicMatrix {
void setTreeViewValues(TreeViewModel treeview);
void getMatrixValues();
void setMatrixValues(int[] values);
}
class Model implements IModelHierarchicMatrix {
// the code where I override the interface's function
}
So nice, we can call the needed function for the GUI at the Model. But how can we tell the GUI's class that we need that kind of behaviors (class, etc)...
I find myself often doing this kind of thing:
interface IModelHierarchicMatrixGlue {
void acceptModel(IModelHierarchicMatrix model);
}
class Gui implements IModelHierarchicMatrixGlue {
private IModelHierarchicMatrix model;
...
#Override
public void acceptModel(IModelHierarchicMatrix model) {
if (this.model == null) {
this.model = model;
}
}
}
But I always wonder if it's a good way of creating the contract between the Model and the View.
If I got to create a bi-directional contract between the Modules, how should I do that? Because it might create a cyclic logic between the interfaces...
I hope my question was clear enough, thanks in advance.

Getting DataContext error while saving form

I get this error when opening one specific form. The rest is working fine and I have no clue why this one isn't.
Error: An attempt has been made to Attach or Add an entity that is not new, perhaps having been loaded from another DataContext. This is not supported.
I get the error at _oDBConnection when I try to save. When I watch _oDBConnection while running through the code, it does not exist. Even when I open the main-window it does not exist. So this form is where the DataContext is built for the very first time.
Every class inherits from clsBase where the DataContext is built.
My collegue is the professional one who built it all. I am just expanding and using it (learned it by doing it). But now I'm stuck and he is on holiday. So keep it simple :-)
What can it be?
clsPermanency
namespace Reservation
{
class clsPermanency : clsBase
{
private tblPermanency _oPermanency;
public tblPermanency PermanencyData
{
get { return _oPermanency; }
set { _oPermanency = value; }
}
public clsPermanency()
: base()
{
_oPermanency = new tblPermanency();
}
public clsPermanency(int iID)
: this()
{
_oPermanency = (from oPermanencyData in _oDBConnection.tblPermanencies
where oPermanencyData.ID == iID
select oPermanencyData).First();
if (_oPermanency == null)
throw new Exception("Permanentie niet gevonden");
}
public void save()
{
if (_oPermanency.ID == 0)
{
_oDBConnection.tblPermanencies.InsertOnSubmit(_oPermanency);
}
_oDBConnection.SubmitChanges();
}
}
}
clsBase
public class clsBase
{
protected DBReservationDataContext _oDBConnection;
protected int _iID;
public int ID
{
get { return _iID; }
}
public DBReservationDataContext DBConnection
{
get { return _oDBConnection; }
}
public clsBase()
{
_oDBConnection = new DBReservationDataContext();
}
}
Not a direct answer, but this is really bad design, sorry.
Issues:
One context instance per class instance. Pretty incredible. How are you going to manage units of work and transactions? And what about memory consumption and performance?
Indirection: every entity instance (prefixed o) is wrapped in a cls class. What a hassle to make classes cooperate, if necessary, or to access their properties.
DRY: far from it. Does each clsBase derivative have the same methods as clsPermanency?
Constructors: you always have to call the base constructor. The constructor with int iID always causes a redundant new object to be created, which will certainly be a noticeable performance hit when dealing with larger numbers. A minor change in constructor logic may cause the sequence of constructor invocations to change. (Nested and inherited constructors are always tricky).
Exception handling: you need a try-catch everywhere where classes are created. (BTW: First() will throw its own exception if the record is not there).
Finally, not a real issue, but class and variable name prefixes are sooo 19xx.
What to do?
I don't think you can change your colleague's design in his absence. But I'd really talk to him about it in due time. Just study some linq-to-sql examples out there to pick up some regular patterns.
The exception indicates that somewhere between fetching the _oPermanency instance (in the Id-d constructor) and saving it a new _oDBConnection is created. The code as shown does not reveal how this could happen, but I assume there is more code than this. When you debug and check GetHashCode() of _oDBConnection instances you should be able to find where it happens.

