Re: Runtime optional interface

From:
 werasm <werasm@gmail.com>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:57:59 -0000
Message-ID:
<1188424679.328883.285260@o80g2000hse.googlegroups.com>
SasQ wrote:

Howdy.

Is it possible to write a class with some of its
public interface being optional and dependant of
the runtime circumstances?


I think you could use factory methods to achieve the same effect.
The client calls the factory method to obtain a reference to the
interface he requires. He does not need to know that the
implementation can provide more...

e.g.

struct InterfaceA
{
  virtual void do1() = 0;
  virtual ~A(){}
};

struct InterfaceB : InterfaceA
{
  virtual void do2() = 0;
};

//Hidden somewhere in anonymous namespace in a source file.
struct Impl : InterfaceB
{
};

//Client that requires InterfaceA calls this...
std::auto_ptr<InterfaceA> makeA();
//Implemented as{ return new Impl; }

//Client that requires InterfaceB calls this...
std::auto_ptr<InterfaceB> makeB();
//{ return new Impl; }

The client of InterfaceA does not need to know that InterfaceB
exists, and getting an instance of A only promises what A can
offer. The implementation is hidden away safe and sound, never
for the client to see.

Regards,

Werner

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