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tool(n) Standardized OO Framework for development tool(n) 





NAME


tool - TclOO Library (TOOL) Framework






SYNOPSIS


package require Tcl 8.6


package require sha1 


package require dicttool 


package require oo::meta 


package require oo::dialect 


tool::define class_method arglist body


tool::define array name contents


tool::define array_ensemble methodname
    varname ?cases?


tool::define dict_ensemble methodname varname
    ?cases?


tool::define method methodname arglist
    body


tool::define option name dictopts


tool::define property ?branch? field
  value


tool::define variable name value


object cget option


object configure ?keyvaluelist?


object configure field value ?field?
    ?value? ?...?


object configurelist ?keyvaluelist?


object forward stub forward


object graft stub forward


object InitializePublic


object Eval_Script ?script?


object Option_Default field










DESCRIPTION


This module implements the Tcl Object Oriented Library framework,
    or TOOL. It is intended to be a general purpose framework that is
    useable in its own right, and easily extensible.


TOOL defines a metaclass with provides several additional keywords
    to the TclOO description langauge, default behaviors for its consituent
    objects, and top-down integration with the capabilities provided by the
    oo::meta package.


The TOOL metaclass was build with the oo::dialect package,
    and thus can be used as the basis for additional metaclasses. As a
    metaclass, TOOL has it's own "class" class, "object"
    class, and define namespace.




package require tool
# tool::class workds just like oo::class
tool::class create myclass {
}
# tool::define works just like oo::define
tool::define myclass method noop {} {}
# tool::define and tool::class understand additional keywords
tool::define myclass array_ensemble mysettings mysettings {}
# And tool interoperates with oo::define
oo::define myclass method do_something {} { return something }
# TOOL and TclOO objects are interchangeable
oo::class create myooclass {


  superclass myclass
}





Several manual pages go into more detail about specific keywords
    and methods.



  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  








KEYWORDS


TOOL adds new (or modifies) keywords used in the definitions of
    classes. However, the new keywords are only available via calls to
    tool::class create or tool::define



  

  
Defines a method for the class object itself. This method will be passed
      on to descendents of the class, unlike self method.

  

  
Declares a variable name which will be initialized as an array,
      populated with contents for objects of this class, as well as any
      objects for classes which are descendents of this class.

  

  
Declares a method ensemble methodname which will control access to
      variable varname. Cases are a key/value list of method names and
      bodies which will be overlaid on top of the standard template. See
      tool::array_ensemble.
    
One method name is reserved: initialize.
        initialize Declares the initial values to be populated in the
        array, as a key/value list, and will not be expressed as a method for
        the ensemble.

  

  

  
Declares a method ensemble methodname which will control access to
      variable varname. Cases are a key/value list of method names and
      bodies which will be overlaid on top of the standard template. See
      tool::dict_ensemble.
    
One method name is reserved: initialize.
        initialize Declares the initial values to be populated in the
        array, as a key/value list, and will not be expressed as a method for
        the ensemble.

  

  

  
If methodname contains ::, the method is considered to be part of a
      method ensemble. See tool::method_ensembles. Otherwise this command
      behaves exactly like the standard oo::define method
    command.

  

  
Declares an option. dictopts is a key/value list defining
      parameters for the option. See tool::option_handling.






tool::class create myclass {


  option color {


    post-command: {puts [list %self%'s %field% is now %value%]}


    default: green


  }
}
myclass create foo
foo configure color purple
> foo's color is now purple






  

  
Defines a new leaf in the class metadata tree. With no branch, the leaf
      will appear in the const section, accessible by either the object's
      property method, or via oo::meta::info class get
      const field:

  

  
Declares a variable name which will be initialized with the value
      value for objects of this class, as well as any objects for classes
      which are descendents of this class.








PUBLIC OBJECT METHODS


The TOOL object mother of all classes defines several methods to
    enforces consistent behavior throughout the framework.



  

  
Return the value of this object's option option. If the property
      options_strict is true for this class, calling an option which was not
      declared by the option keyword will throw an error. In all other
      cases if the value is present in the object's options array that
      value is returned. If it does not exist, the object will attempt to
      retrieve a property of the same name.

  

  

  

  
This command will inject new values into the objects options array,
      according to the rules as set forth by the option descriptions. See
      tool::option_handling for details. configure will strip
      leading -'s off of field names, allowing it to behave in a quasi-backward
      compatible manner to tk options.

  

  
This command will inject new values into the objects options array,
      according to the rules as set forth by the option descriptions. This
      command will perform validation and alternate storage rules. It will not
      invoke trigger rules. See tool::option_handling for details.

  

  
A passthrough to oo:objdefine [self] forward

  

  
Delegates the <stub> method to the object or command
      designated by forward






tool::object create A
tool::object create B
A graft buddy B
A configure color red
B configure color blue
A cget color
> red
A <buddy> cget color
> blue









PRIVATE OBJECT METHODS



  

  
Consults the metadata for the class to ensure every array, option, and
      variable which has been declared but not initialized is initialized with
      the default value. This method is called by the constructor and the morph
      method. It is safe to invoke multiple times.

  

  
Executes a block of text within the namespace of the object. Lines that
      begin with a # are ignored as comments. Commands that begin with :: are
      interpreted as calling a global command. All other Tcl commands that lack
      a "my" prefix are given one, to allow the script to exercise
      internal methods. This method is intended for configuration scripts, where
      the object's methods are intepreting a domain specific language.






tool::class myclass {


  constructor script {


    my Eval_Script $script


  }


  method node {nodename info} {


    my variable node


    dict set node $nodename $info


  }


  method get {args} {


    my variable node


    return [dict get $node $args]


  }
}
myclass create movies {


  # This block of code is executed by the object


  node {The Day the Earth Stood Still} {


    date: 1952


    characters: {GORT Klatoo}


  }
}
movies get {The Day the Earth Stood Still} date:
> 1952






  

  
Computes the default value for an option. See
      tool::option_handling.








AUTHORS


Sean Woods






BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK


This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly
    contain bugs and other problems. Please report such in the category
    tcloo of the Tcllib Trackers
    [http://core.tcl.tk/tcllib/reportlist]. Please also report any ideas for
    enhancements you may have for either package and/or documentation.


When proposing code changes, please provide unified diffs,
    i.e the output of diff -u.


Note further that attachments are strongly preferred over
    inlined patches. Attachments can be made by going to the Edit form of
    the ticket immediately after its creation, and then using the left-most
    button in the secondary navigation bar.






KEYWORDS


TOOL, TclOO, framework






CATEGORY


TclOO






COPYRIGHT


Copyright (c) 2015 Sean Woods <yoda@etoyoc.com>








  

    0.4.2
    tcllib