Stefan Urbanek at 12:26, 18 February 2005

2005-02-18T12:26:01Z

New page

Script object looks like ordinary object. However, it's behaviour is described by small scripts - methods written in some scripting language.

They can be used for:

* Custom application objects
* Event and notiication handlers
* Objects in servers with customisable behaviour
* ...

''NOTE: See TODO list at the end of this page.''

== Using script objects ==

Just send it a message as to any other object:

[object sayHi];

== Creating script objetcs ==

object = [STScriptObject scriptObject];
[object setEnvironment:someScriptingEnvironment];

=== Adding methods ===

Create a source:
source = @"sayHi Transcript showLine: 'Hi.'. ^self".
or
source = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:@"SomeFile"];

Get the the proper engine for a language used in the source:

engine = [STEngine engineForLanguageWithName:@"Smalltalk"];

create a method:

method = [engine methodFromSource:source
forReceiver:object
inEnvironment:Environment];

and finally add the method to the object:

[object addMethod:method];

=== Methods with arguments ===

Well, no difference to any other methods. If you have source:

source = @"sayHiTo:someone Transcript showLine: ('Hi ', someone). ^self";

you can do:

[object sayHiTo:@"World"];

=== Script object interface ===

Script object understands following:

* addMethod:aMethod
* removeMethod:aMethod
* removeMethodWithName:aString
* methodWithName:aString
* methodNames
* respondsToSelector:aSelector

== TODO ==

Here are unimplemented features of the Script Objects. Feel free to add them, if you have a bit of time. Please consult with the [[User:Stefan Urbanek|author of StepTalk]] and on the [[Contact|gnustep lists]].

* object variables (this is high priority)
* inheritance of variables and methods (traits like in Self?)
* object archiving
* object cloning (copying)

* integration with [[Scripting context|scripting contexts]]

* script object builder application (it should be something simple)

----

See also: [[StepTalk]], [[Scripting]]

[[Category:Scripting]]

Script objects - Revision history

Stefan Urbanek at 12:26, 18 February 2005