add test for insertion order
[gitmo/Class-MOP.git] / lib / Class / MOP / Attribute.pm
CommitLineData
8b978dd5 1
2package Class::MOP::Attribute;
3
4use strict;
5use warnings;
6
ba38bf08 7use Class::MOP::Method::Accessor;
8
2eb717d5 9use Carp 'confess';
9b522fc4 10use Scalar::Util 'blessed', 'weaken';
2eb717d5 11
e00524a0 12our $VERSION = '0.83';
d519662a 13$VERSION = eval $VERSION;
f0480c45 14our $AUTHORITY = 'cpan:STEVAN';
8b978dd5 15
b1897d4d 16use base 'Class::MOP::Object';
17
727919c5 18# NOTE: (meta-circularity)
1d68af04 19# This method will be replaced in the
20# boostrap section of Class::MOP, by
21# a new version which uses the
727919c5 22# &Class::MOP::Class::construct_instance
23# method to build an attribute meta-object
24# which itself is described with attribute
1d68af04 25# meta-objects.
727919c5 26# - Ain't meta-circularity grand? :)
8b978dd5 27sub new {
649efb63 28 my ( $class, @args ) = @_;
29
30 unshift @args, "name" if @args % 2 == 1;
31 my %options = @args;
32
33 my $name = $options{name};
1d68af04 34
cbd9f942 35 (defined $name && $name)
8b978dd5 36 || confess "You must provide a name for the attribute";
1d68af04 37
38 $options{init_arg} = $name
5659d76e 39 if not exists $options{init_arg};
1d68af04 40 if(exists $options{builder}){
41 confess("builder must be a defined scalar value which is a method name")
42 if ref $options{builder} || !(defined $options{builder});
43 confess("Setting both default and builder is not allowed.")
44 if exists $options{default};
8fe581e5 45 } else {
46 (is_default_a_coderef(\%options))
47 || confess("References are not allowed as default values, you must ".
3c0a8087 48 "wrap the default of '$name' in a CODE reference (ex: sub { [] } and not [])")
8fe581e5 49 if exists $options{default} && ref $options{default};
1d68af04 50 }
2e877f58 51 if( $options{required} and not( defined($options{builder}) || defined($options{init_arg}) || exists $options{default} ) ) {
52 confess("A required attribute must have either 'init_arg', 'builder', or 'default'");
53 }
8683db0e 54
cb75020f 55 $class->_new(\%options);
4b698b1a 56}
57
58sub _new {
0bfc85b8 59 my $class = shift;
60 my $options = @_ == 1 ? $_[0] : {@_};
4b698b1a 61
8b978dd5 62 bless {
d9d99689 63 'name' => $options->{name},
64 'accessor' => $options->{accessor},
65 'reader' => $options->{reader},
66 'writer' => $options->{writer},
67 'predicate' => $options->{predicate},
68 'clearer' => $options->{clearer},
69 'builder' => $options->{builder},
70 'init_arg' => $options->{init_arg},
71 'default' => $options->{default},
72 'initializer' => $options->{initializer},
73 'definition_context' => $options->{definition_context},
1d68af04 74 # keep a weakened link to the
9ec169fe 75 # class we are associated with
8683db0e 76 'associated_class' => undef,
1d68af04 77 # and a list of the methods
3545c727 78 # associated with this attr
8683db0e 79 'associated_methods' => [],
dc9d420c 80 # this let's us keep track of
81 # our order inside the associated
82 # class
83 'insertion_order' => undef,
0bfc85b8 84 }, $class;
8b978dd5 85}
86
7b31baf4 87# NOTE:
1d68af04 88# this is a primative (and kludgy) clone operation
16e960bd 89# for now, it will be replaced in the Class::MOP
1d68af04 90# bootstrap with a proper one, however we know
5659d76e 91# that this one will work fine for now.
92sub clone {
93 my $self = shift;
94 my %options = @_;
95 (blessed($self))
96 || confess "Can only clone an instance";
b3fa93c7 97 return bless { %{$self}, %options } => ref($self);
5659d76e 98}
99
bd4e03f9 100sub initialize_instance_slot {
f892c0f0 101 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $params) = @_;
8683db0e 102 my $init_arg = $self->{'init_arg'};
103
bd4e03f9 104 # try to fetch the init arg from the %params ...