Customizing MEF

I have this situation where I want to use MEF in a chess project I'm workin on. Let's say I have a class constructor as in:
public class MoveManager
{
private Piece _piece;
public MoveManager(Piece piece)
{
_piece = piece;
}
Mode code here...
}
In this context I would have several classes that would derive from Piece like, Pawn, Rook, etc. If I put export attributes on all the classes the derive from Piece, the object being passed into the constructor is null. MEF loops through all classes the have the [Export(typeof(Piece))] and if it exceeds 1, it passes in null. So I cannot use MEF in this way. I'm going to use an Abstact Factory for getting the correct piece. Seems like the DI part of MEF can only take a single class that has the [Export(typeof(some base class))].
Can anyone shed some light on this?
I think you might be looking for the [Importing Constructor] arrtibute, which tells MEF how to use an exported class's constructor.
[Export(typeof(IPiece))]
class Pawn : IPiece
{
[ImportingConstructor]
public Pawn(ISomeDependency dep, [ImportMany] IEnumerable<IOtherDependency> depList)
{
//... do stuff with dependencies
}
}
This requires that an ISomeDependency is exported elsewhere (exactly once) and accepts any number of IOtherDependency's that might be exported too.
Supposing you did this with each piece, you could then:
[Export(typeof(IPieceList))]
class PieceList : IPieceList
{
[ImportingConstructor]
public PieceList([ImportMany] IEnumerable<IPiece> pieces)
{
// pieces now contains one of each piece that was exported above
}
}

Enterprise Library Validation Block - Should validation be placed on class or interface?

I am not sure where the best place to put validation (using the Enterprise Library Validation Block) is? Should it be on the class or on the interface?
Things that may effect it
Validation rules would not be changed in classes which inherit from the interface.
Validation rules would not be changed in classes which inherit from the class.
Inheritance will occur from the class in most cases - I suspect some fringe cases to inherit from the interface (but I would try and avoid it).
The interface main use is for DI which will be done with the Unity block.
The way you are trying to use the Validation Block with DI, I dont think its a problem if you set the attributes at interface level. Also, I dont think it should create problems in the inheritance chain. However, I have mostly seen this block used at class level, with an intent to keep interfaces not over specify things. IMO i dont see a big threat in doing this.
Be very careful here, your test is too simple.
This will not work as you expect for SelfValidation Validators or Class Validators, only for the simple property validators like you have there.
Also, if you are using the PropertyProxyValidator in an ASP.NET page, iI don;t believe it will work either, because it only looks a field validators, not inherited/implemented validators...
Yes big holes in the VAB if you ask me..
For the sake of completeness I decided to write a small test to make sure it would work as expected and it does, I'm just posting it here in case anyone else wants it in future.
using System;
using Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Validation;
using Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Validation.Validators;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
ISpike spike = new Spike();
spike.Name = "A really long name that will fail.";
ValidationResults r = Validation.Validate<ISpike>(spike);
if (!r.IsValid)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException("Validation error found.");
}
}
}
public class Spike : ConsoleApplication1.ISpike
{
public string Name { get; set; }
}
interface ISpike
{
[StringLengthValidator(2, 5)]
string Name { get; set; }
}
}
What version of Enterprise Library are you using for your code example? I tried it using Enterprise Library 5.0, but it didn't work.
I tracked it down to the following section of code w/in the EL5.0 source code:
[namespace Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Validation]
[public static class Validation]
public static ValidationResults Validate<T>(T target, ValidationSpecificationSource source)
{
Type targetType = target != null ? target.GetType() : typeof(T);
Validator validator = ValidationFactory.CreateValidator(targetType, source);
return validator.Validate(target);
}
If the target object is defined, then target.GetType() will return the most specific class definition, NOT the interface definition.
My workaround is to replace your line:
ValidationResults r = Validation.Validate<ISpike>(spike);
With:
ValidationResults r ValidationFactory.CreateValidator<ISpike>().Validate(spike);
This got it working for me.

Resources