Smalltalk/X Webserver

Documentation of class 'ClassDescription':

Class: ClassDescription

Inheritance
Description
Related information
Class protocol
Instance protocol
Private classes

Inheritance:

   Object
   |
   +--Behavior
      |
      +--ClassDescription
         |
         +--Class
         |
         +--InlineObject::InlineObjectClassDescription
         |
         +--Metaclass

Package:: stx:libbasic

Category:: Kernel-Classes

Version:: rev: 1.300 date: 2019/06/28 11:24:21; user: cg; file: ClassDescription.st directory: libbasic; module: stx stc-classLibrary: libbasic

Author:: Claus Gittinger

ClassDescription conceptually adds some descriptive information to the basic
Behavior class. It is an abstract class used as a common superclass
for Metaclass and Class.
Subclasses must define the #name, #category and #comment methods.

[Instance variables:]

instvars <String> the names of the instance variables
| <Collection of words>

[Class variables:]

UpdatingChanges <Boolean> true if the changes-file shall be updated
(except during startup and when filing in, this flag
is usually true)
Please do no longer use this - see the two queries
below.

UpdateChangeFileQuerySignal used as an upQuery from the change management.
Whenever a changeRecord is to be written,
this signal is raised and a handler (if present)
is supposed to return true or false.
If unhandled, the value of the global
UpdatingChanges is returned for backward
compatibility (which means that the old
mechanism is used if no query-handler
is present).

UpdateChangeListQuerySignal used as an upQuery from the change management.
Whenever a change is to be added to the changeSet,
this signal is raised and a handler (if present)
is supposed to return true or false.
If unhandled, the value of the global
UpdatingChanges is returned for backward
compatibility (which means that the old
mechanism is used if no query-handler
is present).

LockChangesFile <Boolean> if true, the change file is locked for updates.
Required when multiple users operate on a common
change file.
This is an experimental new feature, being evaluated.

FileOutErrorSignal raised when an error occurs during fileOut

CatchMethodRedefinitions if true, classes protect themself
MethodRedefinitionSignal (by raising MethodRedefinitionSignal)
from redefining any existing methods,
which are defined in another package.
(i.e. a signal will be raised, if you
fileIn something which redefines an
existing method and the packages do not
match).
The default is (currently) true.

TryLocalSourceFirst If true, local source files are tried
first BEFORE the sourceCodeManager is
consulted. If false, the sourceCodeManager
is asked first.
Should be turned on, if you run an image from
local sources which have not yet been checked in.

NameSpaceQuerySignal used as an upQuery to ask for a namespace into
which new classes are to be installed.

PackageQuerySignal used as an upQuery to ask for a packageSymbol with
which new classes/methods are to be marked.

CreateNameSpaceQuerySignal used as an upQuery to ask if unknown namespaces
should be silently created (without asking the user)

MethodHistory if nonNil, this must be an OrderedCollection,
which is filled with method->previousversionMethod
associations. Can be used for undo-last-method-change
The number of remembered methods is controlled via the
UserPreferences.
Notice: this may fillup your memory over time,
the preferences are set too high.

MethodHistorySize the size of the methodHistory
(nil: unlimited)

Related information:

    Behavior
    Class
    Metaclass

Class protocol:

Signal constants

changeDefaultApplicationNotificationSignal

return the signal used as an up-Info to change the current application to which
new classes/methods will be added.
Will is only used when filing in V'Age code

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class changeDefaultApplicationNotificationSignal raise

classCategoryQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery for the current class category name.
Will be used when defining a class without a proper classCategory information
(JS or Ruby classes). The browser will answer with the currently selected category then.

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class classCategoryQuerySignal raise

classConventionViolationConfirmationQuerySignal

return the query signal raised when a class is about to be installed
(or changed) which violates conventions (such as upper case instVars).
This is raised in subclass creation and can be handled to suppress
dialog boxes popping up during fileIn

classRedefinitionNotification

return the signal raised when a class is about to be redefined
differently from an existing class and the packages are not
equal. This helps when filing in alien code, to prevent existing
classes from being redefined by incompatible classes
(classVars, classInstVars or inheritance).

classRedefinitionSignal

use #classRedefinitionNotification

** This is an obsolete interface - do not use it (it may vanish in future versions) **

createNameSpaceQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery if a new nameSpace should be
silently created without user confirmation.
Only used when installing autoloaded classes

defaultApplicationQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery for the current application to which
new classes/methods are to be added.
Will is only used when filing in V'Age code

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class defaultApplicationQuerySignal raise

fileOutErrorSignal

return the signal raised when an error occurs while fileing out.
This is signalled to allow browsers some user feed back in case
a fileout fails (for example due to disk-full errors)

fileOutNameSpaceQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery whether the current
namespace should be prepended on fileOut.

