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On 3/14/06, Robert Klemme <shortcutter / googlemail.com> wrote:
>
> 2006/3/14, James Edward Gray II <james / grayproductions.net>:
> > On Mar 14, 2006, at 6:11 AM, Peter Fitzgibbons wrote:
> >
> > > Hello all,
> > >
> > > Can someone explain to me the reason for SimpleDelegator over using
> > > "just a
> > > variable".
> >
> > I asked the same question when I wrote the documentation for that
> > library.  We tried and tried, but only ever came up with one semi-
> > reasonable use for it.
> >
> > It you wrap something with SimpleDelegator and hand it off to some
> > method, you could later change the underlying delegation object, even
> > though you wouldn't have access to the variable the object is stored
> > in.  This still seems like a stretch to me since some event will need
> > to trigger the change and you could probably just build the API to
> > hand-off the new object at that point.  Still, it's the only use I've
> > ever come up with.
> >
> > In short, I suspect it's a not often used feature.   ;)
>
> I'm not so sure about that.  I've certainly used delegator several
> times in my Ruby time. Changing the real target (along the lines of
> strategy / state patterns) is certainly one way to make use of Ruby's
> delegation classes. A probably more typical approach is when you want
> to add functionality to something without changing it. You just
> delegate and implement those methods with changed behavior. This can
> be necessary if you do not control creation of the instance whose
> behavior you want to change and do not want or are not allowed to
> tamper with implemented methods.
>
> Kind regards
>
> robert
>
>
> --
> Have a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fussel-foto/
>
>
Hi Robert.  I don't understand the difference between your explanation and
re-opening the class on the instanciated Object?  Does this get into $SAFE
level?

--
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Forget the icing.  Bake the Cake!
   - the epi-centered developer
------------------------------
Peter Fitzgibbons

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