How to prevent inherited classes instances - c#

I want to force any class not to be able to create a new instance if it inherits a specific base class, so how this base class should look like?

The following code is in java. just to give you an Example
Base class has an exception on the constructor.
public class BaseClass
{
public BaseClass()
{
throw new AssertionError();
}
}
The child class extending the base class but if you create an object of it it will give u an exception.
public class MainClass extends BaseClass
{
public MainClass()
{
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MainClass c = new MainClass();
}
}

You want to seal your base class.
public sealed class BaseClass
{
public BaseClass(){};
}
public class SubClass : BaseClass
{
public SubClass(){};
}
This will throw a compiler error because you cannot inherit from a sealed base.

You can't specify that in the baseclass, any deriving class is self responseable, if it wants to present the ability to be derived from, than you can't do anything about it.

you can declare the base class as const - that way other classes cant extend it.

You can't do this. Please specify why you want to do this.

Related

How to require an implementation of an abstract class in C#?

I want to build a class that would have a property, in which there is an instance of a class, which implements an abstract class. Here's and example.
public class MyClass {
public MyDerivedClassA derived;
public void mainClassUtility () {
derived.foo();
}
}
public abstract class MyAbstractBaseClass {
public abstract void foo();
}
public class MyDerivedClassA : MyAbstractBaseClass {
public override void foo(){
return;
}
}
public class MyDerivedClassB : MyAbstractBaseClass
{
public override void foo()
{
return;
}
}
Basically, I want to make sure the object I'm using is derived from an abstract class and implements all the methods I will need to use. There will be many implementations of the abstract class and depending on the current state of the program, MyClass might be using different implementations of the ABC. I want to write the program in a way, that no matter what implementation of the ABC is currently being used, there is a way to call it's methods by MyClass. What would be the best solution to this problem?
Unless I'm misunderstanding the question, you're pretty much there. Have MyClass expect a property of the abstract base class and you should be all set.
using System;
public class Program
{
public static void Main()
{
var myClassOne = new MyClass(new MyDerivedClassA());
var myClassTwo = new MyClass(new MyDerivedClassB());
myClassOne.mainClassUtility();
myClassTwo.mainClassUtility();
}
public class MyClass
{
public MyAbstractBaseClass Derived;
public MyClass(MyAbstractBaseClass derived)
{
Derived = derived;
}
public void mainClassUtility ()
{
Derived.foo();
}
}
public abstract class MyAbstractBaseClass
{
public abstract void foo();
}
public class MyDerivedClassA : MyAbstractBaseClass
{
public override void foo()
{
Console.WriteLine("I am MyDerivedClassA");
return;
}
}
public class MyDerivedClassB : MyAbstractBaseClass
{
public override void foo()
{
Console.WriteLine("I am MyDerivedClassB");
return;
}
}
}
How to require an implementation of an abstract class in C#?
You can not instantiate a abstract class - and thus can not use it for most cases. Except as variable/argument/generic type argument. You need to make a concrete (non-abstract) class that inherits from it. You can only use the abstract class as a variable/argument type. To guarantee that only stuff that inherits from it can be used there.
Basically, I want to make sure the object I'm using is derived from an abstract class and implements all the methods I will need to use.
Then use the abstract class as type argument. It means only instaces of the abstract class (of wich there can be no instance) or instances of classes that inherit from it (that somebody else writes) can be used at that place.
Note that Abstract classes and Interfaces overlap in nearly all uses. There is a miriad small differences, but I do not think they mater. The only big difference I can see, is one of exclusivity:
a class can implement as many Interfaces as it wants.
You can only inherit from one abstract class. that means it is for a primary, exclusive purpose. That way you prevent some dumb ideas, like someone trying to make a Windows Form that is also a DBConnection.

