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NAME

Abstract::Meta::Class - Simple meta object protocol implementation.

SYNOPSIS

    package Dummy;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';
    
    
    has '$.attr1' => (default => 0);
    has '%.attrs2' => (default => {a => 1, b => 3}, item_accessor => 'attr2');
    has '@.atts3' => (default => [1, 2, 3], required => 1, item_accessor => 'attr3');
    has '&.att3' => (required => 1);
    has '$.att4' => (default => sub { 'stuff' } , required => 1);


    my $dummt = Dummy->new(
        att3 => 3,
    );

    use Dummy;

    my $obj = Dummy->new(attr3 => sub {});
    my $attr1 = $obj->attr1; #0
    $obj->set_attr1(1);
    $obj->attr2('c', 4);
    $obj->attrs2 #{a => 1, b => 3. c => 4};
    my $val_a = $obj->attr2('a');
    my $item_1 = $obj->attr3(1);
    $obj->count_attrs3();
    $obj->push_attrs3(4);

DESCRIPTION

Meta object protocol implementation,

hash/array storage type

To speed up bless time as well optimise memory usage you can use Array storage type. (Hash is the default storage type)

    package Dummy;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';
    storage_type 'Array';
    
    has '$.attr1' => (default => 0);
    has '%.attrs2' => (default => {a => 1, b => 3}, item_accessor => 'attr2');
    has '@.attrs3' => (default => [1, 2, 3], required => 1, item_accessor => 'attr3');
    has '&.attr4' => (required => 1);
    has '$.attr5';
    has '$.attr6' => (default => sub { 'stuff' } , required => 1);


    my $dummy = Dummy->new(
        attr4 => sub {},
    );
    
    use Data::Dumper;
    warn Dumper $dummy;
    # bless [0, {a =>1,b => 3}, [1,2,3],sub{},undef,sub {}], 'Dummy'

simple validation and default values

    package Dummy;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '$.attr1' => (default => 0);
    has '&.att3' => (required => 1);

    use Dummy;

    my $obj = Dummy->new; #dies - att3 required

utility methods for an array type

    While specyfing array type of attribute
    the following methods are added (count || push || pop || shift || unshift)_accessor.

    package Dummy;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '@.array' => (item_accessor => 'array_item');


    use Dummy;

    my $obj = Dummy->new;

    $obj->count_array();
    $obj->push_array(1);
    my $x = $obj->array_item(0);
    my $y = $obj->pop_array;

    #NOTE scalar, array context sensitive
    my $array_ref = $obj->array;
    my @array = $obj->array;

item accessor method for complex types

    While specyfing an array or a hash type of attribute then
    you may specify item_accessor for get/set value by hash key or array index.


    package Dummy;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '%.hash' => (item_accessor => 'hash_item');

    use Dummy;

    my $obj = Dummy->new;
    $obj->hash_item('key1', 'val1');
    $obj->hash_item('key2', 'val2');
    my $val = $obj->hash_item('key1');

    #NOTE scalar, array context sensitive
    my $hash_ref = $obj->hash;
    my %hash = $obj->hash;

perl types validation

    Dy default all complex types are validated against its definition.

    package Dummy;
    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '%.hash' => (item_accessor => 'hash_item');
    has '@.array' => (item_accessor => 'array_item');


    use Dummy;

    my $obj = Dummy->new(array => {}, hash => []) #dies incompatible types.

associations

    This module handles different types of associations(to one, to many, to many ordered).
    You may also use bidirectional association by using the_other_end option,

    NOTE: When using the_other_end automatic association/deassociation happens,
    celanup method is installed.

    package Class;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '$.to_one'  => (associated_class => 'AssociatedClass');
    has '@.ordered' => (associated_class => 'AssociatedClass');
    has '%.to_many' => (associated_class => 'AssociatedClass', item_accessor => 'many', index_by => 'id');


    use Class;
    use AssociatedClass;

    my $obj1 = Class->new(to_one => AssociatedClass->new);

    my $obj2 = Class->new(ordered => [AssociatedClass->new]);

    # NOTE: context sensitive (scalar, array)
    my @association_objs = $obj2->ordered;
    my @array_ref = $obj2->ordered;

    my $obj3 = Class->new(to_many => [AssociatedClass->new(id =>'001'), AssociatedClass->new(id =>'002')]);
    my $association_obj = $obj3->many('002);

    # NOTE: context sensitive (scalar, array)
    my @association_objs = values %{$obj3->to_many};
    my $hash_ref = $obj3->to_many;


    - bidirectional associations (the_other_end attribute)

    package Master;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '$.name';
    has '%.details' => (associated_class => 'Detail', the_other_end => 'master', item_accessor => 'detail', index_by => 'id');


    package Detail;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '$.id'     => (required => 1);
    has '$.master' => (
        associated_class => 'Master',
        the_other_end    => 'details'
    );


    use Master;
    use Detail;

    my @details  = (
        Detail->new(id => 1),
        Detail->new(id => 2),
        Detail->new(id => 3),
    );

    my $master = Master->new(name => 'foo', details => [@details]);
    print $details[0]->master->name;