8d2d4c67 105
1d68af04 106 # if nothing was in the %params, we can use the
bd4e03f9 107 # attribute's default value (if it has one)
2e877f58 108 if(defined $init_arg and exists $params->{$init_arg}){
8ee74136 109 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
110 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 111 $instance,
0ab65f99 112 $params->{$init_arg},
0ab65f99 113 );
b7bdffc3 114 }
8683db0e 115 elsif (defined $self->{'default'}) {
8ee74136 116 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
117 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 118 $instance,
0ab65f99 119 $self->default($instance),
0ab65f99 120 );
b7bdffc3 121 }
8683db0e 122 elsif (defined( my $builder = $self->{'builder'})) {
b7bdffc3 123 if ($builder = $instance->can($builder)) {
8ee74136 124 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
125 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 126 $instance,
0ab65f99 127 $instance->$builder,
0ab65f99 128 );
b7bdffc3 129 }
130 else {
b3fa93c7 131 confess(ref($instance)." does not support builder method '". $self->{'builder'} ."' for attribute '" . $self->name . "'");
8fe581e5 132 }
1d68af04 133 }
bd4e03f9 134}
135
8ee74136 136sub _set_initial_slot_value {
137 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $value) = @_;
138
139 my $slot_name = $self->name;
140
141 return $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $value)
142 unless $self->has_initializer;
143
144 my $callback = sub {
145 $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $_[0]);
146 };
147
148 my $initializer = $self->initializer;
149
150 # most things will just want to set a value, so make it first arg
151 $instance->$initializer($value, $callback, $self);
152}
153
5659d76e 154# NOTE:
1d68af04 155# the next bunch of methods will get bootstrapped
7b31baf4 156# away in the Class::MOP bootstrapping section
157
8683db0e 158sub associated_class { $_[0]->{'associated_class'} }
159sub associated_methods { $_[0]->{'associated_methods'} }
160
b3fa93c7 161sub has_accessor { defined($_[0]->{'accessor'}) }
162sub has_reader { defined($_[0]->{'reader'}) }
163sub has_writer { defined($_[0]->{'writer'}) }
164sub has_predicate { defined($_[0]->{'predicate'}) }
165sub has_clearer { defined($_[0]->{'clearer'}) }
166sub has_builder { defined($_[0]->{'builder'}) }
167sub has_init_arg { defined($_[0]->{'init_arg'}) }
168sub has_default { defined($_[0]->{'default'}) }
169sub has_initializer { defined($_[0]->{'initializer'}) }
dc9d420c 170sub has_insertion_order { defined($_[0]->{'insertion_order'}) }
8683db0e 171
d9d99689 172sub accessor { $_[0]->{'accessor'} }
173sub reader { $_[0]->{'reader'} }
174sub writer { $_[0]->{'writer'} }
175sub predicate { $_[0]->{'predicate'} }
176sub clearer { $_[0]->{'clearer'} }
177sub builder { $_[0]->{'builder'} }
178sub init_arg { $_[0]->{'init_arg'} }
179sub initializer { $_[0]->{'initializer'} }
180sub definition_context { $_[0]->{'definition_context'} }
dc9d420c 181sub insertion_order { $_[0]->{'insertion_order'} }
679d0365 182sub set_insertion_order { $_[0]->{'insertion_order'} = $_[1] }
c50c603e 183
7b31baf4 184# end bootstrapped away method section.
185# (all methods below here are kept intact)
186
9e517e01 187sub has_read_method { $_[0]->has_reader || $_[0]->has_accessor }
188sub has_write_method { $_[0]->has_writer || $_[0]->has_accessor }
189
d14f6cbe 190sub get_read_method {
191 my $self = shift;
192 my $reader = $self->reader || $self->accessor;
193 # normal case ...
194 return $reader unless ref $reader;
195 # the HASH ref case
196 my ($name) = %$reader;
197 return $name;
198}
199
200sub get_write_method {
201 my $self = shift;
202 my $writer = $self->writer || $self->accessor;
203 # normal case ...
