struct SodObject__vt_obj {
\h'2n'const SodClass *_class;
\h'2n'size_t _base;
+\h'2n'struct SodObject__vtmsgs_obj {
+\h'4n'void (*init)(SodObject *\fIme\fB, ...);
+\h'4n'void (*init__v)(SodObject *\fIme\fB, va_list);
+\h'4n'int (*teardown)(SodObject *\fIme\fB);
+\h'2n'} obj;
};
struct SodObject__ilayout {
struct SodClass__vt_obj {
\h'2n'const SodClass *_class;
\h'2n'size_t _base;
+\h'2n'struct SodClass__vtmsgs_obj {
+\h'4n'void (*init)(SodClass *\fIme\fB, ...);
+\h'4n'void (*init__v)(SodClass *\fIme\fB, va_list);
+\h'4n'int (*teardown)(SodClass *\fIme\fB);
+\h'2n'} obj;
};
-struct SodObject__ilayout {
+struct SodClass__ilayout {
\h'2n'union {
\h'4n'struct SodClass__ichain_obj {
\h'6n'const struct SodClass__vt_obj *_vt;
\h'8n'const char *name;
\h'8n'const char *nick;
\h'8n'size_t initsz;
+\h'8n'size_t align;
\h'8n'void *(*imprint)(void *\fIp\fB);
-\h'8n'void *(*init)(void *\fIp\fB);
\h'8n'size_t n_supers;
\h'8n'const SodClass *const *supers;
\h'8n'size_t n_cpl;
.SS The SodObject class
The
.B SodObject
-class defines no slots or messages.
+class defines no slots.
Because
.B SodObject
has no direct superclasses,
and no inherited slots or messages,
so the single chain contains only a vtable pointer.
.PP
-Since there are no messages,
-and
+Since
.B SodClass
also has only one chain,
the vtable contains only the standard class pointer and offset-to-base
the class pointer contains the address of
.B SodObject__class
and the offset is zero.
+.PP
+The
+.B init
+message is used to initialize a newly allocated instance.
+.PP
+This message uses a custom method combination
+which works like the standard method combination
+except that default behaviour
+specific to the receiver's direct class
+is invoked if no primary or around method overrides.
+This default behaviour may be invoked multiple times
+if some method calls on its
+.B next_method
+function more than once.
+.PP
+This default behaviour is to initialize the instance's slots
+using the defined slot initializers,
+and execute the initialization fragments.
+Each slot is initialized
+using the most specific applicable initializer,
+if any.
+Slots without an initializer
+are left uninitialized.
+.PP
+Slots are initialized and initialization fragments executed together,
+a superclass at a time:
+first, the superclass's slots are initialized (if any);
+then the superclass's initialization fragments (if any) are executed,
+starting with the least specific superclass first.
+Slots and initialization fragments defined by the same class
+are processed in the order in which they appear in the class definition.
+.PP
+There are no standard keyword arguments;
+methods on subclasses are free to
+introduce their own in the usual way.
+.PP
+It is usual to provide complex initialization behaviour as
+.B after
+methods.
+This ensures that slots have been initialized as necessary
+before the method executes.
+.PP
+The
+.B teardown
+message is used to tear down an instance which is no longer required.
+.PP
+The message returns an integer flag.
+A zero value means that the instance is safe to deallocate.
+A nonzero value means that the instance should not be deallocated,
+and that it is safe for the caller to simply forget about it.
+This simple protocol may be used, for example,
+to implement a reference-counting system.
+.PP
+This message uses a custom method combination
+which works like the standard method combination
+except that default behaviour is invoked if
+no primary or around method overrides.
+This default behaviour is to execute
+each superclass's teardown fragments,
+most specific first,
+and then return zero to indicate
+that the object is ready for deallocation.
+Teardown fragments defined by the same class
+are processed in the order in which they appear
+in the class definition.
+.PP
+It is usual to provide complex teardown behaviour as
+.B before
+methods.
+Logic to decide whether to allow deallocation
+is usually implemented as
+.B around
+methods.
.
.SS The SodClass class
The
.B size_t initsz;
The size in bytes required to store an instance of the class.
.TP
+.B size_t align;
+A sufficient alignment for the class's instance storage.
+.TP
.BI "void *(*imprint)(void *" p );
A pointer to a function:
given a pointer
The function returns its argument
.IR p .
.TP
-.BI "void *(*init)(void *" p );
-A pointer to a function:
-given a pointer
-.I p
-to an imprinted instance,
-initialize all of its slots for which initializers are defined.
-Other slots are left untouched.
-The function returns its argument
-.IR p .
-.TP
.B size_t n_supers;
The number of direct superclasses.
(This is zero exactly in the case of
\h'6n'} \fIc\fB;
\h'4n'} \fIc\fB;
\h'4n'\fR...\fB
-\h'4n'struct \fIH\fB__ichain_\fIh\fB \fIh\fB;
+\h'4n'struct \fIA\fB__ichain_\fIh\fB \fIa\fB;
\h'2n'} \fIh\fB;
\h'2n'union \fIB\fB__ichainu_\fIi\fB \fIi\fB;
\h'2n'\fR...\fB
superclasses
.IR A
in the same chain in some (unimportant) order.
-A `pointer to
-.IR C '
-is always assumed
-(and, indeed, defined in C's type system)
-to be a pointer to the
-.B struct
-.IB C __ichain_ h \fR.
+The (somewhat obtuse) purpose of this union is to
+engage the `common initial sequence' rule of
+C99 (clause 6.5.2.3).
.PP
The
.B ichain
.IB C __islots
.IB c ;
.PP
+A `pointer to
+.IR C '
+is always assumed
+(and, indeed, defined in C's type system)
+to be a pointer to the
+.B struct
+.IB C __ichain_ h \fR.
+.PP
Finally, the
.B islots
structure simply contains one member for each slot defined by
.I different
structures.
.PP
-The instance layout split neatly into disjoint chains.
+The instance layout splits neatly into disjoint chains.
This is necessary because
each
.B ichain
.ft P
.fi
.PP
+In the following,
+let
+.I M
+be the metaclass of
+.IR C .
+.PP
The outer layer is a
.B union
.IB C __vtu_ h
.I M
in the same chain as
.IR J .
-Then, if there is currently no class pointer of type
-.IR Q ,
+If there is currently no class pointer
+for the chain headed by
+.IR J ,
then add a member
.RS
.IP
.B islots
structure within
.IR M 's
-class object.
+class object,
+where
+.I Q
+is the most specific superclass of
+.I M
+in the same chain as
+.IR J .
.RE
.hP \*o
Examine the superclass chains of
.B #define
.IB C __class
.BI (& C __classobj. j . r )
+.br
+.B #define
+.IB C __cls_ k
+.BI (& C __classobj. k . n )
+.br
+\&...
.PP
The exported symbol
.IB C __classobj
i.e., the metaclass of the least specific superclass of
.IR C ;
usually this is
-.BR "const SodClass *" .
+.BR "const SodClass\ *" .
+For each chain of
+.IR C 's
+metaclass, a macro
+.IB C __cls_ k
+is defined, usable as a pointer of type
+.B const
+.IR N \ \c
+.BR * ,
+where
+.I K
+and
+.I N
+are the chain's head and tail classes
+(i.e., the least- and most-specific classes in the chain)
+respectively;
+this macro is
+.I omitted
+if
+.IR N "\ =\ " R ,
+i.e., in the common case where
+.IR C 's
+metaclass is precisely the root metaclass,
+since the existing
+.IB C __class
+macro is already sufficient.
.
.\"--------------------------------------------------------------------------
.SH SEE ALSO