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  4. Object initializers. [modified]

Object initializers. [modified]

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  • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

    class Foo
    {
    public string Description { get; set; }
    public String Name { get; set; }
    }

    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
    public Form1()
    {
    InitializeComponent();
    }

    private void InitFoo()
    {
    Foo foo = new Foo() { Description = Name = "name" };
    }
    }

    After running InitFoo method foo.Name is not initialized. Can you spot the bug? You can see answer at my blog post: Object Initializers and Possible Bugs[^]

    Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

    modified on Friday, September 19, 2008 2:19 AM

    realJSOPR Offline
    realJSOPR Offline
    realJSOP
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    I didn't know you could do this (citing the correct way to do it):

    Foo foo = new Foo() { Description="Blah", Name="name"};

    Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique.

    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
    -----
    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

    G P R J 4 Replies Last reply
    0
    • realJSOPR realJSOP

      I didn't know you could do this (citing the correct way to do it):

      Foo foo = new Foo() { Description="Blah", Name="name"};

      Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique.

      "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
      -----
      "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

      G Offline
      G Offline
      Giorgi Dalakishvili
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

      I didn't know you could do this: Foo foo = new Foo() { Description = Name = "name" };

      You can't. But in this case it compiles. That's why it's a subtle bug :)

      Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

      realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • M Mirko1980

        That was subtle! Actually Visual Studio tooltips help in spotting it. Another way to spot it is to change the assignment to the following:

        Foo foo = new Foo() { Name = Description = "name" };

        Initially I tought the problem was the order of assignement, so I inverted it. Well the result was somewhat surprising :-D

        G Offline
        G Offline
        Giorgi Dalakishvili
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        yes, changing the assignment really helps :)

        Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

          John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

          I didn't know you could do this: Foo foo = new Foo() { Description = Name = "name" };

          You can't. But in this case it compiles. That's why it's a subtle bug :)

          Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

          realJSOPR Offline
          realJSOPR Offline
          realJSOP
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          When I said "I didn't know you could do this", I was talking about initializing the properties when instantiating the object.

          "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
          -----
          "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

          G 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • realJSOPR realJSOP

            When I said "I didn't know you could do this", I was talking about initializing the properties when instantiating the object.

            "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
            -----
            "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

            G Offline
            G Offline
            Giorgi Dalakishvili
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            Oh my mistake. It's a new feature in c# 3.0 called object initializers.

            Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

            P 1 Reply Last reply
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            • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

              Oh my mistake. It's a new feature in c# 3.0 called object initializers.

              Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

              P Offline
              P Offline
              PIEBALDconsult
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              Ah, more new "features" to avoid. I wish they'd add the features the I want.

              R 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • realJSOPR realJSOP

                I didn't know you could do this (citing the correct way to do it):

                Foo foo = new Foo() { Description="Blah", Name="name"};

                Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique.

                "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                -----
                "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                P Offline
                P Offline
                Paul Conrad
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique.

                I second that.

                "The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon "Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

                  class Foo
                  {
                  public string Description { get; set; }
                  public String Name { get; set; }
                  }

                  public partial class Form1 : Form
                  {
                  public Form1()
                  {
                  InitializeComponent();
                  }

                  private void InitFoo()
                  {
                  Foo foo = new Foo() { Description = Name = "name" };
                  }
                  }

                  After running InitFoo method foo.Name is not initialized. Can you spot the bug? You can see answer at my blog post: Object Initializers and Possible Bugs[^]

                  Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

                  modified on Friday, September 19, 2008 2:19 AM

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  leppie
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  Giorgi Dalakishvili wrote:

                  Foo foo = new Foo() { Description = Name = "name" };

                  OMG! I didn't even know that was legal syntax! (but I can see it now) Good spot :)

                  xacc.ide - now with TabsToSpaces support
                  IronScheme - 1.0 alpha 4a out now (29 May 2008)
                  ((lambda (x) `((lambda (x) ,x) ',x)) '`((lambda (x) ,x) ',x))

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • realJSOPR realJSOP

                    I didn't know you could do this (citing the correct way to do it):

                    Foo foo = new Foo() { Description="Blah", Name="name"};

                    Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique.

                    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                    -----
                    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Roger Alsing 0
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    What do you mean with this?:

                    John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                    Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique

                    It's not like you are moving the ctor out from the class and into the initializer. the initializer is the initializer, configuring stuff that are not default values. eg: Person you = new Person() {FirstName = "John",LastName="Simmons"}; Ofcourse you could write your own constructor that takes those as in params. But there are cases where a class has alot of properties and you are not likely to provide a constructor with every possible set of in param combination for those. Or did I completely misinterpret what you said?

                    My Blog

                    realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • R Roger Alsing 0

                      What do you mean with this?:

                      John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                      Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique

                      It's not like you are moving the ctor out from the class and into the initializer. the initializer is the initializer, configuring stuff that are not default values. eg: Person you = new Person() {FirstName = "John",LastName="Simmons"}; Ofcourse you could write your own constructor that takes those as in params. But there are cases where a class has alot of properties and you are not likely to provide a constructor with every possible set of in param combination for those. Or did I completely misinterpret what you said?