204 return $writer unless ref $writer;
205 # the HASH ref case
206 my ($name) = %$writer;
207 return $name;
208}
b25109b1 209
5da16d1b 210sub get_read_method_ref {
211 my $self = shift;
742fb371 212 if ((my $reader = $self->get_read_method) && $self->associated_class) {
5da16d1b 213 return $self->associated_class->get_method($reader);
214 }
215 else {
def5c0b5 216 my $code = sub { $self->get_value(@_) };
217 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
218 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
219 $code,
220 package_name => $class->name,
221 name => '__ANON__'
222 );
223 }
224 else {
225 return $code;
226 }
5da16d1b 227 }
228}
229
230sub get_write_method_ref {
231 my $self = shift;
d14f6cbe 232 if ((my $writer = $self->get_write_method) && $self->associated_class) {
742fb371 233 return $self->associated_class->get_method($writer);
5da16d1b 234 }
235 else {
def5c0b5 236 my $code = sub { $self->set_value(@_) };
237 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
238 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
239 $code,
240 package_name => $class->name,
241 name => '__ANON__'
242 );
243 }
244 else {
245 return $code;
246 }
5da16d1b 247 }
248}
249
1d68af04 250sub is_default_a_coderef {
4e55a580 251 ('CODE' eq ref($_[0]->{'default'}))
c0cbf4d9 252}
253
1d68af04 254sub default {
c0cbf4d9 255 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
9363ea89 256 if (defined $instance && $self->is_default_a_coderef) {
1d68af04 257 # if the default is a CODE ref, then
727919c5 258 # we pass in the instance and default
1d68af04 259 # can return a value based on that
727919c5 260 # instance. Somewhat crude, but works.
8683db0e 261 return $self->{'default'}->($instance);
1d68af04 262 }
8683db0e 263 $self->{'default'};
c50c603e 264}
8b978dd5 265
c57c8b10 266# slots
267
268sub slots { (shift)->name }
269
1d68af04 270# class association
727919c5 271
9ec169fe 272sub attach_to_class {
273 my ($self, $class) = @_;
274 (blessed($class) && $class->isa('Class::MOP::Class'))
275 || confess "You must pass a Class::MOP::Class instance (or a subclass)";
8683db0e 276 weaken($self->{'associated_class'} = $class);
9ec169fe 277}
278
279sub detach_from_class {
280 my $self = shift;
8683db0e 281 $self->{'associated_class'} = undef;
9ec169fe 282}
283
1d68af04 284# method association
3545c727 285
286sub associate_method {
287 my ($self, $method) = @_;
8683db0e 288 push @{$self->{'associated_methods'}} => $method;
3545c727 289}
290
16e960bd 291## Slot management
292
ef91a0e2 293sub set_initial_value {
294 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
e76b01fb 295 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
b3fa93c7 296 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance,
8ee74136 297 $instance,
298 $value
299 );
ef91a0e2 300}
301
16e960bd 302sub set_value {
1396f86b 303 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
16e960bd 304
b3fa93c7 305 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 306 ->get_meta_instance
307 ->set_slot_value($instance, $self->name, $value);
16e960bd 308}
309
310sub get_value {
1396f86b 311 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
16e960bd 312
b3fa93c7 313 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 314 ->get_meta_instance
315 ->get_slot_value($instance, $self->name);
16e960bd 316}
317
3545c727 318sub has_value {
319 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
1d68af04 320
b3fa93c7 321 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 322 ->get_meta_instance
323 ->is_slot_initialized($instance, $self->name);
3545c727 324}
325
326sub clear_value {
327 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
1d68af04 328
b3fa93c7 329 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 330 ->get_meta_instance
331 ->deinitialize_slot($instance, $self->name);
3545c727 332}
333
ba38bf08 334## load em up ...
c0cbf4d9 335
ba38bf08 336sub accessor_metaclass { 'Class::MOP::Method::Accessor' }
c0cbf4d9 337
9ec169fe 338sub process_accessors {
c7e28c19 339 Carp::cluck('The process_accessors method has been made private.'