C# Derive From Generic Base Class (T : U<T>)

I am trying to find a way to derive a class from a generic base class. Say:
sealed public class Final : Base<Something>
{
}
public class Base<T> : T
where T : Anything // <-- Generics do not allow this
{
}
In C# this does not seem to be possible.
Is there any other solution to achieve something similar to this?
I found this StackOverflow question, but it doesn't seem to solve the issue, or at least I do not understand how it should.
EDIT:
The result I'd like to get is to be able to do something like that:
Anything[] anything;
//Assign some Instances to anything
foreach(Final final in anything){
//do something with final
}
The result I'd like to get is to be able to do something like that:
Anything[] anything;
//Assign some Instances to anything
foreach(Final final in anything){
//do something with final
}
Your foreach loop suggests this: class Anything : Final { … }.
This obviously turns around the inheritance hierarchy as you planned and named it. (You cannot have cycles in your inheritance relationships).
public class Base<T> : T where T : Anything { …
Let me elaborate on this part for a bit. I'll reduce your example even further to just class Base<T> : T.
This is not possible, for good reason. Imagine this:
class Base<T> : T
{
public override string Frobble()
{
Fiddle();
return "*" + base.Frobble() + "*";
}
}
class A
{
public sealed string Frobble() { … }
}
class B
{
}
class C
{
public virtual string Frobble() { … }
}
abstract class D
{
public abstract void Fiddle();
public virtual string Frobble() { … }
}
class E
{
public void Fiddle() { … }
public virtual string Frobble() { … }
}
You get all kinds of absurd situations if class Base<T> : T were allowed.
Base<A> would be absurd because Frobble cannot be overridden in a derived class.
Base<B> would be absurd because you cannot override a method that
doesn't exist in the base class.
Base<C> doesn't work because there is no Fiddle method to call.
Base<D> would not work because you cannot call an abstract method.
Only Base<E> would work.
How would the compiler ever know how to correctly compile Base<T> and analyse code that depends on it?
The point is that you cannot derive from a class that is not known at compile-time. T is a parameter, i.e. a variable, a placeholder. So class Base<T> : T is basically like saying, "Base<T> inherits from some (unknown) class". Class inheritance is a type relationship that requires both involved types to be known at compile-time. (Actually, that's not a super-precise statement because you can inherit from a generic type such as class SpecialList<T> : List<T>. But at the very least, the derived class has to know what members (methods, properties, etc.) are available in the base class.)
Is this what you want?
sealed public class Final : Base<int>{
}
public class Base<T> {
}
You could only do this if Final would be a generic class as well, like so:
public sealed class Final<T> : Base<T>
Then you can put a type restraint on T as either a class, to allow only reference types as T, or an instance of Base<T>, to allow only types that derive from Base<T>:
public class Base<T> where T : Base<T>
I don't know the context of this question, but I ran into same question with a project where I had to make it possible to extend the base class which is already derived by many others. Like:
abstract class Base {}
class FinalA : Base {}
class FinalB : Base {}
// Now create extended base class and expect final classes to be extended as well:
class BetterBase : Base {}
The solution was to create common ancestor and connect through properties:
abstract class Foundation {}
abstract class Base : Foundation
{
Foundation Final { get; }
}
class FinalA : Foundation {}
class FinalB : Foundation {}
class FinalC : Foundation
{
Foundation Base { get; }
}
// Here's the desired extension:
class BetterBase : Base {}
Now BetterBase has connection to final class and if needed, the final classes could have connection with (Better)Base also, as shown in FinalC class.

What would be the right modifier?

I have the following class with some methods and I would like to use this as a base class of another class.
public class BaseClass
{
public string DoWork(string str)
{
// some codes...
}
// other methods...
}
I don't want this class to be instantiated, but the derived class should still use the original implementation of the methods of its base class.
Is it possible? What should be my modifier?
Since you don't want this class to be instantiated, make it an abstract class. You can still have implementation on the class.
abstract
snippet,
public abstract class BaseClass
{
public virtual string DoWork(string str)
{
// can have implementation here
// and classes that inherits can overide this method because of virtual.
}
// other methods...
}
Make BaseClass abstract:
public abstract class BaseClass
{
// Only available to BaseClass
private string _myString;
public string DoWork(string str)
{
// Available to everyone
return _myString;
}
protected void DoWorkInternal() {
// Only available to classes who inherit base class
}
}
This way, you can define your own code within BaseClass - but it cannot be initialized directly, it must be inherited from.

