Re: Interesting but sensitive topic to discuss (HELP: - OOP and CASE tools)

[malak@access5.digex.net (Michael Malak)]

In article <rmartin-2011960223130001@vh1-036.wwa.com>,
Robert C. Martin <rmartin@oma.com> wrote:
>
>Sure.  Imagine a program that trasmits files between computers using
>modems.  That program could deal with lots of different kinds of modems in
>several different ways.  It could use a switch statement every time it needed 
>to interact with a modem, choosing the correct modem each time and executing
>the right code.  Or it could create an abstract Modem class and then create
>derivative for each type of modem.  
>
> [snip]
>
>This is an architectural choice; and it is based upon which kind of change
>is more likely.  If it is more likely that new functions will be added to
>existing modems, then the switch statement is probably the better choice.
>If it is more likely that new kinds of modems will be added, then the class
>structure is probably better.

THANK YOU! for confirming my conjecture.  I posted this idea a few
weeks ago on comp.lang.c++.moderated to see if it was valid, and I
got blasted.

Response 1: Use templates
    My unspoken response: I still have to write a bunch of functions
         for every new method I wish to implement

Response 2: Arthur Reil's book says you're in danger of creating a
            "God" class
    My unspoken response: none, since I don't have the book

Response 3: This is the Visitor pattern; buy the Gamma book
    My unspoken response: Yes, I have the Gamma book, and yes, I was
         familiar with the Visitor pattern, but the Visitor pattern
         looked too complicated to achieve what I wanted.  As "bad"
         as "switch/case" is, it appears to minimize the complexity
         in this situation.

I was just a meek C++ student back then, so I didn't post any responses.
I put those bad old thoughts of "switch/case" out of my mind.

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