Commit | Line | Data |
8b978dd5 |
1 | |
2 | package Class::MOP::Class; |
3 | |
4 | use strict; |
5 | use warnings; |
6 | |
7 | use Carp 'confess'; |
0882828e |
8 | use Scalar::Util 'blessed', 'reftype'; |
8b978dd5 |
9 | use Sub::Name 'subname'; |
10 | use B 'svref_2object'; |
11 | |
12 | our $VERSION = '0.01'; |
13 | |
2eb717d5 |
14 | # Self-introspection |
15 | |
16 | sub meta { $_[0]->initialize($_[0]) } |
17 | |
8b978dd5 |
18 | # Creation |
19 | |
bfe4d0fc |
20 | { |
21 | # Metaclasses are singletons, so we cache them here. |
22 | # there is no need to worry about destruction though |
23 | # because they should die only when the program dies. |
24 | # After all, do package definitions even get reaped? |
25 | my %METAS; |
26 | sub initialize { |
27 | my ($class, $package_name) = @_; |
28 | (defined $package_name && $package_name) |
727919c5 |
29 | || confess "You must pass a package name"; |
30 | return $METAS{$package_name} if exists $METAS{$package_name}; |
31 | $METAS{$package_name} = $class->construct_class_instance($package_name); |
32 | } |
33 | |
34 | # NOTE: (meta-circularity) |
35 | # this is a special form of &construct_instance |
36 | # (see below), which is used to construct class |
1a7ebbb3 |
37 | # meta-object instances for any Class::MOP::* |
38 | # class. All other classes will use the more |
39 | # normal &construct_instance. |
727919c5 |
40 | sub construct_class_instance { |
41 | my ($class, $package_name) = @_; |
42 | (defined $package_name && $package_name) |
1a7ebbb3 |
43 | || confess "You must pass a package name"; |
44 | $class = blessed($class) || $class; |
45 | if ($class =~ /^Class::MOP::/) { |
46 | bless { |
47 | '$:pkg' => $package_name, |
48 | '%:attrs' => {} |
49 | } => $class; |
50 | } |
51 | else { |
52 | bless $class->meta->construct_instance(':pkg' => $package_name) => $class |
53 | } |
bfe4d0fc |
54 | } |
8b978dd5 |
55 | } |
56 | |
57 | sub create { |
58 | my ($class, $package_name, $package_version, %options) = @_; |
bfe4d0fc |
59 | (defined $package_name && $package_name) |
8b978dd5 |
60 | || confess "You must pass a package name"; |
61 | my $code = "package $package_name;"; |
62 | $code .= "\$$package_name\:\:VERSION = '$package_version';" |
63 | if defined $package_version; |
64 | eval $code; |
65 | confess "creation of $package_name failed : $@" if $@; |
bfe4d0fc |
66 | my $meta = $class->initialize($package_name); |
8b978dd5 |
67 | $meta->superclasses(@{$options{superclasses}}) |
68 | if exists $options{superclasses}; |
2eb717d5 |
69 | # NOTE: |
70 | # process attributes first, so that they can |
71 | # install accessors, but locally defined methods |
72 | # can then overwrite them. It is maybe a little odd, but |
73 | # I think this should be the order of things. |
74 | if (exists $options{attributes}) { |
cbd9f942 |
75 | foreach my $attr (@{$options{attributes}}) { |
76 | $meta->add_attribute($attr); |
2eb717d5 |
77 | } |
78 | } |
bfe4d0fc |
79 | if (exists $options{methods}) { |
80 | foreach my $method_name (keys %{$options{methods}}) { |
81 | $meta->add_method($method_name, $options{methods}->{$method_name}); |
82 | } |
2eb717d5 |
83 | } |
8b978dd5 |
84 | return $meta; |
85 | } |
86 | |
e16da3e6 |
87 | # Instance Construction |
88 | |
89 | sub construct_instance { |
cbd9f942 |
90 | my ($class, %params) = @_; |
91 | my $instance = {}; |
92 | foreach my $attr (map { $_->{attribute} } $class->compute_all_applicable_attributes()) { |
93 | # if the attr has an init_arg, use that, otherwise, |
94 | # use the attributes name itself as the init_arg |
95 | my $init_arg = $attr->has_init_arg() ? $attr->init_arg() : $attr->name; |
96 | # try to fetch the init arg from the %params ... |
97 | my $val; |
98 | $val = $params{$init_arg} if exists $params{$init_arg}; |
99 | # if nothing was in the %params, we can use the |