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class fileOutNameSpaceQuerySignal raise

forceNoNameSpaceQuerySignal

methodRedefinitionNotification

return the signal raised when a method is about to be installed
which redefines an existing method and the method's packages are not
equal. This helps when filing in alien code, to prevent existing
methods to be overwritten or redefined by incompatible methods

methodRedefinitionSignal

use #methodRedefinitionNotification

** This is an obsolete interface - do not use it (it may vanish in future versions) **

nameSpaceQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery for the current nameSpace.
Will be used when filing in code.
This could be used BEFORE initialize has been invoked - that's why we do not
simply return the class var here.

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class nameSpaceQuerySignal raise

packageQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery for the current packages name.
Will be used when filing in code

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class packageQuerySignal raise

packageRedefinitionNotification

return the signal raised when a class or method is about to be installed
which redefines an existing method and the method's packages are not
equal. This helps when filing in alien code, to prevent existing
methods to be overwritten or redefined by incompatible methods

updateChangeFileQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery if the changeFile should be updated.
If unhandled, the value of UpdatingChanges is returned by the signals
static handler.

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class updateChangeFileQuerySignal raise

updateChangeListQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery if the changeList should be updated.
If unhandled, the value of UpdatingChanges is returned by the signals
static handler.

usage example(s):

     Transcript showCR:Class updateChangeListQuerySignal raise

updateHistoryLineQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery if the historyline of a method should be updated.
If unhandled, the history managers setting is returned by the signals
static handler.

usage example(s):

     Class updateHistoryLineQuerySignal raise

usedNameSpaceQuerySignal

return the signal used as an upQuery for the used nameSpace.
Will be used when filing in code.
This could be used BEFORE initialize has been invoked - that's why we do not
simply return the class var here.

accessing-flags

catchClassRedefinitions

return the class-redefinition catching flag.

catchClassRedefinitions: aBoolean

turn on/off class redefinition catching.
If on, redefining classes from another package will show a
warning dialog. Useful, when filing in alien code to avoid defefinition
of system methods.
Return the prior value of the flag.

catchMethodRedefinitions

return the method-redefinition catching flag.

catchMethodRedefinitions: aBoolean

turn on/off method redefinition catching.
If on, redefining methods from another package will show a
warning dialog. Useful, when filing in alien code to avoid defefinition
of system methods.
Return the prior value of the flag.

keepMethodHistory: aBoolean

turn on/off oldMethod remembering. If on, a methods previous version
is kept locally, for later undo (or compare).

usage example(s):

     Class keepMethodHistory:true
     Class keepMethodHistory:false

lockChangesFile

return true, if the change file is locked during update

lockChangesFile: aBoolean

turn on/off change-file-locking. Return the previous value of the flag.

accessing-history

flushMethodHistory

flush any method->previousVersion associations,
all method history is lost.

methodHistory

return a dictionary containing method->previousVersion associations,
nil if method remembering has been turned off

usage example(s):

     Class methodHistory

enumeration

allClassesInCategory: aCategory do: aBlock: evaluate aBlock for all classes in aCategory;
no specific order is defined.

** This is an obsolete interface - do not use it (it may vanish in future versions) **
allClassesInCategory: aCategory inOrderDo: aBlock: evaluate aBlock for all classes in aCategory;
superclasses come first - then subclasses.

** This is an obsolete interface - do not use it (it may vanish in future versions) **

initialization

initialize

the classvariable 'UpdatingChanges' controls if changes are put
into the changes-file; normally this variable is set to true, but
(for example) during fileIn or when changes are applied, it is set to false
to avoid putting too much junk into the changes-file.

usage example(s):

This could be used BEFORE initialize has been invoked - that's why we initialize
             the class var there.

usage example(s):

This could be used BEFORE initialize has been invoked - that's why we initialize
             the class var there.

usage example(s):

     ClassDescription initialize

queries

isBuiltInClass: return true if this class is known by the run-time-system.
Here, true is returned for myself, false for subclasses.

