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Object::Realize::Later(3pm) User Contributed Perl Documentation Object::Realize::Later(3pm)
NAME
Object::Realize::Later - Delayed creation of objects
SYNOPSIS
package MyLazyObject;
use Object::Realize::Later
becomes => 'MyRealObject',
realize => 'load';
DESCRIPTION
The "Object::Realize::Later" class helps with implementing transparent on demand realiza-
tion of object data. This is related to the tricks on autoloading of data, the lesser
known cousin of autoloading of functionality.
On demand realization is all about performance gain. Why should you spent costly time on
realizing an object, when the data on the object is never (or not yet) used? In interac-
tive programs, postponed realization may boost start-up: the realization of objects is
triggered by the use, so spread over time.
METHODS
Construction
use(Object::Realize::Later OPTIONS)
When you invoke ("use") the "Object::Realize::Later" package, it will add a set of
methods to your package (see section "Added to YOUR class").
Option --Default
becomes <required>
believe_caller <false>
realize <required>
source_module <becomes>
warn_realization <false>
warn_realize_again <false>
. becomes => CLASS
Which type will this object become after realization.
. believe_caller => BOOLEAN
When a method is called on the un-realized object, the AUTOLOAD checks whether
this resolves the need. If not, the realization is not done. However, when real-
ization may result in an object that extends the functionality of the class speci-
fied with "becomes", this check must be disabled. In that case, specify true for
this option.
. realize => METHOD|CODE
How will transform. If you specify a CODE reference, then this will be called
with the lazy-object as first argument, and the requested method as second.
After realization, you may still have your hands on the lazy object on various
places. Be sure that your realization method is coping with that, for instance by
using Memoize. See examples below.
. source_module => CLASS
if the class (a package) is included in a file (module) with a different name,
then use this argument to specify the file name. The name is expected to be the
same as in the "require" call which would load it.
. warn_realization => BOOLEAN
Print a warning message when the realization starts. This is for debugging pur-
poses.
. warn_realize_again => BOOLEAN
When an object is realized, the original object -which functioned as a stub- is
reconstructed to work as proxy to the realized object. This option will issue a
warning when that proxy is used, which means that somewhere in your program there
is a variable still holding a reference to the stub. This latter is not problem-
atic at all, although it slows-down each method call.
Added to YOUR class
$obj->AUTOLOAD
When a method is called which is not available for the lazy object, the AUTOLOAD is
called.
$obj->can(METHOD)
Object::Realize::Later->can(METHOD)
Is the specified METHOD available for the lazy or the realized version of this object?
It will return the reference to the code.
Example:
MyLazyObject->can('lazyWork') # true
MyLazyObject->can('realWork') # true
my $lazy = MyLazyObject->new;
$lazy->can('lazyWork'); # true
$lazy->can('realWork'); # true
$obj->forceRealize
You can force the load by calling this method on your object. It returns the realized
object.
Object::Realize::Later->isa(CLASS)
Is this object a (sub-)class of the specified CLASS or can it become a (sub-)class of
CLASS.
Example:
MyLazyObject->isa('MyRealObject') # true
MyLazyObject->isa('SuperClassOfLazy'); # true
MyLazyObject->isa('SuperClassOfReal'); # true
my $lazy = MyLazyObject->new;
$lazy->isa('MyRealObject'); # true
$lazy->isa('SuperClassOfLazy'); # true
$lazy->isa('SuperClassOfReal'); # true
$obj->willRealize
Returns which class will be the realized to follow-up this class.
Object::Realize::Later internals
The next methods are not exported to the class where the `use' took place. These methods
implement the actual realization.
Object::Realize::Later->import(OPTIONS)
The OPTIONS used for "import" are the values after the class name with "use". So this
routine implements the actual option parsing. It generates code dynamically, which is
then evaluated in the callers name-space.
Object::Realize::Later->realizationOf(OBJECT [,REALIZED])
Returns the REALIZED version of OBJECT, optionally after setting it first. When the
method returns "undef", the realization has not yet taken place or the realized object
has already been removed again.
Object::Realize::Later->realize(OPTIONS)
This method is called when a "$object-"forceRealize()> takes place. It checks whether
the realization has been done already (is which case the realized object is returned)
DETAILS
About lazy loading
There are two ways to implement lazy behaviour: you may choose to check whether you have
realized the data in each method which accesses the data, or use the autoloading of data
trick.
An implementation of the first solution is:
sub realize {
my $self = shift;
return $self unless $self->{_is_realized};
# read the data from file, or whatever
$self->{data} = ....;
$self->{_is_realized} = 1;
$self;
}
sub getData() {
my $self = shift;
return $self->realize->{data};
}
The above implementation is error-prone, where you can easily forget to call realize().
The tests cannot cover all ordenings of method-calls to detect the mistakes.
The second approach uses autoloading, and is supported by this package. First we create a
stub-object, which will be transformable into a realized object later. This transforma-
tion is triggered by AUTOLOAD.
This stub-object may contain some methods from the realized object, to reduce the need for
realization. The stub will also contain some information which is required for the cre-
ation of the real object.
"Object::Realize::Later" solves the inheritance problems (especially the isa() and can()
methods) and supplies the AUTOLOAD method. Class methods which are not defined in the
stub object are forwarded as class methods without realization.
Traps
Be aware of dangerous traps in the current implementation. These problems appear by hav-
ing multiple references to the same delayed object. Depending on how the realization is
implemented, terrible things can happen.
