Groups > comp.lang.java.programmer > #2547

Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods

From	Lew <noone@lewscanon.com>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject	Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods
Date	2011-03-29 11:47 -0400
Organization	albasani.net
Message-ID	<imsutq$115$1@news.albasani.net> (permalink)
References	<2f38bb8e-9a8d-4464-ad3d-b9ce0b557219@e21g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>

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On 03/29/2011 11:18 AM, Robert Klemme wrote:
> All,
>
> I am just musing about the pros and cons of using boolean properties
> in enum classes vs. custom methods.  So far I found
>
> pro Properties:
> - less classes

How is that a pro?

> - when adding enum values to an enum you cannot forget to define
> properties

> pro Methods:
> - smaller memory footprint per instance

You actually don't know what the footprint will be once Hotspot takes over. 
With your "toy" example, those booleans might all optimize away and both cases 
take the same memory at runtime.

> Considering that there are always only so many instances it seems the
> properties approach wins.  It seems, custom methods in enum instances
> are most useful if enums do actually do something.  Then different
> enums can have differing implementations of the method and we have an
> instance of Strategy / State pattern.
>
> Do you have more items for the lists?  Did I overlook something?

Your example didn't make a good case for why you'd want do do such a thing.

Your "methods" example is confusing and the purpose behind the logic deeply 
obscured by the idioms.  That alone is enough to kill it.  Your "properties" 
example was clear and concise and easy to follow.

No-brainer.

-- 
Lew
Honi soit qui mal y pense.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Friz.jpg

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Thread

Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-29 08:18 -0700
  Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-29 11:47 -0400
    Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-30 20:00 +0200
      Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <lew@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-30 13:17 -0700
        Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-31 00:48 -0700
          Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-31 08:41 -0400
            Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-31 08:26 -0700
              Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-31 22:16 -0400
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-04-02 11:56 +0200
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-04-02 10:29 -0400
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-04-03 13:14 +0200
  Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods markspace <-@.> - 2011-03-29 09:26 -0700
    Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-30 20:06 +0200
      Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods markspace <-@.> - 2011-03-30 12:40 -0700
        Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-31 00:38 -0700
  Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-03-29 19:03 +0200
    Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-03-29 19:04 +0200
  Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-03-29 12:49 -0700
  Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-03-29 12:52 -0700
    Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-03-29 22:45 +0200
      Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-29 17:08 -0400
        Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-03-29 23:25 +0200
          Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-29 19:05 -0400
            Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-29 19:40 -0400
              Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-03-31 02:57 -0700
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-31 08:52 -0400
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-31 08:54 -0400
            Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-03-30 18:40 +0200
              Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <lew@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-30 10:33 -0700
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-03-30 20:43 +0200
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <lew@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-30 13:20 -0700
                Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-03-31 08:55 -0400
  Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Wanja Gayk <brixomatic@yahoo.com> - 2011-04-02 11:23 +0200
    Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-04-02 10:36 -0400
      Re: Enums: Properties vs. Methods Wanja Gayk <brixomatic@yahoo.com> - 2011-04-02 21:20 +0200

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