340 . " The public version is deprecated and will be removed in a future release.\n");
e056bd42 341 shift->_process_accessors(@_);
45a183fb 342}
343
344sub _process_accessors {
c0cbf4d9 345 my ($self, $type, $accessor, $generate_as_inline_methods) = @_;
d9d99689 346
347 my $method_ctx;
348
349 if ( my $ctx = $self->definition_context ) {
350 $method_ctx = { %$ctx };
351 }
352
9b522fc4 353 if (ref($accessor)) {
354 (ref($accessor) eq 'HASH')
7d28758b 355 || confess "bad accessor/reader/writer/predicate/clearer format, must be a HASH ref";
4d47b77f 356 my ($name, $method) = %{$accessor};
4c105333 357 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->wrap(
358 $method,
359 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
360 name => $name,
d9d99689 361 definition_context => $method_ctx,
4c105333 362 );
3545c727 363 $self->associate_method($method);
1d68af04 364 return ($name, $method);
2eb717d5 365 }
9ec169fe 366 else {
1d68af04 367 my $inline_me = ($generate_as_inline_methods && $self->associated_class->instance_metaclass->is_inlinable);
ba38bf08 368 my $method;
369 eval {
d9d99689 370 if ( $method_ctx ) {
371 my $desc = "accessor $accessor";
372 if ( $accessor ne $self->name ) {
373 $desc .= " of attribute " . $self->name;
374 }
375
376 $method_ctx->{description} = $desc;
377 }
378
ba38bf08 379 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->new(
380 attribute => $self,
d90b42a6 381 is_inline => $inline_me,
ba38bf08 382 accessor_type => $type,
4c105333 383 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
384 name => $accessor,
d9d99689 385 definition_context => $method_ctx,
1d68af04 386 );
ba38bf08 387 };
1d68af04 388 confess "Could not create the '$type' method for " . $self->name . " because : $@" if $@;
3545c727 389 $self->associate_method($method);
ba38bf08 390 return ($accessor, $method);
1d68af04 391 }
9ec169fe 392}
393
394sub install_accessors {
c0cbf4d9 395 my $self = shift;
396 my $inline = shift;
397 my $class = $self->associated_class;
1d68af04 398
9ec169fe 399 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 400 $self->_process_accessors('accessor' => $self->accessor(), $inline)
9ec169fe 401 ) if $self->has_accessor();
402
1d68af04 403 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 404 $self->_process_accessors('reader' => $self->reader(), $inline)
9ec169fe 405 ) if $self->has_reader();
406
407 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 408 $self->_process_accessors('writer' => $self->writer(), $inline)
9ec169fe 409 ) if $self->has_writer();
410
411 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 412 $self->_process_accessors('predicate' => $self->predicate(), $inline)
9ec169fe 413 ) if $self->has_predicate();
1d68af04 414
7d28758b 415 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 416 $self->_process_accessors('clearer' => $self->clearer(), $inline)
7d28758b 417 ) if $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 418
9ec169fe 419 return;
2eb717d5 420}
421
b51af7f9 422{
423 my $_remove_accessor = sub {
424 my ($accessor, $class) = @_;
9b522fc4 425 if (ref($accessor) && ref($accessor) eq 'HASH') {
c50c603e 426 ($accessor) = keys %{$accessor};
1d68af04 427 }
428 my $method = $class->get_method($accessor);
429 $class->remove_method($accessor)
b3fa93c7 430 if (ref($method) && $method->isa('Class::MOP::Method::Accessor'));
b51af7f9 431 };
1d68af04 432
b51af7f9 433 sub remove_accessors {
9ec169fe 434 my $self = shift;
2367814a 435 # TODO:
1d68af04 436 # we really need to make sure to remove from the
437 # associates methods here as well. But this is
438 # such a slimly used method, I am not worried
2367814a 439 # about it right now.
9ec169fe 440 $_remove_accessor->($self->accessor(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_accessor();
441 $_remove_accessor->($self->reader(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_reader();
442 $_remove_accessor->($self->writer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_writer();
443 $_remove_accessor->($self->predicate(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_predicate();
7d28758b 444 $_remove_accessor->($self->clearer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 445 return;
b51af7f9 446 }
447
8b978dd5 448}
449
4501;
451
452__END__
453
454=pod
455
1d68af04 456=head1 NAME
8b978dd5 457
458Class::MOP::Attribute - Attribute Meta Object
459
460=head1 SYNOPSIS
1d68af04 461
2e23f7dc 462 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
463 foo => (
464 accessor => 'foo', # dual purpose get/set accessor
465 predicate => 'has_foo', # predicate check for defined-ness
466 init_arg => '-foo', # class->new will look for a -foo key
467 default => 'BAR IS BAZ!' # if no -foo key is provided, use this
468 )
469 );
470
471 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
472 bar => (
473 reader => 'bar', # getter
474 writer => 'set_bar', # setter
475 predicate => 'has_bar', # predicate check for defined-ness
476 init_arg => ':bar', # class->new will look for a :bar key
477 # no default value means it is undef
478 )
479 );
8b978dd5 480
481=head1 DESCRIPTION
482
2e23f7dc 483The Attribute Protocol is almost entirely an invention of
484C<Class::MOP>. Perl 5 does not have a consistent notion of
485attributes. There are so many ways in which this is done, and very few
486(if any) are easily discoverable by this module.