100 | # attribute's default value (if it has one) |
c50c603e |
101 | $val ||= $attr->default($instance) if $attr->has_default(); |
cbd9f942 |
102 | # now add this to the instance structure |
103 | $instance->{$attr->name} = $val; |
104 | } |
105 | return $instance; |
e16da3e6 |
106 | } |
107 | |
8b978dd5 |
108 | # Informational |
109 | |
e16da3e6 |
110 | sub name { $_[0]->{'$:pkg'} } |
8b978dd5 |
111 | |
112 | sub version { |
113 | my $self = shift; |
114 | no strict 'refs'; |
115 | ${$self->name . '::VERSION'}; |
116 | } |
117 | |
118 | # Inheritance |
119 | |
120 | sub superclasses { |
121 | my $self = shift; |
122 | no strict 'refs'; |
123 | if (@_) { |
124 | my @supers = @_; |
125 | @{$self->name . '::ISA'} = @supers; |
126 | } |
127 | @{$self->name . '::ISA'}; |
128 | } |
129 | |
130 | sub class_precedence_list { |
131 | my $self = shift; |
bfe4d0fc |
132 | # NOTE: |
133 | # We need to check for ciruclar inheirtance here. |
134 | # This will do nothing if all is well, and blow |
135 | # up otherwise. Yes, it's an ugly hack, better |
136 | # suggestions are welcome. |
137 | { $self->name->isa('This is a test for circular inheritance') } |
138 | # ... and no back to our regularly scheduled program |
8b978dd5 |
139 | ( |
140 | $self->name, |
141 | map { |
bfe4d0fc |
142 | $self->initialize($_)->class_precedence_list() |
8b978dd5 |
143 | } $self->superclasses() |
144 | ); |
145 | } |
146 | |
0882828e |
147 | ## Methods |
148 | |
149 | sub add_method { |
150 | my ($self, $method_name, $method) = @_; |
151 | (defined $method_name && $method_name) |
152 | || confess "You must define a method name"; |
a5eca695 |
153 | # use reftype here to allow for blessed subs ... |
0882828e |
154 | (reftype($method) && reftype($method) eq 'CODE') |
155 | || confess "Your code block must be a CODE reference"; |
156 | my $full_method_name = ($self->name . '::' . $method_name); |
157 | |
158 | no strict 'refs'; |
c9b8b7f9 |
159 | no warnings 'redefine'; |
0882828e |
160 | *{$full_method_name} = subname $full_method_name => $method; |
161 | } |
162 | |
bfe4d0fc |
163 | { |
164 | |
165 | ## private utility functions for has_method |
2eb717d5 |
166 | my $_find_subroutine_package_name = sub { eval { svref_2object($_[0])->GV->STASH->NAME } || '' }; |
167 | my $_find_subroutine_name = sub { eval { svref_2object($_[0])->GV->NAME } || '' }; |
bfe4d0fc |
168 | |
169 | sub has_method { |
c9b8b7f9 |
170 | my ($self, $method_name) = @_; |
bfe4d0fc |
171 | (defined $method_name && $method_name) |
172 | || confess "You must define a method name"; |
0882828e |
173 | |
bfe4d0fc |
174 | my $sub_name = ($self->name . '::' . $method_name); |
0882828e |
175 | |
bfe4d0fc |
176 | no strict 'refs'; |
177 | return 0 if !defined(&{$sub_name}); |
178 | return 0 if $_find_subroutine_package_name->(\&{$sub_name}) ne $self->name && |
179 | $_find_subroutine_name->(\&{$sub_name}) ne '__ANON__'; |
180 | return 1; |
181 | } |
182 | |
0882828e |
183 | } |
184 | |
185 | sub get_method { |
c9b8b7f9 |
186 | my ($self, $method_name) = @_; |
0882828e |
187 | (defined $method_name && $method_name) |
188 | || confess "You must define a method name"; |
189 | |
190 | no strict 'refs'; |
191 | return \&{$self->name . '::' . $method_name} |
bfe4d0fc |
192 | if $self->has_method($method_name); |
c9b8b7f9 |
193 | return; # <- make sure to return undef |
194 | } |
195 | |
196 | sub remove_method { |
197 | my ($self, $method_name) = @_; |
198 | (defined $method_name && $method_name) |
199 | || confess "You must define a method name"; |
200 | |
201 | my $removed_method = $self->get_method($method_name); |
202 | |
203 | no strict 'refs'; |
204 | delete ${$self->name . '::'}{$method_name} |
205 | if defined $removed_method; |
206 | |
207 | return $removed_method; |
208 | } |
209 | |
210 | sub get_method_list { |
211 | my $self = shift; |
212 | no strict 'refs'; |
