[Pythoncard-users] Dot syntax and the risk of overexposure

[Patrick K. O'B. <po...@or...>]

Because I'm a big fan of straightforward dot syntax, I've been helping Kevin
and company with some of the "magic" aspects in python that allow code like
the following in PythonCard:

>>> comp.button1.font.size = 10

So far we have focused on exposing as many attributes as possible through
dot syntax. At some point, however, we need to focus on which attributes
*should* be exposed. To help us all keep in mind the fact that good OO
design would have us limit the amount of exposure we give to an object, I'd
like to start a discussion by recommending the following article by Allen
Holub. If you like this one, he has several others on his website. Let me
know what you think about this article on "What Is An Object" and what it
might mean for PythonCard:

http://www.holub.com/goodies/what_is_an_object.html

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Patrick K. O'Brien
Orbtech (http://www.orbtech.com)
"I am, therefore I think."