Instance protocol:

Compatibility-Dolphin

categoriesFor: aMethodSelector
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package ): this method allows fileIn of Dolphin methods -
return a MethodCategoriesReader to read in a methods categories for me.
Since Dolphin uses a different way to assign method categories,
loaded methods are temporarily categorized as 'Dolphin methods'
and later reassigned, when a categoriesFor: message arrives.
categoriesForClass
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package ): this method allows fileIn of Dolphin classes -
return a ClassCategoriesReader to read in a classes categories for me.
Since Dolphin uses a different way to assign class categories,
the loaded classes are temporarily categorized as 'ST/V classes'
and later reassigned, when a categoriesForClass message arrives.
methodsFor: this method allows fileIn of Dolphin methods -
return a ClassCategoryReader to read in and compile methods for me.
Since Dolphin uses a different way to assign method categories,
the loaded methods are temporarily categorized as 'Dolphin methods'
and later reassigned, when a categoriesFor: message arrives.
sourceManager: Answer the receiver's source manager.

Compatibility-ST/V

variableByteSubclass: nameSymbol classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package ): create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable byte-sized nonpointer variables (but no instance variables)

Compatibility-ST80

addInstVarName: anotherInstVar
addInstVarName: anotherInstVar afterIndex: indexOrNil: Jan Vrany: I replaced original Claus code.
See comment at the end of this method
organization: for ST80 compatibility;
read the documentation in ClassOrganizer for more info.
preSave: aParcel: Allow additional process of a Parcel before writing. This method works
with the matching method postLoad:, to handle additional processing
after loading a Parcel. The typical operation to do here is to save
named objects to aParcel (and retrieve them in postLoad:).
removeInstVarName: anInstVar
reorganize: for ST80 compatibility;
nothing done here.
reorganizeFromString: orgString: for ST80 compatibility but without functionality

Compatibility-Squeak

compile: code classified: cat withStamp: stamp
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package )
compile: code classified: cat withStamp: stamp notifying: requestor logSource: doLog
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package ): Make it working even if Monticello is not loaded
compileSilently: source classified: category
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package )
protocols

Compatibility-V'Age

categoriesFor: aSelector are: listOfCategories: to allow fileIn of V'Age code.
Set the category of the method which is installed under aSelector.
Since ST/X only supports a single category, take the first one
found in the listOfCategories.
commentFor: aSelector is: aString: to allow fileIn of V'Age code.
Set the comment of the method which is installed under aSelector.
For now, this is ignored
description: aString in: anApplication: to allow fileIn of V'Age code.
Set the description of the class.
descriptionFor: aSelector is: aString: to allow fileIn of V'Age code.
Set the description of the method which is installed under aSelector.
initializeAfterLoad: this message is sent after fileIn of a V'Age class

Compatibility-VW

compile: aString classified: protocol attributes: attributes

compile some method-code

instVarIndexFor: aVariableName ifAbsent: exceptionValue

alias for #instVarOffsetOf: for VW compatibility.

usage example(s):

     Point instVarIndexFor:#x
     Point instVarIndexFor:#x ifAbsent:[123] 1
     Point instVarIndexFor:#z ifAbsent:[123]

shortName

accessing

definition

return an expression-string to define myself

usage example(s):

     Object definition
     Point definition
     Array definition
     ByteArray definition
     FloatArray definition
     OpenGLConstantImporter definition

definitionWithoutPackage

return an expression-string to define myself (but not the package)

instVarAtOffset: index

return the name of the instance variable at index

instVarIndexFor: aVariableName

return the index (as used in instVarAt:/instVarAt:put:) of a named instance
variable (1..instSize) for valid variable names, nil for illegal names.

usage example(s):

     Point instVarIndexFor:'x'
     View instVarIndexFor:'paint'
     Button instVarIndexFor:'logo'

instVarNames

return a collection of the instance variable name-strings.
Traditionally, this was called instVarNames, but newer versions of squeak
seem to have changed to use instanceVariableNames.
So you probably should use the alias

usage example(s):

     Point instVarNames
     SortedCollection instVarNames
     SortedCollection allInstVarNames

instVarOffsetOf: aVariableName

return the index (as used in instVarAt:/instVarAt:put:) of a named instance
variable (1..instSize) for valid variable names, nil for illegal names.
This was the original ST/X's method for this functionality; senders have been changed to use instVarIndexFor:.
Kept for backward compatibility; please use instVarIndexFor: for VW and Squeak compatibility

** This is an obsolete interface - do not use it (it may vanish in future versions) **

instanceVariableOffsets

returns a dictionary containing the instance variable index
for each instVar name

usage example(s):

     Point instanceVariableOffsets
     GraphicsContext instanceVariableOffsets

instanceVariableString

return a string of the instance variable names

usage example(s):