a5eca695 |
213 | grep { $self->has_method($_) } %{$self->name . '::'}; |
214 | } |
215 | |
216 | sub compute_all_applicable_methods { |
217 | my $self = shift; |
218 | my @methods; |
219 | # keep a record of what we have seen |
220 | # here, this will handle all the |
221 | # inheritence issues because we are |
222 | # using the &class_precedence_list |
223 | my (%seen_class, %seen_method); |
224 | foreach my $class ($self->class_precedence_list()) { |
225 | next if $seen_class{$class}; |
226 | $seen_class{$class}++; |
227 | # fetch the meta-class ... |
228 | my $meta = $self->initialize($class); |
229 | foreach my $method_name ($meta->get_method_list()) { |
230 | next if exists $seen_method{$method_name}; |
231 | $seen_method{$method_name}++; |
232 | push @methods => { |
233 | name => $method_name, |
234 | class => $class, |
235 | code => $meta->get_method($method_name) |
236 | }; |
237 | } |
238 | } |
239 | return @methods; |
240 | } |
241 | |
a5eca695 |
242 | sub find_all_methods_by_name { |
243 | my ($self, $method_name) = @_; |
244 | (defined $method_name && $method_name) |
245 | || confess "You must define a method name to find"; |
246 | my @methods; |
247 | # keep a record of what we have seen |
248 | # here, this will handle all the |
249 | # inheritence issues because we are |
250 | # using the &class_precedence_list |
251 | my %seen_class; |
252 | foreach my $class ($self->class_precedence_list()) { |
253 | next if $seen_class{$class}; |
254 | $seen_class{$class}++; |
255 | # fetch the meta-class ... |
256 | my $meta = $self->initialize($class); |
257 | push @methods => { |
258 | name => $method_name, |
259 | class => $class, |
260 | code => $meta->get_method($method_name) |
261 | } if $meta->has_method($method_name); |
262 | } |
263 | return @methods; |
264 | |
8b978dd5 |
265 | } |
266 | |
552e3d24 |
267 | ## Attributes |
268 | |
e16da3e6 |
269 | sub add_attribute { |
2eb717d5 |
270 | my ($self,$attribute) = @_; |
e16da3e6 |
271 | (blessed($attribute) && $attribute->isa('Class::MOP::Attribute')) |
272 | || confess "Your attribute must be an instance of Class::MOP::Attribute (or a subclass)"; |
2eb717d5 |
273 | $attribute->install_accessors($self); |
274 | $self->{'%:attrs'}->{$attribute->name} = $attribute; |
e16da3e6 |
275 | } |
276 | |
277 | sub has_attribute { |
278 | my ($self, $attribute_name) = @_; |
279 | (defined $attribute_name && $attribute_name) |
280 | || confess "You must define an attribute name"; |
281 | exists $self->{'%:attrs'}->{$attribute_name} ? 1 : 0; |
282 | } |
283 | |
284 | sub get_attribute { |
285 | my ($self, $attribute_name) = @_; |
286 | (defined $attribute_name && $attribute_name) |
287 | || confess "You must define an attribute name"; |
288 | return $self->{'%:attrs'}->{$attribute_name} |
289 | if $self->has_attribute($attribute_name); |
290 | } |
291 | |
292 | sub remove_attribute { |
293 | my ($self, $attribute_name) = @_; |
294 | (defined $attribute_name && $attribute_name) |
295 | || confess "You must define an attribute name"; |
296 | my $removed_attribute = $self->{'%:attrs'}->{$attribute_name}; |
297 | delete $self->{'%:attrs'}->{$attribute_name} |
298 | if defined $removed_attribute; |
2eb717d5 |
299 | $removed_attribute->remove_accessors($self); |
e16da3e6 |
300 | return $removed_attribute; |
301 | } |
302 | |
303 | sub get_attribute_list { |
304 | my $self = shift; |
305 | keys %{$self->{'%:attrs'}}; |
306 | } |
307 | |
308 | sub compute_all_applicable_attributes { |
309 | my $self = shift; |
310 | my @attrs; |
311 | # keep a record of what we have seen |
312 | # here, this will handle all the |
313 | # inheritence issues because we are |
314 | # using the &class_precedence_list |
315 | my (%seen_class, %seen_attr); |
316 | foreach my $class ($self->class_precedence_list()) { |
317 | next if $seen_class{$class}; |
