Package org.eclipse.core.commands.common

Class HandleObject

java.lang.Object
org.eclipse.core.commands.common.EventManager
org.eclipse.core.commands.common.HandleObject
All Implemented Interfaces:
IIdentifiable
Direct Known Subclasses:
NamedHandleObject, ParameterType
public abstract class HandleObject extends EventManager implements IIdentifiable

An object that can exist in one of two states: defined and undefined. This is used by APIs that want to give a handle to an object, even though the object does not fully exist yet. This way, users can attach listeners to objects before they come into existence. It also protects the API from users that do not release references when they should.

To enforce good coding practice, all handle objects must implement equals and toString. Please use string to cache the result for toString once calculated.

All handle objects are referred to using a single identifier. This identifier is a instance of String. It is important that this identifier remain unique within whatever context that handle object is being used. For example, there should only ever be one instance of Command with a given identifier.

Since:
3.1

  • Field Details

    • defined

      protected transient boolean defined
      Whether this object is defined. A defined object is one that has been fully initialized. By default, all objects start as undefined.

    • id

      protected final String id
      The identifier for this object. This identifier should be unique across all objects of the same type and should never change. This value will never be null.

    • string

      protected transient String string
      The string representation of this object. This string is for debugging purposes only, and is not meant to be displayed to the user. This value is computed lazily, and is cleared if one of its dependent values changes.

  • Constructor Details

    • HandleObject

      protected HandleObject(String id)
      Constructs a new instance of HandleObject.
      Parameters:
      id - The id of this handle; must not be null.

  • Method Details

    • equals

      public boolean equals(Object object)
      Tests whether this object is equal to another object. A handle object is only equal to another handle object with the same id and the same class.
      Overrides:
      equals in class Object
      Parameters:
      object - The object with which to compare; may be null.
      Returns:
      true if the objects are equal; false otherwise.

    • getId

      public final String getId()
      Description copied from interface: IIdentifiable
      Returns the identifier for this object.
      Specified by:
      getId in interface IIdentifiable
      Returns:
      The identifier; never null.

    • hashCode

      public final int hashCode()
      Computes the hash code for this object based on the id.
      Overrides:
      hashCode in class Object
      Returns:
      The hash code for this object.

    • isDefined

      public final boolean isDefined()
      Whether this instance is defined. A defined instance is one that has been fully initialized. This allows objects to effectively disappear even though other objects may still have references to them.
      Returns:
      true if this object is defined; false otherwise.

    • toString

      public abstract String toString()
      The string representation of this object -- for debugging purposes only. This string should not be shown to an end user.
      Overrides:
      toString in class Object
      Returns:
      The string representation; never null.

    • undefine

      public abstract void undefine()
      Makes this object becomes undefined. This method should make any defined properties null. It should also send notification to any listeners that these properties have changed.