     Point instanceVariableString

nameSpace

should be redefined in concrete subclass(es)

projectDefinitionClass

return the project definition of the classes' package.
Here, nil is returned. Only full classes have one.

renameCategory: oldCategory to: newCategory

rename a category (changes category of those methods).
Appends a change record and notifies dependents.

sharedPoolNamed: aPoolName

this returns a resolved real pool (i.e. a PoolDictionary),
This cares for the namespace in which the class is located

Notice, that for source compatibility with other smalltalks,
the pool's namespace in a class definition is not in the pool name,
as to make it is easy to fileIn an alien class into an ST/X namespace,
and also to allow filing out smalltalk-namespace classes for import into
another smalltalk.
However, then we must resolve the actual pool later - i.e. here

sharedPoolNames

this returns a collection of the plain (non-namespace aware) pool names

sharedPools

this returns a collection of the real pools (i.e. the PoolDictionaries),
not their names (see sharedPoolNames).
This cares for the namespace in which the class is located

Notice, that for source compatibility with other smalltalks,
the namespace is not in the pool name, as to make it is easy to fileIn an alien class
into an ST/X namespace.
However, then we must resolve the actual pool later - i.e. here

usage example(s):

     an example for a pool inside a namespace (in this case: a private pool):
        UnixOperatingSystem::ELFFileHeader sharedPools

     Smalltalk allClasses 
            collect:[:cls | cls -> cls sharedPools]
            thenSelect:[:assoc | assoc value notEmptyOrNil].

     OSI::ASN1_Coder sharedPoolNames
     ZipArchive sharedPools
     Croquet::OpenGL sharedPools
     OpenGLRenderingContext sharedPools
     Character sharedPools
     Win32OperatingSystem sharedPools

typeOfClassVarNamed: classVarName

option to return a collection of types which are considered
legal for classVarName.
This is pure documentation, and has (currently) no semantic implications.
If present, it is used by the code completer's type inferer,
to make better guesses.
Subclasses may redefine it to return a class, interface or a set of classes.

typeOfInstVarNamed: instVarName

option to return a collection of types which are considered
legal for instVarName.
This is pure documentation, and has (currently) no semantic implications.
If present, it is used by the code completer's type inferer,
to make better guesses.
Subclasses may redefine it to return a class, interface or a set of classes.

usage example(s):

     Class typeOfInstVarNamed:'instSize' -> SmallInteger

adding & removing

addSelector: newSelector withMethod: newMethod: add the method given by 2nd argument under the selector given by
1st argument to the methodDictionary.
Append a change record to the changes file and tell dependents.
basicAddSelector: newSelector withMethod: newMethod: add the method given by 2nd argument under the selector given by
1st argument to the methodDictionary.
This does NOT append a change record to the changes file and tell
dependents. Also, no methodHistory is kept or redefinition is checked.
removeSelector: aSelector: remove the selector, aSelector and its associated method
from the methodDictionary.
Append a change record to the changes file and tell dependents.

c function interfacing

cInterfaceFunction: selector calling: cFunctionNameString args: argTypeArray returning: returnType

create an interface to an existing (i.e. already linked in) c function.
The function can be called by sending selector to the receiver class.
The c-function has the name cFunctionNameString, and expects parameters as specified in
argTypeArray. The functions return value has a type as specified by returnType.
WARNING:
this interface is EXPERIMENTAL - it may change or even be removed.

usage example(s):

     Object subclass:#CInterface
	    instanceVariableNames:''
	    classVariableNames:''
	    poolDictionaries:''
	    category:'Examples'.

     CInterface cInterfaceFunction:#printfOn:format:withFloat:
			   calling:'fprintf'
			      args:#(ExternalStream String Float)
			 returning:#SmallInteger.

     CInterface printfOn:Stdout format:'this is a float: %g' withFloat:(Float pi). Stdout cr

changes management

addChangeRecordForMethod: aMethod: add a method-change-record to the changes file and to the current changeSet