318 | $seen_class{$class}++; |
319 | # fetch the meta-class ... |
320 | my $meta = $self->initialize($class); |
321 | foreach my $attr_name ($meta->get_attribute_list()) { |
322 | next if exists $seen_attr{$attr_name}; |
323 | $seen_attr{$attr_name}++; |
324 | push @attrs => { |
325 | name => $attr_name, |
326 | class => $class, |
327 | attribute => $meta->get_attribute($attr_name) |
328 | }; |
329 | } |
330 | } |
331 | return @attrs; |
332 | } |
2eb717d5 |
333 | |
52e8a34c |
334 | # Class attributes |
335 | |
336 | sub add_package_variable { |
337 | my ($self, $variable, $initial_value) = @_; |
338 | (defined $variable && $variable =~ /^[\$\@\%]/) |
339 | || confess "variable name does not have a sigil"; |
340 | |
341 | my ($sigil, $name) = ($variable =~ /^(.)(.*)$/); |
342 | if (defined $initial_value) { |
343 | no strict 'refs'; |
344 | *{$self->name . '::' . $name} = $initial_value; |
345 | } |
346 | else { |
347 | eval $sigil . $self->name . '::' . $name; |
348 | confess "Could not create package variable ($variable) because : $@" if $@; |
349 | } |
350 | } |
351 | |
352 | sub has_package_variable { |
353 | my ($self, $variable) = @_; |
354 | (defined $variable && $variable =~ /^[\$\@\%]/) |
355 | || confess "variable name does not have a sigil"; |
356 | my ($sigil, $name) = ($variable =~ /^(.)(.*)$/); |
357 | no strict 'refs'; |
358 | defined ${$self->name . '::'}{$name} ? 1 : 0; |
359 | } |
360 | |
361 | sub get_package_variable { |
362 | my ($self, $variable) = @_; |
363 | (defined $variable && $variable =~ /^[\$\@\%]/) |
364 | || confess "variable name does not have a sigil"; |
365 | my ($sigil, $name) = ($variable =~ /^(.)(.*)$/); |
366 | no strict 'refs'; |
367 | # try to fetch it first,.. see what happens |
368 | eval '\\' . $sigil . $self->name . '::' . $name; |
369 | confess "Could not get the package variable ($variable) because : $@" if $@; |
370 | # if we didn't die, then we can return it |
371 | # NOTE: |
372 | # this is not ideal, better suggestions are welcome |
373 | eval '\\' . $sigil . $self->name . '::' . $name; |
374 | } |
375 | |
376 | sub remove_package_variable { |
377 | my ($self, $variable) = @_; |
378 | (defined $variable && $variable =~ /^[\$\@\%]/) |
379 | || confess "variable name does not have a sigil"; |
380 | my ($sigil, $name) = ($variable =~ /^(.)(.*)$/); |
381 | no strict 'refs'; |
382 | delete ${$self->name . '::'}{$name}; |
383 | } |
384 | |
8b978dd5 |
385 | 1; |
386 | |
387 | __END__ |
388 | |
389 | =pod |
390 | |
391 | =head1 NAME |
392 | |
393 | Class::MOP::Class - Class Meta Object |
394 | |
395 | =head1 SYNOPSIS |
396 | |
fe122940 |
397 | # use this for introspection ... |
398 | |
399 | package Foo; |
400 | sub meta { Class::MOP::Class->initialize(__PACKAGE__) } |
401 | |
402 | # elsewhere in the code ... |
403 | |
404 | # add a method to Foo ... |
405 | Foo->meta->add_method('bar' => sub { ... }) |
406 | |
407 | # get a list of all the classes searched |
408 | # the method dispatcher in the correct order |
409 | Foo->meta->class_precedence_list() |
410 | |
411 | # remove a method from Foo |
412 | Foo->meta->remove_method('bar'); |
413 | |
414 | # or use this to actually create classes ... |
415 | |
416 | Class::MOP::Class->create('Bar' => '0.01' => ( |
417 | superclasses => [ 'Foo' ], |
418 | attributes => [ |
419 | Class::MOP:::Attribute->new('$bar'), |
420 | Class::MOP:::Attribute->new('$baz'), |
421 | ], |
422 | methods => { |
423 | calculate_bar => sub { ... }, |
424 | construct_baz => sub { ... } |
425 | } |
426 | )); |
427 | |
8b978dd5 |
428 | =head1 DESCRIPTION |
429 | |
fe122940 |
430 | This is the largest and currently most complex part of the Perl 5 |
431 | meta-object protocol. It controls the introspection and |
432 | manipulation of Perl 5 classes (and it can create them too). The |
433 | best way to understand what this module can do, is to read the |
