Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register


Groups > comp.lang.java.programmer > #3629

Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern

From Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid>
Newsgroups comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern
Date 2011-05-06 02:28 +0200
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <ipvfbo$o57$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References (3 earlier) <2poc3gq3p2.fsf@shell.xmission.com> <ipv2ej$ka6$1@dont-email.me> <2pk4e4q2sq.fsf@shell.xmission.com> <ipv6q5$vq4$1@dont-email.me> <SPFwp.15920$rB2.9262@newsfe21.iad>

Show all headers | View raw


On 06/05/2011 00:49, Arved Sandstrom allegedly wrote:
> On 11-05-05 07:02 PM, Daniele Futtorovic wrote:
>> On 05/05/2011 23:02, Jim Janney allegedly wrote:
>>> Daniele Futtorovic<da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid>   writes:
>>>
>>>> On 05/05/2011 22:42, Jim Janney allegedly wrote:
>>>>> Daniele Futtorovic<da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid>    writes:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 05/05/2011 22:14, Jim Janney allegedly wrote:
>>>>>>> The point of programming to the interface is to make it easier to
>>>>>>> substitute a different implementation, which implies that any
>>>>>>> reasonable implementation can be used.  If this is not true, if the
>>>>>>> code that uses the object relies on behavior only found in one
>>>>>>> implementation, then there is no benefit to using the interface, and
>>>>>>> you make it more inviting for someone to break things later on.  So
>>>>>>> in this case, no, programming to the interface would be the wrong
>>>>>>> thing to do.  The point of design principles is to make you think
>>>>>>> before you break them :-)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Entirely disagreed. The code shown did not contain any
>>>>>> justification for
>>>>>> breaking the pattern in question, and on the opposite, it contained
>>>>>> all
>>>>>> the reasons to think more about encapsulation, which is the true
>>>>>> underlying rationale for coding to interfaces -- not polymorphism
>>>>>> per se.
>>>>>
>>>>> The justification is not in the code shown, but in the accompanying
>>>>> remark "I need the map to retain the insertion order."  There's no
>>>>> interface in the JRE that promises this, and only one class that
>>>>> provides it, which makes encapsulation, shall we say, difficult.
>>>>
>>>> That's not the point! Yes, you need a LinkedHashMap to retain
>>>> insertion order in a Map. But retaining insertion order is
>>>> relevant... only when inserting.
>>>
>>> Think a minute.  When does retaining insertion order actually matter?
>>> When you build the map, or some time later when you iterate over it?
>>> Hint: if you never iterate over it, the order doesn't matter at all.
>>
>> I don't need a full minute to see that this is even further beside the
>> point.
>
> Yeah, as in, your argument is incorrect, and Jim is right.
>
> You see this bit from the LinkedHashMap API?:
>
> "This implementation spares its clients from the unspecified, generally
> chaotic ordering provided by HashMap (and Hashtable), without incurring
> the increased cost associated with TreeMap. It can be used to produce a
> copy of a map that has the same order as the original, regardless of the
> original map's implementation."
>
> "Spares its _clients_". You provide this implementation for the
> _clients_. Just any Map won't do, Daniele. And if you "program to the
> interface" blindly, and return a Map from this method, then as long as
> the OP's _unchanged_ code is used to implement
>
> public Map<String, Integer>  getSortedMap()
>
> then we'll get a LinkedHashMap and obey the desired contract. But down
> the road - since we've failed to specify the requirement - things could
> change, and the original implementation requirement be violated. In fact
> a maintainer will look at the method's return type, and the
> (unfortunate) name of te method, and in the absence of design
> documentation decide maybe to use a SortedMap implementation instead.
> *Which would be a mistake*...but your recommended approach would
> encourage him to do it.
>
> Don't get all blinded by design principles like "program to the
> interface". Most of the things you access in a real-world complex
> application are exposed through classes, not interfaces.

I can't say I take too kindly to your assertion that I intervened as I 
did for the sake of blindly following anything.

Neither do I agree with your interpretation of the bit of Javadoc you 
quoted. No, you do not provide a LinkedHashMap to clients. You provide a 
Map with the same iteration order as another. Nuance.

The return type being a LinkedHashMap, itself, doesn't tell you 
_anything_ about its iteration order. Take the following code:

################################################
interface Function<K, V> {
   V f( K k );
}

static <T> LinkedHashMap<T, V> map( Map<T, U> input, Function f ){
   Map<T, V> ret = new HashMap<T, V>();
   for( Map.Entry<T, U> entry: input.entrySet() ){
     ret.put( entry.getKey(), f.f( entry.getValue() ) );
   }
   return new LinkedHashMap<T, V>( ret );
}

Q: What does the return type tell you about the iteration order of the 
returned instance?
################################################

Like it or not, only the method's *contract*, if anything, can guarantee 
you that the returned instance will iterate in the same order as the input.