** This is an obsolete interface - do not use it (it may vanish in future versions) **
addChangeRecordForMethod: aMethod fromOld: oldMethod: add a method-change-record to the changes file and to the current changeSet
addChangeRecordForMethodCategory: aMethodOrSelector category: aString: add a methodCategory-change-record to the changes file and to the current changeSet
addChangeRecordForMethodPackage: aMethodOrSelector package: aPackageSymbol: add a methodPackage-change-record to the changes file and to the current changeSet
addChangeRecordForMethodPrivacy: aMethod: add a method-privacy-change-record to the changes file and to the current changeSet
addChangeRecordForRemoveSelector: aSelector fromOld: oldMethod: add a method-remove-record to the changes file and to the current changeSet
addChangeRecordForRenameCategory: oldCategory to: newCategory: add a category-rename record to the changes file and to the current changeSet
addChangeTimeStampTo: aStream: a timestamp - prepended to any change, except infoRecords
addInfoRecord: aMessage: add an info-record (snapshot, class fileOut etc.) to the changes file
changesStream: return a Stream for the writing changes file.
This returns a regular stream or a locked stream - according to
the LockChangesFile settings
(recommended if multiple images operate on a common changes file)
withoutUpdatingChangeSetDo: aBlock: turn off changeSet update while evaluating aBlock.
Returns the block's evaluated value.
withoutUpdatingChangesDo: aBlock: turn off change file update while evaluating aBlock.
Returns the block's evaluated value.

compiling

compile: code classified: category

compile code, aString for this class;
if successful update the method dictionary.
The method is classified under category.
Returns the new method or nil (on failure).

compile: code classified: category logged: logged

compile code, aString for this class;
if successful update the method dictionary.
The method is classified under category.
If logged is true, a changeRecord is written.
Returns the new method or nil (on failure).

compile: code classified: cat notifying: requestor

compile code, aString for this class; on any error, notify
requestor, anObject with the error reason.
Install the method under the category, cat.
Returns the new method or nil (on failure).

compile: code notifying: requestor ifFail: failBlock

compile code, aString for this class; on any error, notify
requestor, anObject with the error reason.
Returns the new method or nil (on failure).

recompile

recompile all methods
used when a class changes instances and therefore all methods
have to be recompiled

usage example(s):

recompile all methods
     used when a class changes instances and therefore all methods
     have to be recompiled

recompile: aSelector

recompile the method associated with the argument, aSelector;
used when a superclass changes instances and we have to recompile
subclasses

recompile: aSelector usingCompiler: aCompiler

recompile the method associated with the argument, aSelector;
used when a superclass changes instances and we have to recompile
subclasses

recompile: aSelector usingCompilerClass: aCompilerClass

recompile the method associated with the argument, aSelector;
used when a superclass changes instances and we have to recompile
subclasses

recompileAll

recompile this class and all subclasses

recompileForSpeed: aSelector

recompile the method associated with the argument, aSelector;
for highest speed (i.e. using the stc compiler, if supported by the architecture).

recompileInvalidatedMethods

recompile all invalidated methods

recompileMethodsAccessingAny: setOfNames

recompile all methods accessing a variable from setOfNames

recompileMethodsAccessingAny: setOfNames orSuper: superBoolean

recompile all methods accessing a variable from setOfNames,
or super (if superBoolean is true).
Also recompiles methods with possibly inlined instVarIndexFor:

recompileMethodsAccessingAnyClassvarOrGlobal: aCollection

recompile all methods accessing a global or classvar in aCollection

recompileMethodsAccessingGlobal: aGlobalKey

recompile all methods accessing the global variable aGlobalKey

recompileMethodsWithMachineCode

recompile all methods which have non-dynamic machineCode
(i.e. those, which were loaded from a compiled classLibrary)

recompileUsingCompilerClass: aCompilerClass

recompile all methods
used when a class changes instances and therefore all methods
have to be recompiled

fileIn interface

commentStamp: aStamp prior: whatever
( an extension from the stx:libcompat package ): return a ClassCategoryReader to read in and compile methods for me.
This was added to allow squeak code to be filedIn.
ignoredMethodsFor: aCategory: this is a speciality of ST/X - it allows quick commenting of methods
from a source-file by replacing the 'methodsFor:' by 'ignoredMethodsFor:'.
Returns a ClassCategoryReader to read in and skip methods.
methods: this method allows fileIn of ST/V methods -
return a ClassCategoryReader to read in and compile methods for me.
Since ST/V does not support method categories, the loaded methods are
categorized as 'ST/V methods'.
methodsFor: aCategory: return a ClassCategoryReader to read in and compile methods for me.
methodsFor: aCategory stamp: time: return a ClassCategoryReader to read in and compile methods for me.
This was added to allow squeak code to be filedIn.
methodsForUndefined: categoryString: ST-80 compatibility.
I don't yet know what this does - it was encountered by some tester.
For now, simply forward it.
privateMethods: this method allows fileIn of V'Age methods
The privateMethods keyword is for documentation only;
by default, methods are public (for backward compatibility)
(although, they could be made private here).
privateMethodsFor: aCategory: this method allows fileIn of ENVY and ST/X private methods.