434 | documentation for each of it's methods. |
435 | |
552e3d24 |
436 | =head1 METHODS |
437 | |
2eb717d5 |
438 | =head2 Self Introspection |
439 | |
440 | =over 4 |
441 | |
442 | =item B<meta> |
443 | |
fe122940 |
444 | This will return a B<Class::MOP::Class> instance which is related |
445 | to this class. Thereby allowing B<Class::MOP::Class> to actually |
446 | introspect itself. |
447 | |
448 | As with B<Class::MOP::Attribute>, B<Class::MOP> will actually |
449 | bootstrap this module by installing a number of attribute meta-objects |
450 | into it's metaclass. This will allow this class to reap all the benifits |
451 | of the MOP when subclassing it. |
2eb717d5 |
452 | |
453 | =back |
454 | |
552e3d24 |
455 | =head2 Class construction |
456 | |
457 | These methods handle creating Class objects, which can be used to |
458 | both create new classes, and analyze pre-existing ones. |
459 | |
460 | This module will internally store references to all the instances |
461 | you create with these methods, so that they do not need to be |
462 | created any more than nessecary. Basically, they are singletons. |
463 | |
464 | =over 4 |
465 | |
466 | =item B<create ($package_name, ?$package_version, |
467 | superclasses => ?@superclasses, |
468 | methods => ?%methods, |
469 | attributes => ?%attributes)> |
470 | |
471 | This returns the basic Class object, bringing the specified |
472 | C<$package_name> into existence and adding any of the |
473 | C<$package_version>, C<@superclasses>, C<%methods> and C<%attributes> |
474 | to it. |
475 | |
476 | =item B<initialize ($package_name)> |
477 | |
478 | This initializes a Class object for a given a C<$package_name>. |
479 | |
480 | =back |
481 | |
482 | =head2 Instance construction |
483 | |
484 | =over 4 |
485 | |
cbd9f942 |
486 | =item B<construct_instance (%params)> |
552e3d24 |
487 | |
cbd9f942 |
488 | This will construct and instance using a HASH ref as storage |
552e3d24 |
489 | (currently only HASH references are supported). This will collect all |
490 | the applicable attribute meta-objects and layout out the fields in the |
cbd9f942 |
491 | HASH ref, it will then initialize them using either use the |
552e3d24 |
492 | corresponding key in C<%params> or any default value or initializer |
493 | found in the attribute meta-object. |
494 | |
727919c5 |
495 | =item B<construct_class_instance ($package_name)> |
496 | |
497 | This will construct an instance of B<Class::MOP::Class>, it is |
498 | here so that we can actually "tie the knot" for B<Class::MOP::Class> |
499 | to use C<construct_instance> once all the bootstrapping is done. This |
500 | method is used internally by C<initialize> and should never be called |
501 | from outside of that method really. |
502 | |
552e3d24 |
503 | =back |
504 | |
505 | =head2 Informational |
506 | |
507 | =over 4 |
508 | |
509 | =item B<name> |
510 | |
511 | This is a read-only attribute which returns the package name that |
512 | the Class is stored in. |
513 | |
514 | =item B<version> |
515 | |
516 | This is a read-only attribute which returns the C<$VERSION> of the |
517 | package the Class is stored in. |
518 | |
519 | =back |
520 | |
521 | =head2 Inheritance Relationships |
522 | |
523 | =over 4 |
524 | |
525 | =item B<superclasses (?@superclasses)> |
526 | |
527 | This is a read-write attribute which represents the superclass |
528 | relationships of this Class. Basically, it can get and set the |
529 | C<@ISA> for you. |
530 | |
531 | =item B<class_precedence_list> |
532 | |
533 | This computes the a list of the Class's ancestors in the same order |
534 | in which method dispatch will be done. |
535 | |
536 | =back |
537 | |
538 | =head2 Methods |
539 | |
540 | =over 4 |
541 | |
542 | =item B<add_method ($method_name, $method)> |
543 | |
