PROPOSAL: Return 'this'

[Marek Kozieł]

2009/3/26 Tom Hawtin <Thomas.Hawtin at sun.com>:
> Marek Kozieł wrote:
>
>> MAJOR ADVANTAGE:
>> Simplification of “return this” statement.
>> 'void' can be easy replaced with 'this'.
>>
>> MAJOR BENEFIT(s): It would prevent NullPointerException, and make some
>> 'builder' like interfaces look really clear and simple.
>
> My problem with this is that it is an attempt to fix a hack due to a
> language problem with a language hack.
>
> The underlying problem is that Java does not have a concise syntax for
> builders. The usual hack is for builders to return this and clients to use
> method chaining. This solution makes the hack easier. A better solution
> would be direct, explicit support for builders in some form.
>
> Also the variant of this proposal that client-side reinterprets returning
> void to return this, would interfere to some extent with covariantly
> returning void when overriding a return of Void.
>
> Tom Hawtin
>

This is some point.
I do not like it just because in need to be served outside, which
increase interactions.
Notice that this will work totally in unexpected way when:

we have a.jar & b.jar
while both are compiled and b.jar use a.jar, than some one change (in a.jar )
    interface A{ this some(); }
to:
    interface A{ A some(); }
because he want to return other object...

this would work in pretty unexpected way.

BTW.
Did you wander if Interfaces / abstract classes should be final  (with
explicit declared classes/interfaces available for inheritance), like:
final interface A allow Ab, Ac{...}
this was my idea connected to inheritance security.

-- 
Pozdrowionka. / Regards.
Lasu aka Marek Kozieł

http://lasu2string.blogspot.com/