The following methods are only allowed to be executed if sent from a method
within the current class. Subclass sends or out-of-class sends will raise
a privatMethodError exception.
protectedMethodsFor: aCategory: this method allows fileIn of ENVY and ST/X protected methods.

The following methods are only allowed to be executed if sent from a method
within the current class or a subclass. Out-of-class sends will raise
a privatMethodError exception.
publicMethods: this method allows fileIn of V'Age methods
The publicMethods keyword is for documentation only;
by default, methods are public anyway (for backward compatibility).
publicMethodsFor: aCategory: this method allows fileIn of ENVY methods
The publicMethods keyword is for documentation only; my default, methods
are public anyway (for backward compatibility).

fileOut

fileOutCategory: aCategory: create a file 'class-category.st' consisting of all methods in aCategory.
If the current project is not nil, create the file in the projects
directory.
fileOutCategory: aCategory except: skippedMethods only: savedMethods methodFilter: methodFilter on: aStream: file out all methods belonging to aCategory, aString onto aStream.
If skippedMethods is nonNil, those are not saved.
If savedMethods is nonNil, only those are saved.
If both are nil, all are saved. See version-method handling in
fileOut for what this is needed.
fileOutCategory: aCategory except: skippedMethods only: savedMethods on: aStream: file out all methods belonging to aCategory, aString onto aStream.
If skippedMethods is nonNil, those are not saved.
If savedMethods is nonNil, only those are saved.
If both are nil, all are saved. See version-method handling in
fileOut for what this is needed.
fileOutCategory: aCategory methodFilter: methodFilter on: aStream: file out all methods belonging to aCategory, aString onto aStream
fileOutCategory: aCategory on: aStream: file out all methods belonging to aCategory, aString onto aStream
fileOutMethod: aMethod: create a file 'class-method.st' consisting of the method, aMethod.
If the current project is not nil, create the file in the projects
directory.
fileOutMethod: aMethod on: aStream: file out aMethod onto aStream. Used for example to write individual changeChunks
fileOutMethods: methods on: aStream: WARNING: will be obsoleted by SmalltalkChunkFileSourceWriter

fileOut-xml

fileOutXMLCategory: aCategory methodFilter: methodFilter on: aStream: file out all methods belonging to aCategory, aString in xml format onto aStream.
fileOutXMLMethod: aMethod on: aStream: file out a method in xml format onto aStream.

initialization

initializeWithAllPrivateClasses: if implemented, send #initialize to myself and any private
class which does so.
This is sent to a class after it
has been loaded into the system.
Statically compiled classes are initialized by the VM

misc ui support

iconInBrowserForVariableNamed: varName
( an extension from the stx:libtool package ): variables for which an entry is found in the xml-spec (if any) are marked
with an <xml>-icon.
For now, this is expecco-specific, but should be somehow lifted to the base system

printOut

nameWithNameSpacePrefix

return my name's printString,
with nameSpace prefix (even if it's the Smalltalk namespace)

usage example(s):

a public class:
     Array name
     Array nameWithoutPrefix
     Array nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix
     Array nameWithNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a private class:
     Method::MethodWhoInfo name
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithoutPrefix
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a namespace class:
     CodingExamples::TopClass name
     CodingExamples::TopClass nameWithoutPrefix
     CodingExamples::TopClass nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix
     CodingExamples::TopClass nameWithNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a private class in a namespace class:
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass name
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass nameWithoutPrefix
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass nameWithNameSpacePrefix

nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

helper for fileOut and others - return my names printString,
without any nameSpace prefix (but with owningClasses prefix)

usage example(s):

a public class:
     Array name
     Array nameWithoutPrefix
     Array nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a private class:
     Method::MethodWhoInfo name
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithoutPrefix
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a namespace class:
     CodingExamples::TopClass name
     CodingExamples::TopClass nameWithoutPrefix
     CodingExamples::TopClass nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a private class in a namespace class:
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass name
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass nameWithoutPrefix
     CodingExamples::TopClass::SubClass nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

nameWithoutPrefix

helper for fileOut and others - return my names printString,
without any owningClass or nameSpace prefix

usage example(s):

a public class:
     Array name
     Array nameWithoutPrefix
     Array nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a private class:
     Method::MethodWhoInfo name
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithoutPrefix
     Method::MethodWhoInfo nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a namespace class:
     Demos::WalkingGirl name
     Demos::WalkingGirl nameWithoutPrefix
     Demos::WalkingGirl nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

usage example(s):

a private class in a namespace class:
     Demos::WalkingGirl::AnimationView name
     Demos::WalkingGirl::AnimationView nameWithoutPrefix
     Demos::WalkingGirl::AnimationView nameWithoutNameSpacePrefix

printClassNameOn: aStream

helper for fileOut - print my name.
Private classes always print their owning-class as nameSpace
prefix; non-private ones print without, except if the
FileOutNameSpaceQuery returns true. The last feature is used
with changefile updates - here, the full name is wanted.