544 | This will take a C<$method_name> and CODE reference to that |
545 | C<$method> and install it into the Class. |
546 | |
547 | B<NOTE> : This does absolutely nothing special to C<$method> |
548 | other than use B<Sub::Name> to make sure it is tagged with the |
549 | correct name, and therefore show up correctly in stack traces and |
550 | such. |
551 | |
552 | =item B<has_method ($method_name)> |
553 | |
554 | This just provides a simple way to check if the Class implements |
555 | a specific C<$method_name>. It will I<not> however, attempt to check |
556 | if the class inherits the method. |
557 | |
558 | This will correctly handle functions defined outside of the package |
559 | that use a fully qualified name (C<sub Package::name { ... }>). |
560 | |
561 | This will correctly handle functions renamed with B<Sub::Name> and |
562 | installed using the symbol tables. However, if you are naming the |
563 | subroutine outside of the package scope, you must use the fully |
564 | qualified name, including the package name, for C<has_method> to |
565 | correctly identify it. |
566 | |
567 | This will attempt to correctly ignore functions imported from other |
568 | packages using B<Exporter>. It breaks down if the function imported |
569 | is an C<__ANON__> sub (such as with C<use constant>), which very well |
570 | may be a valid method being applied to the class. |
571 | |
572 | In short, this method cannot always be trusted to determine if the |
573 | C<$method_name> is actually a method. However, it will DWIM about |
574 | 90% of the time, so it's a small trade off IMO. |
575 | |
576 | =item B<get_method ($method_name)> |
577 | |
578 | This will return a CODE reference of the specified C<$method_name>, |
579 | or return undef if that method does not exist. |
580 | |
581 | =item B<remove_method ($method_name)> |
582 | |
583 | This will attempt to remove a given C<$method_name> from the Class. |
584 | It will return the CODE reference that it has removed, and will |
585 | attempt to use B<Sub::Name> to clear the methods associated name. |
586 | |
587 | =item B<get_method_list> |
588 | |
589 | This will return a list of method names for all I<locally> defined |
590 | methods. It does B<not> provide a list of all applicable methods, |
591 | including any inherited ones. If you want a list of all applicable |
592 | methods, use the C<compute_all_applicable_methods> method. |
593 | |
594 | =item B<compute_all_applicable_methods> |
595 | |
596 | This will return a list of all the methods names this Class will |
597 | support, taking into account inheritance. The list will be a list of |
598 | HASH references, each one containing the following information; method |
599 | name, the name of the class in which the method lives and a CODE |
600 | reference for the actual method. |
601 | |
602 | =item B<find_all_methods_by_name ($method_name)> |
603 | |
604 | This will traverse the inheritence hierarchy and locate all methods |
605 | with a given C<$method_name>. Similar to |
606 | C<compute_all_applicable_methods> it returns a list of HASH references |
607 | with the following information; method name (which will always be the |
608 | same as C<$method_name>), the name of the class in which the method |
609 | lives and a CODE reference for the actual method. |
610 | |
611 | The list of methods produced is a distinct list, meaning there are no |
612 | duplicates in it. This is especially useful for things like object |
613 | initialization and destruction where you only want the method called |
614 | once, and in the correct order. |
615 | |
616 | =back |
617 | |
618 | =head2 Attributes |
619 | |
620 | It should be noted that since there is no one consistent way to define |
621 | the attributes of a class in Perl 5. These methods can only work with |
622 | the information given, and can not easily discover information on |