And all this has squat to do with my calling Jim's last reply beside the 
point.

Jim correctly quoted the OP saying: "I need the map to retain the 
insertion order". Given that constraint, it is irrelevant to question in 
which cases retaining insertion order matters or not. Which he did 
afterwards. In reply to which I said it was beside the point.

-- 
DF.
An escaped convict once said to me:
"Alcatraz is the place to be"

Back to comp.lang.java.programmer | Previous | NextPrevious in thread | Next in thread | Find similar


Thread

"Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Zapanaz <http://joecosby.com/code/mail.pl@foo.com> - 2011-05-05 12:21 -0700
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Joshua Cranmer <Pidgeot18@verizon.invalid> - 2011-05-05 15:43 -0400
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-05 17:19 -0400
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-05 21:47 +0200
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 14:14 -0600
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Zapanaz <http://joecosby.com/code/mail.pl@foo.com> - 2011-05-05 13:26 -0700
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-05 22:27 +0200
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 14:42 -0600
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-05 22:48 +0200
          Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 15:02 -0600
            Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-06 00:02 +0200
              Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-05 19:49 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-06 02:28 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-06 07:24 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-05-06 07:03 -0700
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-06 17:30 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-06 18:56 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-06 17:50 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-06 23:37 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-06 19:43 -0300
              Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 17:17 -0600
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-06 02:28 +0200
          Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Zapanaz <http://joecosby.com/code/mail.pl@foo.com> - 2011-05-05 23:25 -0700
            Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-06 18:25 +0200
              Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Zapanaz <http://joecosby.com/code/mail.pl@foo.com> - 2011-05-07 16:26 -0700
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-08 03:28 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-08 00:05 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-08 16:15 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-08 14:20 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-08 19:48 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern markspace <-@.> - 2011-05-10 07:36 -0700
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-10 13:04 -0600
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-10 21:31 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-10 20:01 -0300
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-11 19:14 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-05-11 10:41 -0700
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-11 19:55 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-11 16:42 -0400
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Daniele Futtorovic <da.futt.news@laposte-dot-net.invalid> - 2011-05-11 23:34 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern "John B. Matthews" <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2011-05-12 00:51 -0400
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-12 00:58 -0400
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Tom Anderson <twic@urchin.earth.li> - 2011-05-12 20:08 +0100
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-15 13:25 -0300
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-05 17:24 -0400
          Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 16:00 -0600
          Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jukka Lahtinen <jtfjdehf@hotmail.com.invalid> - 2011-05-06 15:01 +0300
            Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-06 12:17 -0400
              Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Zapanaz <http://joecosby.com/code/mail.pl@foo.com> - 2011-05-07 16:28 -0700
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-05 17:21 -0400
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 15:58 -0600
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-05 18:18 -0400
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-05 19:20 -0300
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-05 18:23 -0400
          Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-05 20:17 -0300
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-05 18:26 -0300
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Steven Simpson <ss@domain.invalid> - 2011-05-05 22:57 +0100
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Tom Anderson <twic@urchin.earth.li> - 2011-05-05 23:29 +0100
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Steven Simpson <ss@domain.invalid> - 2011-05-06 13:30 +0100
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-06 12:19 -0400
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 16:41 -0600
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-05 20:47 -0300
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-05-05 16:41 -0700
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-05 22:47 -0600
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Zapanaz <http://joecosby.com/code/mail.pl@foo.com> - 2011-05-05 23:28 -0700
  Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Michal Kleczek <kleku75@gmail.com> - 2011-05-06 17:15 +0200
    Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-06 20:53 -0300
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2011-05-06 21:39 -0400
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-07 00:56 -0300
      Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Michal Kleczek <kleku75@gmail.com> - 2011-05-08 12:24 +0200
        Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-08 13:42 -0300
          Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Michal Kleczek <kleku75@gmail.com> - 2011-05-09 11:04 +0200
            Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-09 19:33 -0300
              Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Michal Kleczek <kleku75@gmail.com> - 2011-05-10 15:51 +0200
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Jim Janney <jjanney@shell.xmission.com> - 2011-05-10 13:15 -0600
                Re: "Program to an interface" - When to break a design pattern Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-05-10 19:40 -0300

csiph-web