                      My Blog

                      realJSOPR Offline
                      realJSOPR Offline
                      realJSOP
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      This falls neatly under the category of "Just because you *can* do it, doesn't mean you *should* do it". Why is that better than writing the appropriate constructor and using new Person("John", "Simmons");? Further, an appropriately designed class initializes all of its properties when it's instantiated. This new feature of .Net appears to propagate lazy programmers.

                      "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                      -----
                      "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                      CPalliniC R P J 4 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • realJSOPR realJSOP

                        This falls neatly under the category of "Just because you *can* do it, doesn't mean you *should* do it". Why is that better than writing the appropriate constructor and using new Person("John", "Simmons");? Further, an appropriately designed class initializes all of its properties when it's instantiated. This new feature of .Net appears to propagate lazy programmers.

                        "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                        -----
                        "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                        CPalliniC Offline
                        CPalliniC Offline
                        CPallini
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                        This new feature of .Net appears to propagate lazy programmers.

                        All the .NET thing goes in such a direction... :-D

                        If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
                        This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
                        [My articles]

                        In testa che avete, signor di Ceprano?

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • realJSOPR realJSOP

                          This falls neatly under the category of "Just because you *can* do it, doesn't mean you *should* do it". Why is that better than writing the appropriate constructor and using new Person("John", "Simmons");? Further, an appropriately designed class initializes all of its properties when it's instantiated. This new feature of .Net appears to propagate lazy programmers.

                          "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                          -----
                          "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Roger Alsing 0
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                          Why is that better than writing the appropriate constructor

                          As I said in my first post. Lets assume that your class contains 20 properties, all of those recieve default values in the default ctor. And the user only wants to init custom values in 5 of them.. (Think winforms control or such, eg a grid) Should you create a constructor for each possible combination of properties that the user _might_ want to set? No way..

                          My Blog

                          D 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • R Roger Alsing 0

                            John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                            Why is that better than writing the appropriate constructor

                            As I said in my first post. Lets assume that your class contains 20 properties, all of those recieve default values in the default ctor. And the user only wants to init custom values in 5 of them.. (Think winforms control or such, eg a grid) Should you create a constructor for each possible combination of properties that the user _might_ want to set? No way..

                            My Blog

                            D Offline
                            D Offline
                            Dan Neely
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            Not to mention if they're all the same type you can't create a ctors for all of them. That said, this is just a return of optional parameters. Personally I'd prefer a syntax of FooBar myFooBar = new FooBar(1,2,,,5,,,8,,,,,,15,,,,19,20); and a ctor that looked like FooBar(optional int param1, optional int param2, optional int param3,.... ) {...}

                            Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • realJSOPR realJSOP

                              This falls neatly under the category of "Just because you *can* do it, doesn't mean you *should* do it". Why is that better than writing the appropriate constructor and using new Person("John", "Simmons");? Further, an appropriately designed class initializes all of its properties when it's instantiated. This new feature of .Net appears to propagate lazy programmers.

                              "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                              -----
                              "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              PIEBALDconsult
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              Ten! Or we should be able to use something like the syntax that Attributes use.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • P PIEBALDconsult

                                Ah, more new "features" to avoid. I wish they'd add the features the I want.

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                RugbyLeague
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                I am still holding out for them to add a DoAllMyWork class ;P

                                D 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • R RugbyLeague

                                  I am still holding out for them to add a DoAllMyWork class ;P

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  Dan Neely
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  You can make one by inheriting HireRentACoder and implementing CheapOutsourcing().

                                  Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                                  R 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • D Dan Neely

                                    You can make one by inheriting HireRentACoder and implementing CheapOutsourcing().

                                    Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    RugbyLeague
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    Do you implement CheapOutsourcing() in VB thus: Me = Nothing

                                    D 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • R RugbyLeague

                                      Do you implement CheapOutsourcing() in VB thus: Me = Nothing

                                      D Offline
                                      D Offline
                                      Dan Neely
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      Note quite. Me.SelfWorth = Nothing

                                      Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • G Giorgi Dalakishvili

                                        Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

                                        You can't initialize objects like this.

                                        That's correct but the above code compiles. But foo.Name is not initialized. That's why it is a subtle bug ;)

                                        Giorgi Dalakishvili #region signature my articles My blog[^] #endregion

                                        L Offline
                                        L Offline
                                        led mike
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        Giorgi Dalakishvili wrote:

                                        That's why it is a subtle bug

                                        Sure. It's a bug that is created by a developer that does not understand that Properties are NOT the same thing as member variables.

                                        led mike

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • realJSOPR realJSOP

                                          I didn't know you could do this (citing the correct way to do it):

                                          Foo foo = new Foo() { Description="Blah", Name="name"};

                                          Putting the constructor body here is, IMHO, bad programming technique.

                                          "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                          -----
                                          "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          Jorgen Sigvardsson
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          It translates to

                                          Foo foo = new Foo();
                                          foo.Description = "Blah";
                                          foo.Name = "name";

                                          How's that bad programming technique?

                                          -- Kein Mitleid Für Die Mehrheit

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