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From: malak@access5.digex.net (Michael Malak)
Subject: Re: Interesting but sensitive topic to discuss (HELP: - OOP and CASE
 tools)
Date: 1996/11/20
Message-ID: <56v4kc$89k@access5.digex.net>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 197646936
references: <32813322.41C6@kyebek3.kjist.ac.kr>
 <rmartin-1211961144000001@vh1-004.wwa.com> <32891BA4.4AA5@concentric.net>
 <rmartin-2011960223130001@vh1-036.wwa.com>
organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
newsgroups: 
 comp.object,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.smalltalk,comp.ai
Date: 1996-11-20T00:00:00+00:00
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>


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.

If you are interested in seeing the thread, search for this message
ID in DejaNews: <54titl$imt@netlab.cs.rpi.edu>

-- 
Michael Malak         Home: malak@access.digex.net
Washington, DC        Work: malak@notes.sonix.com