The two versions of realization:
* by reblessing
This is the safe version. The realized object is the same object as the delayed one,
but reblessed in a different package. When multiple references to the delayed object
exists, they will all be updated at the same, because the bless information is stored
within the refered variable.
* by new instance
This is the nicest way of realization, but also quite more dangerous. Consider this:
package Delayed;
use Object::Realize::Later
becomes => 'Realized',
realize => 'load';
sub new($) {my($class,$v)=@_; bless {label=>$v}, $class}
sub setLabel($) {my $self = shift; $self->{label} = shift}
sub load() {$_[0] = Realized->new($_[0]->{label}) }
package Realized; # file Realized.pm or use use(source_module)
sub new($) {my($class,$v)=@_; bless {label=>$v}, $class}
sub setLabel($) {my $self = shift; $self->{label} = shift}
sub getLabel() {my $self = shift; $self->{label}}
package main;
my $original = Delayed->new('original');
my $copy = $original;
print $original->getLabel; # prints 'original'
print ref $original; # prints 'Realized'
print ref $copy; # prints 'Delayed'
$original->setLabel('changed');
print $original->getLabel; # prints 'changed'
print $copy->getLabel; # prints 'original'
Examples
Example 1
In the first example, we delay-load a message. On the moment the message is defined, we
only take the location. When the data of the message is taken (header or body), the data
is autoloaded.
package Mail::Message::Delayed;
use Object::Realize::Later
( becomes => 'Mail::Message::Real'
, realize => 'loadMessage'
);
sub new($) {
my ($class, $file) = @_;
bless { filename => $file }, $class;
}
sub loadMessage() {
my $self = shift;
Mail::Message::Real->new($self->{filename});
}
In the main program:
package main;
use Mail::Message::Delayed;
my $msg = Mail::Message::Delayed->new('/home/user/mh/1');
$msg->body->print; # this will trigger autoload.
Example 2
Your realization may also be done by reblessing. In that case to change the type of your
object into a different type which stores the same information. Is that right? Are you
sure? For simple cases, this may be possible:
package Alive;
use Object::Realize::Later
becomes => 'Dead',
realize => 'kill';
sub new() {my $class = shift; bless {@_}, $class}
sub jump() {print "Jump!\n"}
sub showAntlers() {print "Fight!\n"}
sub kill() {bless(shift, 'Dead')}
package Dead;
sub takeAntlers() {...}
In the main program:
my $deer = Alive->new(Animal => 'deer');
my $trophy = $deer->takeAntlers();
In this situation, the object (reference) is not changed but is reblessed. There is no
danger that the un-realized version of the object is kept somewhere: all variable which
know about this partical deer see the change.
Example 3
This module is especially usefull for larger projects, which there is a need for speed or
memory reduction. In this case, you may have an extra overview on which objects have been
realized (transformed), and which not. This example is taken from the MailBox modules:
The Mail::Box module tries to boost the access-time to a folder. If you only need the
messages of the last day, why shall all be read? So, MailBox only creates an invertory of
messages at first. It takes the headers of all messages, but leaves the body (content) of
the message in the file.
In MailBox' case, the Mail::Message-object has the choice between a number of Mail::Mes-
sage::Body's, one of which has only be prepared to read the body when needed. A code
snippet:
package Mail::Message;
sub new($$)
{ my ($class, $head, $body) = @_;
my $self = bless {head => $head, body => $body}, $class;
$body->message($self); # tell body about the message
}
sub head() { shift->{head} }
sub body() { shift->{body} }
sub loadBody()
{ my $self = shift;
my $body = $self->body;
# Catch re-invocations of the loading. If anywhere was still
# a reference to the old (unrealized) body of this message, we
# return the new-one directly.
return $body unless $body->can('forceRealize');
# Load the body (change it to anything which really is of
# the promised type, or a sub-class of it.
my ($lines, $size) = .......; # get the data
$self->{body} = Mail::Message::Body::Lines
->new($lines, $size, $self);
# Return the realized object.
return $self->{body};
}
package Mail::Message::Body::Lines;
use base 'Mail::Message::Body';
sub new($$$)
{ my ($class, $lines, $size, $message) = @_;
bless { lines => $lines, size => $size
, message => $message }, $class;
}
sub size() { shift->{size} }
sub lines() { shift->{lines} }
sub message() { shift->{message);
package Mail::Message::Body::Delayed;
use Object::Realize::Later
becomes => 'Mail::Message::Body',
realize => sub {shift->message->loadBody};
sub new($)
{ my ($class, $size) = @_;
bless {size => $size}, $class;
}
sub size() { shift->{size} }
sub message(;$)
{ my $self = shift;
@_ ? ($self->{message} = shift) : $self->{messages};
}
package main;
use Mail::Message;
use Mail::Message::Body::Delayed;
my $body = Mail::Message::Body::Delayed->new(42);
my $message = Mail::Message->new($head, $body);
print $message->size; # will not trigger realization!
print $message->can('lines'); # true, but no realization yet.
print $message->lines; # realizes automatically.
SEE ALSO
This module is part of Object-Realize-Later distribution version 0.18, built on June 08,
2007. Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/orl/
LICENSE
Copyrights 2001-2004,2007 by Mark Overmeer <perl AT overmeer.net>. For other contributors see
Changes.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same
terms as Perl itself. See http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html
perl v5.8.8 2007-06-08 Object::Realize::Later(3pm)
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