623 | their own. |
624 | |
625 | =over 4 |
626 | |
627 | =item B<add_attribute ($attribute_name, $attribute_meta_object)> |
628 | |
629 | This stores a C<$attribute_meta_object> in the Class object and |
630 | associates it with the C<$attribute_name>. Unlike methods, attributes |
631 | within the MOP are stored as meta-information only. They will be used |
632 | later to construct instances from (see C<construct_instance> above). |
633 | More details about the attribute meta-objects can be found in the |
634 | L<The Attribute protocol> section of this document. |
635 | |
636 | =item B<has_attribute ($attribute_name)> |
637 | |
638 | Checks to see if this Class has an attribute by the name of |
639 | C<$attribute_name> and returns a boolean. |
640 | |
641 | =item B<get_attribute ($attribute_name)> |
642 | |
643 | Returns the attribute meta-object associated with C<$attribute_name>, |
644 | if none is found, it will return undef. |
645 | |
646 | =item B<remove_attribute ($attribute_name)> |
647 | |
648 | This will remove the attribute meta-object stored at |
649 | C<$attribute_name>, then return the removed attribute meta-object. |
650 | |
651 | B<NOTE:> Removing an attribute will only affect future instances of |
652 | the class, it will not make any attempt to remove the attribute from |
653 | any existing instances of the class. |
654 | |
655 | =item B<get_attribute_list> |
656 | |
657 | This returns a list of attribute names which are defined in the local |
658 | class. If you want a list of all applicable attributes for a class, |
659 | use the C<compute_all_applicable_attributes> method. |
660 | |
661 | =item B<compute_all_applicable_attributes> |
662 | |
663 | This will traverse the inheritance heirachy and return a list of HASH |
664 | references for all the applicable attributes for this class. The HASH |
665 | references will contain the following information; the attribute name, |
666 | the class which the attribute is associated with and the actual |
2eb717d5 |
667 | attribute meta-object. |
552e3d24 |
668 | |
669 | =back |
670 | |
52e8a34c |
671 | =head2 Package Variables |
672 | |
673 | Since Perl's classes are built atop the Perl package system, it is |
674 | fairly common to use package scoped variables for things like static |
675 | class variables. The following methods are convience methods for |
676 | the creation and inspection of package scoped variables. |
677 | |
678 | =over 4 |
679 | |
680 | =item B<add_package_variable ($variable_name, ?$initial_value)> |
681 | |
682 | Given a C<$variable_name>, which must contain a leading sigil, this |
683 | method will create that variable within the package which houses the |
684 | class. It also takes an optional C<$initial_value>, which must be a |
685 | reference of the same type as the sigil of the C<$variable_name> |
686 | implies. |
687 | |
688 | =item B<get_package_variable ($variable_name)> |
689 | |
690 | This will return a reference to the package variable in |
691 | C<$variable_name>. |
692 | |
693 | =item B<has_package_variable ($variable_name)> |
694 | |
695 | Returns true (C<1>) if there is a package variable defined for |
696 | C<$variable_name>, and false (C<0>) otherwise. |
697 | |
698 | =item B<remove_package_variable ($variable_name)> |
699 | |
700 | This will attempt to remove the package variable at C<$variable_name>. |
701 | |
702 | =back |
703 | |
8b978dd5 |
704 | =head1 AUTHOR |
705 | |
706 | Stevan Little E<gt>stevan@iinteractive.comE<lt> |
707 | |
708 | =head1 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE |
709 | |
710 | Copyright 2006 by Infinity Interactive, Inc. |
711 | |
712 | L<http://www.iinteractive.com> |
713 | |
714 | This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify |
715 | it under the same terms as Perl itself. |
716 | |
717 | =cut |