552e3d24 487
2e23f7dc 488With that said, this module attempts to inject some order into this
1d68af04 489chaos, by introducing a consistent API which can be used to create
fe122940 490object attributes.
552e3d24 491
492=head1 METHODS
493
494=head2 Creation
495
496=over 4
497
2e23f7dc 498=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->new($name, ?%options) >>
fe122940 499
1d68af04 500An attribute must (at the very least), have a C<$name>. All other
2e23f7dc 501C<%options> are added as key-value pairs.
fe122940 502
2e23f7dc 503=over 8
fe122940 504
76187047 505=item * init_arg
fe122940 506
2e23f7dc 507This is a string value representing the expected key in an
508initialization hash. For instance, if we have an C<init_arg> value of
509C<-foo>, then the following code will Just Work.
fe122940 510
d69fb6b3 511 MyClass->meta->new_object( -foo => 'Hello There' );
fe122940 512
2e23f7dc 513If an init_arg is not assigned, it will automatically use the
514attribute's name. If C<init_arg> is explicitly set to C<undef>, the
515attribute cannot be specified during initialization.
7b31baf4 516
76187047 517=item * builder
1d68af04 518
2e23f7dc 519This provides the name of a method that will be called to initialize
520the attribute. This method will be called on the object after it is
521constructed. It is expected to return a valid value for the attribute.
fe122940 522
76187047 523=item * default
4c4a6c41 524
2e23f7dc 525This can be used to provide an explicit default for initializing the
526attribute. If the default you provide is a subroutine reference, then
527this reference will be called I<as a method> on the object.
4c4a6c41 528
2e23f7dc 529If the value is a simple scalar (string or number), then it can be
530just passed as is. However, if you wish to initialize it with a HASH
531or ARRAY ref, then you need to wrap that inside a subroutine
532reference:
fe122940 533
2e23f7dc 534 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
535 'foo' => (
536 default => sub { [] },
537 )
538 );
1d68af04 539
540 # or ...
541
2e23f7dc 542 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
543 'foo' => (
544 default => sub { {} },
545 )
546 );
547
548If you wish to initialize an attribute with a subroutine reference
549itself, then you need to wrap that in a subroutine as well:
550
551 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
552 'foo' => (
553 default => sub {
554 sub { print "Hello World" }
555 },
556 )
557 );
558
559And lastly, if the value of your attribute is dependent upon some
560other aspect of the instance structure, then you can take advantage of
561the fact that when the C<default> value is called as a method:
562
563 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
564 'object_identity' => (
565 default => sub { Scalar::Util::refaddr( $_[0] ) },
566 )
567 );
568
569Note that there is no guarantee that attributes are initialized in any
570particular order, so you cannot rely on the value of some other
571attribute when generating the default.
fe122940 572
76187047 573=item * initializer
0ef07b33 574
2e23f7dc 575This option can be either a method name or a subroutine
576reference. This method will be called when setting the attribute's
577value in the constructor. Unlike C<default> and C<builder>, the
578initializer is only called when a value is provided to the
579constructor. The initializer allows you to munge this value during
580object construction.
581
582The initializer is called as a method with three arguments. The first
583is the value that was passed to the constructor. The second is a
584subroutine reference that can be called to actually set the
585attribute's value, and the last is the associated
586C<Class::MOP::Attribute> object.
587
588This contrived example shows an initializer that sets the attribute to
589twice the given value.
590
591 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
592 'doubled' => (
593 initializer => sub {
594 my ( $instance, $value, $set ) = @_;
595 $set->( $value * 2 );
596 },
597 )
598 );
599
600Since an initializer can be a method name, you can easily make
0ef07b33 601attribute initialization use the writer:
602
2e23f7dc 603 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
604 'some_attr' => (
605 writer => 'some_attr',
606 initializer => 'some_attr',
607 )
608 );
0ef07b33 609
2e23f7dc 610Your writer will need to examine C<@_> and determine under which
611context it is being called.
127d39a7 612
fe122940 613=back
614
2e23f7dc 615The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate> and C<clearer>
616options all accept the same parameters. You can provide the name of
617the method, in which case an appropriate default method will be
618generated for you. Or instead you can also provide hash reference
619containing exactly one key (the method name) and one value. The value
620should be a subroutine reference, which will be installed as the
621method itself.
59e7697f 622
76187047 623=over 8
59e7697f 624
76187047 625=item * accessor
59e7697f 626
2e23f7dc 627An C<accessor> is a standard Perl-style read/write accessor. It will
628return the value of the attribute, and if a value is passed as an
629argument, it will assign that value to the attribute.
fe122940 630
2e23f7dc 631Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
fe122940 632
633 $object->set_something(undef);
634
76187047 635=item * reader
59e7697f 636
2e23f7dc 637This is a basic read-only accessor. It returns the value of the
638attribute.
fe122940 639
76187047 640=item * writer
59e7697f 641
1d68af04 642This is a basic write accessor, it accepts a single argument, and
2e23f7dc 643assigns that value to the attribute.
59e7697f 644
2e23f7dc 645Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
59e7697f 646
2e23f7dc 647 $object->set_something(undef);
fe122940 648
76187047 649=item * predicate
fe122940 650
2e23f7dc 651The predicate method returns a boolean indicating whether or not the
652attribute has been explicitly set.
07dca7e3 653
2e23f7dc 654Note that the predicate returns true even if the attribute was set to
655a false value (C<0> or C<undef>).
07dca7e3 656
76187047 657=item * clearer
7d28758b 658
2e23f7dc 659This method will uninitialize the attribute. After an attribute is
660cleared, its C<predicate> will return false.
7d28758b 661
76187047 662=item * definition_context
f8813817 663
664Mostly, this exists as a hook for the benefit of Moose.
665
666This option should be a hash reference containing several keys which
667will be used when inlining the attribute's accessors. The keys should
668include C<line>, the line number where the attribute was created, and
669either C<file> or C<description>.
670
671This information will ultimately be used when eval'ing inlined
672accessor code so that error messages report a useful line and file
673name.
674
59e7697f 675=back
552e3d24 676
2e23f7dc 677=item B<< $attr->clone(%options) >>
bd4e03f9 678
2e23f7dc 679This clones the attribute. Any options you provide will override the
680settings of the original attribute. You can change the name of the new
681attribute by passing a C<name> key in C<%options>.
127d39a7 682
2e23f7dc 683=back
bd4e03f9 684
2e23f7dc 685=head2 Informational
127d39a7 686
2e23f7dc 687These are all basic read-only accessors for the values passed into
688the constructor.
552e3d24 689
2e23f7dc 690=over 4
16e960bd 691
2e23f7dc 692=item B<< $attr->name >>
2367814a 693
76187047 694Returns the attribute's name.
695
2e23f7dc 696=item B<< $attr->accessor >>
2367814a 697
2e23f7dc 698=item B<< $attr->reader >>
16e960bd 699
2e23f7dc 700=item B<< $attr->writer >>
16e960bd 701
2e23f7dc 702=item B<< $attr->predicate >>
16e960bd 703
2e23f7dc 704=item B<< $attr->clearer >>
c0921932 705
2e23f7dc 706The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate>, and C<clearer>
707methods all return exactly what was passed to the constructor, so it
a6710c60 708can be either a string containing a method name, or a hash reference.
c0921932 709
2e23f7dc 710=item B<< $attr->initializer >>
16e960bd 711
a6710c60 712Returns the initializer as passed to the constructor, so this may be
2e23f7dc 713either a method name or a subroutine reference.
16e960bd 714
2e23f7dc 715=item B<< $attr->init_arg >>
3545c727 716
2e23f7dc 717=item B<< $attr->is_default_a_coderef >>
2367814a 718
2e23f7dc 719=item B<< $attr->default($instance) >>
3545c727 720
2e23f7dc 721The C<$instance> argument is optional. If you don't pass it, the
722return value for this method is exactly what was passed to the
723constructor, either a simple scalar or a subroutine reference.
2367814a 724
2e23f7dc 725If you I<do> pass an C<$instance> and the default is a subroutine
726reference, then the reference is called as a method on the
727C<$instance> and the generated value is returned.
16e960bd 728
2e23f7dc 729=item B<< $attr->slots >>
552e3d24 730
2e23f7dc 731Return a list of slots required by the attribute. This is usually just
732one, the name of the attribute.
fe122940 733
2e23f7dc 734A slot is the name of the hash key used to store the attribute in an
735object instance.
552e3d24 736
2e23f7dc 737=item B<< $attr->get_read_method >>
552e3d24 738
2e23f7dc 739=item B<< $attr->get_write_method >>
552e3d24 740
2e23f7dc 741Returns the name of a method suitable for reading or writing the value
742of the attribute in the associated class.
552e3d24 743
2e23f7dc 744If an attribute is read- or write-only, then these methods can return
745C<undef> as appropriate.
552e3d24 746
2e23f7dc 747=item B<< $attr->has_read_method >>
c50c603e 748
2e23f7dc 749=item B<< $attr->has_write_method >>
7d28758b 750
2e23f7dc 751This returns a boolean indicating whether the attribute has a I<named>
752read or write method.
0ab65f99 753
2e23f7dc 754=item B<< $attr->get_read_method_ref >>
552e3d24 755
2e23f7dc 756=item B<< $attr->get_write_method_ref >>
495af518 757
2e23f7dc 758Returns the subroutine reference of a method suitable for reading or
759writing the attribute's value in the associated class. These methods
760always return a subroutine reference, regardless of whether or not the
761attribute is read- or write-only.
762
763=back
fe122940 764
2e23f7dc 765=head2 Informational predicates
92d2abfa 766
2e23f7dc 767These are all basic predicate methods for the values passed into C<new>.
552e3d24 768
2e23f7dc 769=over 4
c57c8b10 770
2e23f7dc 771=item B<< $attr->has_accessor >>
c57c8b10 772
2e23f7dc 773=item B<< $attr->has_reader >>
b25109b1 774
2e23f7dc 775=item B<< $attr->has_writer >>
b25109b1 776
2e23f7dc 777=item B<< $attr->has_predicate >>
5da16d1b 778
2e23f7dc 779=item B<< $attr->has_clearer >>
5da16d1b 780
2e23f7dc 781=item B<< $attr->has_initializer >>
5da16d1b 782
2e23f7dc 783=item B<< $attr->has_init_arg >>
5da16d1b 784
2e23f7dc 785This will be I<false> if the C<init_arg> was set to C<undef>.
b25109b1 786
2e23f7dc 787=item B<< $attr->has_default >>
9e517e01 788
2e23f7dc 789This will be I<false> if the C<default> was set to C<undef>, since
790C<undef> is the default C<default> anyway.
9e517e01 791
2e23f7dc 792=item B<< $attr->has_builder >>
9e517e01 793
552e3d24 794=back
795
2e23f7dc 796=head2 Value management
552e3d24 797
a6710c60 798These methods are basically "back doors" to the instance, and can be
2e23f7dc 799used to bypass the regular accessors, but still stay within the MOP.
800
801These methods are not for general use, and should only be used if you
802really know what you are doing.
fe122940 803
552e3d24 804=over 4
805
2e23f7dc 806=item B<< $attr->initialize_instance_slot($meta_instance, $instance, $params) >>
807
808This method is used internally to initialize the attribute's slot in
809the object C<$instance>.
810
811The C<$params> is a hash reference of the values passed to the object
812constructor.
813
814It's unlikely that you'll need to call this method yourself.
552e3d24 815
2e23f7dc 816=item B<< $attr->set_value($instance, $value) >>
552e3d24 817
2e23f7dc 818Sets the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
819works even with read-only attributes.
552e3d24 820
2e23f7dc 821=item B<< $attr->set_initial_value($instance, $value) >>
c50c603e 822
2e23f7dc 823Sets the value without going through the accessor. This method is only
824called when the instance is first being initialized.
7d28758b 825
2e23f7dc 826=item B<< $attr->get_value($instance) >>
0ab65f99 827
2e23f7dc 828Returns the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
829works even with write-only accessors.
552e3d24 830
2e23f7dc 831=item B<< $attr->has_value($instance) >>
552e3d24 832
2e23f7dc 833Return a boolean indicating whether the attribute has been set in
834C<$instance>. This how the default C<predicate> method works.
835
836=item B<< $attr->clear_value($instance) >>
837
838This will clear the attribute's value in C<$instance>. This is what
839the default C<clearer> calls.
840
841Note that this works even if the attribute does not have any
842associated read, write or clear methods.
bf731086 843
552e3d24 844=back
845
9ec169fe 846=head2 Class association
847
1d68af04 848These methods allow you to manage the attributes association with
849the class that contains it. These methods should not be used
2367814a 850lightly, nor are they very magical, they are mostly used internally
851and by metaclass instances.
852
9ec169fe 853=over 4
854
2e23f7dc 855=item B<< $attr->associated_class >>
856
857This returns the C<Class::MOP::Class> with which this attribute is
858associated, if any.
859
860=item B<< $attr->attach_to_class($metaclass) >>
9ec169fe 861
2e23f7dc 862This method stores a weakened reference to the C<$metaclass> object
863internally.
2367814a 864
2e23f7dc 865This method does not remove the attribute from its old class,
866nor does it create any accessors in the new class.
9ec169fe 867
2e23f7dc 868It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class> C<add_attribute>
869method instead.
2367814a 870
2e23f7dc 871=item B<< $attr->detach_from_class >>
9ec169fe 872
2e23f7dc 873This method removes the associate metaclass object from the attribute
874it has one.
875
876This method does not remove the attribute itself from the class, or
877remove its accessors.
878
879It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class>
880C<remove_attribute> method instead.
2367814a 881
9ec169fe 882=back
883
552e3d24 884=head2 Attribute Accessor generation
885
886=over 4
887
2e23f7dc 888=item B<< $attr->accessor_metaclass >>
ba38bf08 889
2e23f7dc 890Accessor methods are generated using an accessor metaclass. By
891default, this is L<Class::MOP::Method::Accessor>. This method returns
2367814a 892the name of the accessor metaclass that this attribute uses.
893
2e23f7dc 894=item B<< $attr->associate_method($method) >>
2367814a 895
2e23f7dc 896This associates a L<Class::MOP::Method> object with the
897attribute. Typically, this is called internally when an attribute
898generates its accessors.
3545c727 899
2e23f7dc 900=item B<< $attr->associated_methods >>
3545c727 901
2e23f7dc 902This returns the list of methods which have been associated with the
903attribute.
2367814a 904
2e23f7dc 905=item B<< $attr->install_accessors >>
2eb717d5 906
2e23f7dc 907This method generates and installs code the attributes various
908accessors. It is typically called from the L<Class::MOP::Class>
909C<add_attribute> method.
2eb717d5 910
2e23f7dc 911=item B<< $attr->remove_accessors >>
2eb717d5 912
2e23f7dc 913This method removes all of the accessors associated with the
914attribute.
2eb717d5 915
2e23f7dc 916This does not currently remove methods from the list returned by
917C<associated_methods>.
2367814a 918
2eb717d5 919=back
920
921=head2 Introspection
922
923=over 4
552e3d24 924
45b4c423 925=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->meta >>
552e3d24 926
2e23f7dc 927This will return a L<Class::MOP::Class> instance for this class.
fe122940 928
2e23f7dc 929It should also be noted that L<Class::MOP> will actually bootstrap
930this module by installing a number of attribute meta-objects into its
931metaclass.
fe122940 932
552e3d24 933=back
934
1a09d9cc 935=head1 AUTHORS
8b978dd5 936
a2e85e6c 937Stevan Little E<lt>stevan@iinteractive.comE<gt>
8b978dd5 938
939=head1 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
940
070bb6c9 941Copyright 2006-2009 by Infinity Interactive, Inc.
8b978dd5 942
943L<http://www.iinteractive.com>
944
945This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
1d68af04 946it under the same terms as Perl itself.
8b978dd5 947
16e960bd 948=cut
949
7d28758b 950