printHierarchyAnswerIndentOn: aStream

print my class hierarchy on aStream - return indent
recursively calls itself to print superclass and use returned indent
for my description - used in the browser

printHierarchyOn: aStream

print my class hierarchy on aStream

printInstVarNamesOn: aStream indent: indent

print the instance variable names indented and breaking at line end

printNameArray: anArray on: aStream indent: indent

print an array of strings separated by spaces; when the stream
defines a lineLength, break when this limit is reached; indent
every line; used to printOut instance variable names

printNameInHierarchy

return my name as printed in the hierarchy

printOutCategory: aCategory on: aPrintStream

print out all methods in aCategory on aPrintStream, which should understand emphasis

usage example(s):

     ClassDescription printOutCategory:'queries' on:Transcript

printOutSource: aString on: aPrintStream

print out a source-string; the message-specification is printed bold,
comments are printed italic

printing & storing

displayOn: aGCOrStream: return a string for display in inspectors

private-changes management

addChangeRecordForMethod: aMethod to: aStream: append a method-change-record to aStream
addChangeRecordForMethodCategory: aMethod category: newCategory to: aStream: append a methodCategory-change-record to aStream
addChangeRecordForMethodPackage: aMethod package: newPackageSymbol to: aStream: append a methodPackage-change-record to aStream
addChangeRecordForMethodPrivacy: aMethod to: aStream: append a method-privacy-change-record to aStream
addChangeRecordForRemoveSelector: aSelector to: aStream: append a method-remove-record to aStream
addChangeRecordForRenameCategory: oldCategory to: newCategory to: aStream: append a category-rename record to aStream
addInfoRecord: aMessage to: aStream: append an info-record (snapshot, class fileOut etc.) to aStream
writingChangeDo: aBlock: common helper to write a change record.
Opens the changefile and executes aBlock passing the stream
as argument. WriteErrors are caught and will lead to a warning.
The changefile is not kept open, to force the change to go to disk
as soon as possible - thus, in case of a crash, no changes should
be lost due to buffering.
writingChangePerform: aSelector with: anArgument
writingChangeWithTimeStamp: doStampIt do: aBlock: common helper to write a change record.
Opens the changefile and executes aBlock passing the stream
as argument. WriteErrors are caught and will lead to a warning.
The changefile is not kept open, to force the change to go to disk
as soon as possible - thus, in case of a crash, no changes should
be lost due to buffering.
Access to the change file is serialized via the accessLock;
this prevents the changefile to be corrupted when multiple users
accept in the browser in a multi-display (or timesliced) configuration
writingChangeWithTimeStamp: stampIt perform: aSelector with: anArgument

private-helpers

addAllCategoriesTo: aCollection: helper - add categories and all superclasses categories
to the argument, aCollection
addAllPrivateClassesTo: aCollection: add all of my private classes to aCollection
addCategoriesTo: aCollection: helper - add categories to the argument, aCollection.
aCollection should be a set.

protocol printOut

printOutCategoryProtocol: aCategory on: aPrintStream

ClassDescription printOutCategoryProtocol:'queries' on:Transcript

usage example(s):

     ClassDescription printOutCategoryProtocol:'queries' on:Transcript

printOutMethodProtocol: aMethod on: aPrintStream

given the source in aString, print the method's message specification
and any method comments - without source.
Used to generate documentation pages

usage example(s):

      Float printOutProtocolOn:Stdout
      Float printOutMethodProtocol:(Float compiledMethodAt:#coerce:) on:Transcript

queries

allCategories

Return a collection of all method-categories known in class
and all superclasses. This does NOT include the metaclass categories.
The returned collection is not sorted by any order.

usage example(s):

     Point categories
     Point allCategories

     Point class categories
     Point class allCategories

categories

Return a collection of the method-categories known in the receiver class.
This does NOT include the metaclasses categories or the superclass categories.
The returned collection is not sorted by any order.

usage example(s):

     Point categories
     Point class categories

commentOrDocumentationString

return either the classes documentation-method's comment
or its plain comment or nil

usage example(s):