Instantiate a class (or derived) with internal constructor

let's say I have a class defined in an assembly with:
public class BaseClass
{
internal BaseClass()
{
}
}
And in another assembly, I would like to instanciate this class with :
BaseClass c = new BaseClass();
I get the CS0143 error.
Trying another way, I try to create a derived class of the first one :
public class DerivedClass : BaseClass
{
}
but same error.
The BaseClass is not sealed. How can I instantiate this class or a derived one? Of course, I can't modify the BaseClass.
You'll have to use reflection to get the internal constructor and invoke it:
var ci = typeof(BaseClass).GetConstructor(BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.NonPublic, null, Type.EmptyTypes, null);
var instance = (BaseClass)ci.Invoke(new object[0]);
Since the existence of the constructor is only discovered at run-time, this approach will break if the constructor of BaseClass is changed or removed.
1) You want an actual instance of the base class:
There needs to be some method in the assembly that it's in that constructs it for you. This would normally be called a "factory". It might look like this:
public class BaseFactory
{
public static BaseClass Create() { return new BaseClass(); } //may also add other creation logic
}
Note that such a creation method may even be in BaseClass itself, or it could be in another class. (If the constructor was private it would need to be in the class itself.)
2) You want an instance of the derived class. (Perhaps you're not supposed to be able to construct the base class. If this is true it probably should be abstract.)
public class Derived : BaseClass { }
public class Foo
{
public void Bar() { Derived d = new Derived();}
}
It's hard to tell from your question if DerivedClass is in the same assembly as BaseClass. If it is, just instantiate the derived class:
BaseClass c = new DerivedClass();
And, like Branko stated, if you have control of the project in which BaseClass lives, you can use InternalsVisibleTo.

Cannot use polymorphism because of generic base class

I create base generic class with no fields with just one method
public class Base<T> where T:class
{
public static T Create()
{
// create T somehow
}
}
public class Derived1 : Base<Derived1>
{
}
public class Derived2 : Base<Derived2>
{
}
public class Program
{
bool SomeFunction()
{
// Here I need reference to base class
Base baseref; // error here
switch(somecondition)
{
case 1:
baseref = Derived1.Create();
break;
case 2:
baseref = Derived1.Create();
break
}
// pass baseref somewhere
}
}
An obvious option would be converting base class to interface, but this is not possible because interface cannot contain static methods.
I think I need some intermediate base class. Please suggest
You must remove the generic parameter from the Base class, you can move it to just the Create method:
public class Base
{
public static T Create<T>() where T : class
{
return Activator.CreateInstance<T>();
}
}
public class Derived1 : Base
{
}
public class Derived2 : Base
{
}
Preliminary Assessment
With this statement,
public class Derived1 : Base<Derived1> {
you're using Derived1 in two different ways according to the base class.
You're effectively telling the C# compiler that Derived1 both:
inherits Base
and Base uses instances of Derived1 through non-inheritance means.
This is not wrong (if that's what you really want), but it's unusual for most programming scenarios; you normally choose one or the other. However the benefit of your logic is: not only do you have an implicit instance of Derived1 through inheritance (same for any other derived class), but the base class can also handle other external instances of that same derived type through the type parameter <T>
One problem I see in the Base class is it turns into a kind of circular scenario when using the factory method as intended, because, to support all derived classes it would need to support something like class Base<T> where T:Base<T>. That's next to impossible to declare because you would have to say in a circular fashion: Base<Base<Base<!!!>>> baseref = null; where !!! represents an infinite number of the same.
One Solution...
One possible (and strong solution) is to move the Type parameter from the class to the factory Create method and restrict its usage to the Base class type like so:
using System;
public abstract class Base
{
public static T Create<T>() where T : Base
{
return Activator.CreateInstance<T>();
}
}
Note: I have made the base class abstract which restricts instantiation to the derived types; however you can still use base class references (see switch statement usage below).
These derived classes still inherit from base.
public class Derived1 : Base
{
}
public class Derived2 : Base
{
}
Your factory method is restricted to create only instances of derived types. The logic has been swapped around so the derived type is given to the factory method instead of the factory method being called on it.
public class Program
{
bool SomeFunction()
{
Base baseref = null;
switch(DateTime.Now.Second)
{
case 1:
baseref = Base.Create<Derived1>(); // OK
break;
case 2:
baseref = Base.Create<Derived2>(); //OK
break;
case 60:
baseref = Base.Create<string>(); //COMPILE ERR - good because string is not a derived class
break;
}
// pass baseref somewhere
}
}
public abstract class Base
{
}
public class Base<T> : Base where T : class
{
public static T Create()
{
// create T somehow
}
}
public class Derived1 : Base<Derived1> // also inherits non-generic Base type
{
}
public class Derived2 : Base<Derived2> // also inherits non-generic Base type
{
}
How about creating an interface and having the abstract class implement the interface?

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