    - while using an array/hash association storage remove_<attribute_name> | add_<attribute_name> are added.
    $master->add_details(Detail->new(id => 4),);
    $master->remove_details($details[0]);
    #cleanup method is added to class, that deassociates all bidirectional associations

decorators

....- on_validate

    - on_change

    - on_read

    - initialise_method

    package Triggers;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '@.y' => (
        on_change => sub {
            my ($self, $attribute_name, $scope, $value_ref, $index) = @_;
            # scope -> mutator, item_accessor
            ... do some stuff

            # process further in standard way by returning true
            $self;
        },
        # replaces standard read
        on_read => sub {
            my ($self, $attr_name, $scope, $index)
            #scope can be: item_accessor, accessor
            ...
            #return requested value
        },
        item_accessor => 'y_item'
    );

    use Triggers;

    my $obj = Triggers->new(y => [1,2,3]);

    - add hoc decorators

    package Class;
    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '%.attrs' => (item_accessor => 'attr');

    my $attr = DynamicInterceptor->meta->attribute('attrs');
    my $obj = DynamicInterceptor->new(attrs => {a => 1, b => 2});
    my $a = $obj->attr('a');
    my %hook_access_log;
    my $ncode_ref = sub {
        my ($self, $attribute, $scope, $key) = @_;
        #do some stuff
        # or
       if ($scope eq 'accessor') {
            return $values;
        } else {
            return $values->{$key};
        }

    };


    $attr->set_on_read($ncode_ref);
    # from now it will apply to Class::attrs calls.

    my $a = $obj->attr('a');

abstract methods/classes

    package BaseClass;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '$.attr1';
    abstract => 'method1';


    package Class;

    use base 'BaseClass';
    sub method1 {};

    use Class;

    my $obj = BaseClass->new;


    # abstract classes

    package InterfaceA;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    abstract_class;
    abstract => 'method1';
    abstract => 'method2';


    package ClassA;

    use base 'InterfaceA';

    sub method1 {};
    sub method2 {};

    use Class;

    my $classA = Class->new;


    package Class;

    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has 'attr1';
    has 'interface_attr' => (associated_class => 'InterfaceA', required => 1);


    use Class;

    my $obj =  Class->new(interface_attr => $classA);

external attributes storage

    You may want store attributes values outside the blessed reference, then you may
    use transistent keyword (Inside Out Objects)

    package Transistent;
    use Abstract::Meta::Class ':all';

    has '$.attr1';
    has '$.x' => (required => 1);
    has '$.t' => (transistent => 1);
    has '%.th' => (transistent => 1);
    has '@.ta' => (transistent => 1);

    use Transistent;

    my $obj = Transistent->new(attr1 => 1, x => 2, t => 3, th => {a =>1}, ta => [1,2,3]);
    use Data::Dumper;
    print  Dumper $obj;

    Cleanup and DESTORY methods are added to class, that delete externally stored attributes.

METHODS

new
install_cleanup

Install cleanup method

install_destructor

Install destructor method

install_constructor

Install constructor

apply_contructor_parameters

Applies constructor parameters.

meta
attributes

Returns attributes for meta class

set_attributes

Mutator sets attributes for the meta class

has_cleanup_method

Returns true if cleanup method was generated

set_cleanup_method

Sets clean up

has_destory_method

Returns true is destroy method was generated

set_destroy_method

Sets set_destructor flag.

initialise_method

Returns initialise method's name default is 'initialise'

is_abstract

Returns is class is an abstract class.

set_abstract

Set an abstract class flag.

set_initialise_method

Mutator sets initialise_method for the meta class

associated_class

Returns associated class name

set_associated_class

Mutator sets associated class name

all_attributes

Returns all_attributes for all inherited meta classes

attribute

Returns attribute object

super_classes
install_meta_class

Adds class to meta repository.

meta_class

Returns meta class object for passed in class name.

add_attribute
attribute_class

Returns meta attribute class

has

Creates a meta attribute.

Takes attribute name, and the following attribute options: see also Abstract::Meta::Attribute

storage_type

Sets storage type for the attributes. allowed values are Array/Hash

abstract

Creates an abstract method

abstract_class

Creates an abstract method

install_abstract_methods
install_attribute_methods

Installs attribute methods.

add_method

Adds code reference to the class symbol table. Takes a class name, method name and CODE reference.

remove_method

Adds code reference to the class symbol table. Takes a class name, method name and CODE reference.

constructor_attributes

Returns a list of attributes that need be validated and all that have default value

SEE ALSO

Abstract::Meta::Attribute

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

The Abstract::Meta::Class module is free software. You may distribute under the terms of either the GNU General Public License or the Artistic License, as specified in the Perl README file.

AUTHOR

Adrian Witas, adrian@webapp.strefa.pl