     Array commentOrDocumentationString

definesInstanceVariable: aString

directlyDefinesInstanceVariable: aString

isObsolete

return true, if the receiver is obsolete
(i.e. has been replaced by a different class or was removed,
but is still referenced by instances)

methodCategories

usage example(s):

     Point methodCategories
     Point class methodCategories

methodsInCategory: aCategory

helper for fileOut:
return an unsorted collection of methods from a given category

usage example(s):

     ClassDescription methodsInCategory:'queries'

methodsInCategory: aCategory forWhich: methodFilter

helper for fileOut: return an unsorted collection of methods from a
given category, for which a filterblock evaluates to true

usage example(s):

     ClassDescription methodsInCategory:'queries' forWhich:[:m | m selector startsWith:'w']

privateClasses

sourceCodeForMethod: aMethod at: aSelector

topNameSpace

return the nameSpace of my topOwningClass (if private) or my own nameSpace.

whichCategoryIncludesSelector: aSelector

return the category under which the method for aSelector is
classified

whichClassDefinesInstVar: aVariableName

return the class which defines the instance variable
named aVariableName. This method should not be used for
repeated searches (i.e. in the compiler/parser), since it creates
many throw away intermediate objects.

usage example(s):

     StandardSystemView whichClassDefinesInstVar:'label'
     StandardSystemView whichClassDefinesInstVar:'paint'
     StandardSystemView whichClassDefinesInstVar:'foo'

whichPoolDefinesPoolVar: aVariableName

return the shared which defines the class variable named aVariableName or nil.

usage example(s):

     ZipArchiveConstants classVariableNames
     ZipArchive sharedPools
     ZipArchive whichPoolDefinesPoolVar:'ECREC_SIZE'

     ZipArchive class sharedPools

whichSelectorsAccess: instVarName

return a collection of selectors for methods which access
an instance variable

special accessing

setInstVarNames: aCollectionOfStrings: set the instance variable names from a collection of strings.
No recompilation or updates are done and no changeList records are written.
This is NOT for general use.
setInstVarNamesArray: anArrayOfSymbols: set the instance variable names from an Array of Symbols.
No recompilation or updates are done and no changeList records are written.
This is NOT for general use.
setInstanceVariableString: aString: set the classes instvarnames string.
No recompilation or updates are done and no changeList records are written.
This is NOT for general use.

subclass creation

subclass: nameSymbol: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver).
The subclass will have indexed variables if the receiving-class has.
subclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver).
The subclass will have indexed variables if the receiving-class has.
subclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver).
The subclass will have indexed variables if the receiving-class has.
subclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat classInstanceVariableNames: classInstanceVariableNames: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver).
The subclass will have indexed variables if the receiving-class has.
subclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat inEnvironment: aNameSpace: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver).
The subclass will have indexed variables if the receiving-class has.
variableByteSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable byte-sized nonpointer variables
variableDoubleSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable double-sized nonpointer variables
variableFloatSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable float-sized nonpointer variables
variableLongLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable unsigned long-long-sized nonpointer variables
variableLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable long-sized nonpointer variables
variableSignedLongLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable signed long-long-sized nonpointer variables
variableSignedLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable signed long-sized nonpointer variables
variableSignedWordSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable word-sized signed nonpointer variables
variableSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable pointer variables
variableSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat classInstanceVariableNames: classInstanceVariableNames: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable pointer variables
variableWordSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool category: cat: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable word-sized nonpointer variables

subclass creation-private classes

subclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: ownerClassArg: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver).
The subclass will have indexed variables if the receiving-class has.
variableByteSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: ownerClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable byte-sized nonpointer variables
variableDoubleSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable double-sized nonpointer variables
variableFloatSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable float-sized nonpointer variables
variableLongLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable longlong-sized nonpointer variables
variableLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable long-sized nonpointer variables
variableSignedLongLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable signed longlong-sized nonpointer variables
variableSignedLongSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable signed long-sized nonpointer variables
variableSignedWordSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable word-sized signed nonpointer variables
variableSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: ownerClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable pointer variables
variableWordSubclass: nameSymbol instanceVariableNames: instVarNameString classVariableNames: classVarString poolDictionaries: pool privateIn: aClass: create a new class as a subclass of an existing class (the receiver)
in which the subclass has indexable word-sized nonpointer variables

Private classes:

    ClassRedefinitionNotification
    MethodRedefinitionNotification
    PackageRedefinition

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Documentation of class 'ClassDescription':

Class: ClassDescription

Inheritance:

Description:

Related information:

Class protocol:

Instance protocol:

Private classes: