Class::Virtual(3pm) User Contributed Perl Documentation Class::Virtual(3pm)
NAME
Class::Virtual - Base class for virtual base classes.
SYNOPSIS
package My::Virtual::Idaho;
use base qw(Class::Virtual);
__PACKAGE__->virtual_methods(qw(new foo bar this that));
package My::Private::Idaho;
use base qw(My::Virtual::Idaho);
# Check to make sure My::Private::Idaho implemented everything
my @missing = __PACKAGE__->missing_methods;
die __PACKAGE__ . ' forgot to implement ' . join ', ', @missing
if @missing;
# If My::Private::Idaho forgot to implement new(), the program will
# halt and yell about that.
my $idaho = My::Private::Idaho->new;
# See what methods we're obligated to implement.
my @must_implement = __PACKAGE__->virtual_methods;
DESCRIPTION
THIS MODULE IS DISCOURAGED! Avoid using it for new code. There's nothing wrong with it,
but there are better ways to accomplish the same thing. Look into the Moose ecosystem.
This is a base class for implementing virtual base classes (what some people call an
abstract class). Kinda kooky. It allows you to explicitly declare what methods are
virtual and that must be implemented by subclasses. This might seem silly, since your
program will halt and catch fire when an unimplemented virtual method is hit anyway, but
there's some benefits.
The error message is more informative. Instead of the usual "Can't locate object method"
error, you'll get one explaining that a virtual method was left unimplemented.
Subclass authors can explicitly check to make sure they've implemented all the necessary
virtual methods. When used as part of a regression test, it will shield against the
virtual method requirements changing out from under the subclass.
Finally, subclass authors can get an explicit list of everything they're expected to
implement.
Doesn't hurt and it doesn't slow you down.
Methods
virtual_methods
Virtual::Class->virtual_methods(@virtual_methods);
my @must_implement = Sub::Class->virtual_methods;
This is an accessor to the list of virtual_methods. Virtual base classes will declare
their list of virtual methods. Subclasses will look at them. Once the virtual
methods are set they cannot be undone.
missing_methods
my @missing_methods = Sub::Class->missing_methods;
Returns a list of methods Sub::Class has not yet implemented.
CAVEATS and BUGS
Autoloaded methods are currently not recognized. I have no idea how to solve this.
AUTHOR
Michael G Schwern <schwern AT pobox.com>
LEGAL
Copyright 2000-2015 Michael G Schwern
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same
terms as Perl itself.
See <http://dev.perl.org/licenses/>
SEE ALSO
Class::Virtually::Abstract
perl v5.26.0 2017-08-23 Class::Virtual(3pm)
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