Objective-C class for working with fractions - objective-c

i'm trying to learn programming, and the language i chose to start is objective c!
i'm currently studying from : Programing in Objective-C Fourth edition, and am a bit stuck at the classes chapter.
we have the following code :
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#interface Fraction: NSObject;
-(void) print;
-(void) setNumerator: (int) n;
-(void) setDenominator: (int) d;
#end
#implementation Fraction
{
int numerator;
int denominator;
}
-(void) print
{
NSLog(#"%i/%i" , numerator, denominator);
}
-(void) setNumerator:(int)n
{
numerator = n;
}
-(void) setDenominator:(int)d
{
denominator = d;
}
#end
int main (int argc, char * argv[])
{
#autoreleasepool {
Fraction *myFraction;
myFraction = [Fraction alloc];
myFraction = [Fraction init];
[myFraction setDenominator:1];
[myFraction setNumerator:3];
NSLog(#"The value of myFraction is :");
[myFraction print];
}
return 0;
}
I copied the code from the book, in hopes to help me understand it better, but for some reason when i try to run i get the following message :
2014-04-25 22:23:28.374 cocoTerminal[1751:303] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '*** +[Fraction<0x1000011d8> init]: cannot init a class object.'
*** First throw call stack:
(
0 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff8f5a825c __exceptionPreprocess + 172
1 libobjc.A.dylib 0x00007fff86403e75 objc_exception_throw + 43
2 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff8f5ab490 +[NSObject(NSObject) dealloc] + 0
3 cocoTerminal 0x0000000100000dde main + 110
4 libdyld.dylib 0x00007fff8d43a5fd start + 1
)
libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
(lldb)
If someone would be so kind to explain what and why is causing the error, to a complete noob i will be forever grateful !

You need to initilise the object after allocating it.
myFraction = [[Fraction alloc] init];
For a good explanation on why you need to do so, check here.

This line:
myFraction = [Fraction init];
is what is giving rise to the cannot init a class object exception. It should be:
myFraction = [myFraction init];
You send alloc messages to classes, but init messages to instances of classes. You can't send init to a class object, as the error clearly states. Sending alloc to a class gives you an instance of that class, and that instance is what you should be sending init to.
As others have said, combining the two lines into Fraction * myFraction = [[Fraction alloc] init]; is the more usual way of doing it, but the way you're doing it is not actually wrong, once you send the init message to the correct thing.

Related

Uncaught exception NSInvalidArgumentException

i am using tutorialspoint.com for compiling objective c code
#interface Foo{
#public
NSInteger x;
}
-(int) apple;
-(void)setAge:(NSInteger)number;
#end
#implementation Foo
-(int)apple{return 5;}
-(void)setAge:(NSInteger)number{
self->x=number+1;
NSLog(#"%d",self->x);
}
#end
int main (int argc, const char * argv[]){
NSAutoreleasePool *myPool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
Foo *p = [[Foo alloc] init];NSInteger nine = 9;
[p setAge:nine];
[myPool drain];
return 0;
}
and i get this compilation error when i try to compile it:
main.m:41:3: warning: (Messages without a matching method signature
main.m:41:3: warning: will be assumed to return 'id' and accept
main.m:41:3: warning: '...' as arguments.)
Your class Foo has no base class (i. e. NSObject). Therefore +alloc and -init are not known for this class.
#interface Foo : NSObject {
…

How can I make a deep copy in Objective-C?

I'm learning ios development and I'm confused with deep copying in Objective-C.
For example,I have three class below. Now I want to deep copy ClassA, can anybody teach me to finish the copy method?
A:
#interface ClassA : NSObject <NSCopying>
#property (nonatomic, assign) int aInt;
#property (nonatomic, retain) ClassB *bClass;
#end
B:
#interface ClassB : NSObject <NSCopying>
#property (nonatomic, assign) int bInt;
#property (nonatomic, retain) ClassC *cClass;
#end
C:
#interface ClassC : NSObject <NSCopying>
#property (nonatomic, assign) int cInt;
#property (nonatomic, copy) NSString *str;
#end
Following the explanation at http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Copying_Objects_in_Objective-C
"This can be achieved by writing the object and its constituent elements to an archive and then reading back into the new object."
#implementation ClassA
- (id)copyWithZone:(NSZone*)zone{
NSData *buffer;
buffer = [NSKeyedArchiver archivedDataWithRootObject:self];
ClassA *copy = [NSKeyedUnarchiver unarchiveObjectWithData: buffer];
return copy;
}
#end
You should add the copyWithZone: method in each class you want to be copiable.
NB: I wrote this by hand, watch out for typos.
-(id) copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone
{
ClassA *object = [super copyWithZone:zone];
object.aInt = self.aInt;
object.bClass = [self.bClass copyWithZone:zone];
return object;
}
-(id) copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone
{
ClassB *object = [super copyWithZone:zone];
object.bInt = self.bInt;
object.cClass = [self.cClass copyWithZone:zone];
return object;
}
-(id) copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone
{
ClassC *object = [super copyWithZone:zone];
object.cInt = self.cInt;
object.str = [self.str copy];
return object;
}
Objective-C on iOS doesn’t offer any direct language or library construct to switch between a shallow and a deep copy. Each class defines what it means to “get its copy”:
#implementation ClassA
- (id) copyWithZone: (NSZone*) zone
{
ClassA *copy = [super copyWithZone:zone];
[copy setBClass:bClass]; // this would be a shallow copy
[copy setBClass:[bClass copy]]; // this would be a deep copy
return copy;
}
#end
Of course you would have to do the same decision in ClassB and ClassC. If I am not mistaken, the usual semantics for a copy in Objective-C is to return a shallow copy. See also this question about copying arrays for more discussion of the topic.
I had custom classes with long lists of properties, so I iterated over them:
#interface MyClass : NSObject <NSCopying>
#import <objc/runtime.h>
-(id) copyWithZone: (NSZone *) zone {
MyClass *myCopy = [[MyClass alloc] init];
//deepCopy
unsigned int numOfProperties;
objc_property_t *properties = class_copyPropertyList([self class], &numOfProperties);
for (int i = 0; i < numOfProperties; i++) {
objc_property_t property = properties[i];
NSString *propertyName = [[NSString alloc]initWithCString:property_getName(property) encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];
[adressCopy setValue:[[self valueForKey:propertyName] copy] forKey:propertyName];
}
return myCopy;
}
All customClassProperties will need to implement this as well.
This could be of some help. The link shows how to do the deep copy using NSKeyedArchiver
http://iphonecodecenter.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/difference-between-shallow-copy-and-deep-copy/
Objective-C's copy and copyWithZone specifications are bogus and dangerous and should not be used.
--!-- At least not when used with ARC (Automatic Reference Counting) (2016-08-23) --!--
The code will lead to writing out of the bounds of memory / buffer overflows.
Instead I present a method to safely copy objects initAsShallowCopy and deepCopy.
See my test results in code below:
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#interface ClassA : NSObject
{
#public
NSMutableString* A_Name;
NSInteger A_NSInteger;
long int A_int;
float A_float;
}
-(id)init;
-(id)copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone; // DON'T USE copy OR copyWithZone, unless you ignore Apple's guidelines and always make shallow copies in line with the correct example code here for initAsShallowCopy (but you return a copy instead of being a copy)
-(id)initAsShallowCopy:(ClassA *)original; // Correct way to make a shallow copy
-(void)deepCopy; // Correct way to make a deep copy (Call initAsShallowCopy first)
#end
#interface ClassB : ClassA
{
#public
NSMutableString* B_Name;
NSInteger B_NSInteger;
long int B_int;
float B_float;
}
-(id)init;
-(id)copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone; // DON'T USE copy OR copyWithZone, unless you ignore Apple's guidelines and always make shallow copies in line with the correct example code here for initAsShallowCopy (but you return a copy instead of being a copy)
-(id)initAsShallowCopy:(ClassB *)original; // Correct way to make a shallow copy
-(void)deepCopy; // Correct way to make a deep copy (Call initAsShallowCopy first)
-(void)print;
#end
#interface ClassCWithoutCopy : NSObject
{
#public
NSMutableString* C_Name;
NSInteger C_NSInteger;
long int C_int;
float C_float;
}
-(id)init;
-(void)print;
#end
#implementation ClassA
-(id)init
{
if ( self = [super init] ) { // initialize NSObject
//A_Name = [[NSMutableString alloc] init];
//[A_Name setString:#"I am inited to A"];
A_Name = [NSMutableString stringWithString:#"I am inited to A"];
A_NSInteger = 1;
A_int = 1;
A_float = 1.0;
return self;
}
return nil;
}
/*
FROM https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/Cocoa/Reference/Foundation/Classes/NSObject_Class/#//apple_ref/occ/instm/NSObject/copy
-- NSObject Class Reference --
- (id)copy
Discussion
This is a convenience method for classes that adopt the NSCopying protocol. An exception is raised if there is
no implementation for copyWithZone:.
NSObject does not itself support the NSCopying protocol. Subclasses must support the protocol and
implement the copyWithZone: method. A subclass version of the copyWithZone: method should send the message to super first,
to incorporate its implementation, unless the subclass descends directly from NSObject.
+ copyWithZone:
Discussion
This method exists so class objects can be used in situations where you need an object that conforms to the NSCopying protocol.
For example, this method lets you use a class object as a key to an NSDictionary object.
You should not override this method.
CONCLUSION
copy says we should incorporate the implementation of copyWithZone, while copyWithZone says we should not override it.. So what is it?
Looking at copyWithZone, we see that it is a class method (+), meaning it has not access to its instantiated members.
So maybe they mean, we should not override the class method (+), but we should implement its instance method -copyWithZone:
!!In any case we should not implement copy, because it is just made for convenience by Apple!!
FROM: https://developer.apple.com/library/tvos/documentation/Cocoa/Reference/Foundation/Protocols/NSCopying_Protocol/index.html
-- NSCopying --
Your options for implementing this protocol are as follows:
1) Implement NSCopying using alloc and init... in classes that don’t inherit copyWithZone:.
2) Implement NSCopying by invoking the superclass’s copyWithZone: when NSCopying behavior is inherited.
If the superclass implementation might use the NSCopyObject function, make explicit assignments to
pointer instance variables for retained objects.
3) Implement NSCopying by retaining the original instead of creating a new copy when the class and its contents are immutable.
CONCLUSION:
From 1) NSObject does not implement copyWithZone so any class that you make that should support copying should call [[Class alloc] init].
From 2) Any subclass of a copyable object should call [super copyWithZone:zone], but NOT [[Class alloc] init] !!!!!!
*/
-(id) copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone
{
ClassA *CopiedObject = [[ClassA alloc] init];
if(CopiedObject){
CopiedObject->A_Name = [A_Name copy];
CopiedObject->A_NSInteger = A_NSInteger;
CopiedObject->A_int = A_int;
CopiedObject->A_float = A_float;
return CopiedObject;
}
return nil;
}
-(id)initAsShallowCopy:(ClassA *)original // Correct way to make a shallow copy
{
/* Why this has to be done like this:
It is very annoying to assign every variable explicitely.
However this has to be done, in order for ARC (Automatic Reference Counting) (2016-08-23) to work.
The compiler needs to be aware of any reference made to an object or reference cleared to an object in order to keep track of the
reference counts.
The danger is that when you add a variable to you class later on, you must not forget to update your initAsShallowCopy function and
possibly your DeepCopy function.
It would be much nicer if you could just do:
*self = *original;
But that gives compiler error:
/DeepCopyTest/main.m:135:9: Cannot assign to class object ('ClassA' invalid)
So therefore there is also no raw memory copy between objects,
so we are stuck with writing out each member variable explicitely.
*/
if ( self = [super init] ) { // initialize NSObject
A_Name = original->A_Name;
A_NSInteger = original->A_NSInteger;
A_int = original->A_int;
A_float = original->A_float;
return self;
}
return nil;
}
-(void)deepCopy; // Correct way to make a deep copy (Call initAsShallowCopy first)
{
/* Luckily now, we only have to duplicate the objects that require a deep copy.
So we don't have to write out all the floats, ints and NSIntegers, etcetera. Thus only the pointers (*) to objects.
*/
A_Name = [A_Name copy];
}
#end
#implementation ClassB
-(id)init
{
if ( self = [super init] ) { // initialize ClassA
B_Name = [NSMutableString stringWithString:#"I am inited to B"];
B_NSInteger = 2;
B_int = 2;
B_float = 2.0;
return self;
}
return nil;
}
-(id) copyWithZone:(NSZone *) zone
{
//ClassA *CopiedObject = [[ClassA alloc] init]; We are not a direct descendant from NSObject, so don't call alloc-init
// instead call the super copyWithZone
ClassB *CopiedObject = [super copyWithZone:zone]; /* Using ARC (Automatic Reference Counting) 2016-08-23:
THIS IS A MASSIVE BUFFER OVERFLOW/WRITING OUT OF BOUNDS RISK:
Since super now allocates the object, it will now only allocate an object of size ClassA
and effectively allocate too little memory for the ClassB. Unless memory allocation is upgraded to work with magic for
Objective-C, DON'T USE copy or copyWithZone!!!!
*/
if(CopiedObject){
CopiedObject->B_Name = [B_Name copy];
CopiedObject->B_NSInteger = B_NSInteger;
CopiedObject->B_int = B_int;
CopiedObject->B_float = B_float;
return CopiedObject;
}
return nil;
}
-(id)initAsShallowCopy:(ClassB *)original // Correct way to make a shallow copy
{
if ( self = [super initAsShallowCopy:original] ) { // initialize ClassA
B_Name = original->B_Name;
B_NSInteger = original->B_NSInteger;
B_int = original->B_int;
B_float = original->B_float;
return self;
}
return nil;
}
-(void)deepCopy; // Correct way to make a deep copy (Call initAsShallowCopy first)
{
/* Luckily now, we only have to duplicate the objects that require a deep copy.
So we don't have to write out all the floats, ints and NSIntegers, etcetera. Thus only the pointers (*) to objects.
*/
[super deepCopy];
B_Name = [B_Name copy];
}
-(void)print
{
NSLog(#"A_Name=\"%#\", A_NSInteger=%ld,A_int=%ld,A_float=%f",A_Name,A_NSInteger,A_int,A_float);
NSLog(#"B_Name=\"%#\", B_NSInteger=%ld,B_int=%ld,B_float=%f",B_Name,B_NSInteger,B_int,B_float);
}
#end
#implementation ClassCWithoutCopy
-(id)init
{
if ( self = [super init] ) { // initialize NSObject
C_Name = [NSMutableString stringWithString:#"I am inited to C"];
C_NSInteger = 3;
C_int = 3;
C_float = 3.0;
return self;
}
return nil;
}
-(void)print
{
NSLog(#"C_Name=\"%#\", C_NSInteger=%ld,C_int=%ld,C_float=%f",C_Name,C_NSInteger,C_int,C_float);
}
#end
int main(int argc, const char * argv[]) {
#autoreleasepool {
ClassB *OriginalB;
ClassB *CopiedB;
#define USE_CORRECT_DEEP_COPY_AND_SHALLOW_COPY 1
#define USE_CLASSC_WITHOUT_COPY_TEST 0
#if(USE_CLASSC_WITHOUT_COPY_TEST)
ClassCWithoutCopy *OriginalC;
ClassCWithoutCopy *CopiedC;
OriginalC = [[ClassCWithoutCopy alloc] init];
CopiedC = [OriginalC copy]; /* Thread 1: signal SIGABRT: libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[ClassCWithoutCopy copyWithZone:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x100100450' */
//CopiedC = [ClassCWithoutCopy copyWithZone:nil]; /* DeepCopyTest/main.m:283:33: 'copyWithZone:' is unavailable: not available in automatic reference counting mode
*/
NSLog(#"OriginalC print:1");
[OriginalC print];
NSLog(#"CopiedC print:1");
[CopiedC print];
[OriginalC->C_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the original"];
OriginalC->C_NSInteger = 30;
OriginalC->C_int = 30;
OriginalC->C_float = 30.0;
NSLog(#"OriginalC print:2");
[OriginalC print];
NSLog(#"CopiedC print:2");
[CopiedC print];
#endif
#if(USE_CORRECT_DEEP_COPY_AND_SHALLOW_COPY)
OriginalB = [[ClassB alloc] init];
CopiedB = [[ClassB alloc] initAsShallowCopy:OriginalB];
NSLog(#"OriginalB print:1");
[OriginalB print];
NSLog(#"CopiedB print:1");
[CopiedB print];
[OriginalB->A_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the original"];
OriginalB->A_NSInteger = 10;
OriginalB->A_int = 10;
OriginalB->A_float = 10.0;
[OriginalB->B_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the original"];
OriginalB->B_NSInteger = 20;
OriginalB->B_int = 20;
OriginalB->B_float = 20.0;
NSLog(#"OriginalB print:2");
[OriginalB print];
NSLog(#"CopiedB print:2");
[CopiedB print];
// This works as expected: The values of OriginalB and CopiedB differ, but the shallow copied strings are the same.
// Now make a deep copy of CopiedB
[CopiedB deepCopy];
[OriginalB->A_Name appendString:#" and Appended twice as the original"];
OriginalB->A_NSInteger = 100;
OriginalB->A_int = 100;
OriginalB->A_float = 100.0;
[OriginalB->B_Name appendString:#" and Appended twice as the original"];
OriginalB->B_NSInteger = 200;
OriginalB->B_int = 200;
OriginalB->B_float = 200.0;
NSLog(#"OriginalB print:3");
[OriginalB print];
NSLog(#"CopiedB print:3");
[CopiedB print];
// This works as expected: The values of OriginalB and CopiedB differ and als the deep copied strings are different.
#else
OriginalB = [[ClassB alloc] init];
CopiedB = [OriginalB copy]; // Undefined behaviour. You will write unallocated memory
NSLog(#"OriginalB print:1");
[OriginalB print];
NSLog(#"CopiedB print:1");
/*[CopiedB print]; / * Thread 1: signal SIGABRT: libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[ClassA print]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x10010ad60' */
NSLog(#"A_Name=\"%#\", A_NSInteger=%ld,A_int=%ld,A_float=%f",CopiedB->A_Name,CopiedB->A_NSInteger,CopiedB->A_int,CopiedB->A_float);
NSLog(#"B_Name=\"%#\", B_NSInteger=%ld,B_int=%ld,B_float=%f",CopiedB->B_Name,CopiedB->B_NSInteger,CopiedB->B_int,CopiedB->B_float); // Undefined behaviour. You will read unallocated memory
[OriginalB->A_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the original"];
OriginalB->A_NSInteger = 10;
OriginalB->A_int = 10;
OriginalB->A_float = 10.0;
[OriginalB->B_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the original"];
OriginalB->B_NSInteger = 20;
OriginalB->B_int = 20;
OriginalB->B_float = 20.0;
// This at least works: Changing Original, does not alter the values of Copy.
NSLog(#"OriginalB print:2");
[OriginalB print];
NSLog(#"CopiedB print:2");
NSLog(#"A_Name=\"%#\", A_NSInteger=%ld,A_int=%ld,A_float=%f",CopiedB->A_Name,CopiedB->A_NSInteger,CopiedB->A_int,CopiedB->A_float);
//NSLog(#"B_Name=\"%#\", B_NSInteger=%ld,B_int=%ld,B_float=%f",CopiedB->B_Name,CopiedB->B_NSInteger,CopiedB->B_int,CopiedB->B_float); // Undefined behaviour. You will read unallocated memory
/*[CopiedB->A_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the copy"]; / * Thread 1: signal SIGABRT: libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: 'Attempt to mutate immutable object with appendString:' */
CopiedB->A_NSInteger = 100;
CopiedB->A_int = 100;
CopiedB->A_float = 100.0;
/*[CopiedB->B_Name appendString:#" and Appended as the copy"]; / * Thread 1: signal SIGABRT: libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: 'Attempt to mutate immutable object with appendString:'*/
CopiedB->B_NSInteger = 200; // Undefined behaviour. You will write unallocated memory
CopiedB->B_int = 200; // Undefined behaviour. You will write unallocated memory
CopiedB->B_float = 200.0; // Undefined behaviour. You will write unallocated memory
/* Thread 1: EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION (code=EXC_I386_INVOP, subcode=0x0)
DeepCopyTest(2376,0x7fff7edda310) malloc: *** error for object 0x10010ad98: incorrect checksum for freed object - object was probably modified after being freed.
*** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug */
NSLog(#"OriginalB print after modification of CopiedB:");
[OriginalB print];
NSLog(#"CopiedB print after modification of CopiedB:");
/*[CopiedB print];; / * Thread 1: signal SIGABRT: libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[ClassA print]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x10010ad60' */
#endif
}
return 0;
}
PS-1: FROM:
https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/General/Conceptual/DevPedia-CocoaCore/ObjectCopying.html
-- Object copying --
A deep copy duplicates the objects referenced while a shallow copy duplicates only the references to those objects. So if object A is shallow-copied to object B, object B refers to the same instance variable (or property) that object A refers to. Deep-copying objects is preferred to shallow-copying, especially with value objects.
NOTE:
This is unclear formulation, especially with the accompanied illustration, which suggests a wrong explanation.
This formulation makes it appear that two references to the same object count as a shallow copy. This is not true. It isn't a copy at all.
The clear formulation would be that:
-A shallow copy of an object has all the values and references copied from its parent, but is itself a unique object in memory.
-A deep copy of an object has all the values copied from its parent and is itself a unique object in memory, but all the references now reference to -deep themselves - copies of the original references objects.
Although the exact implementation of deep copying might not 100% give deep copies.
Objects that point to external references (suchs as a hardware item or graphics driver can't be duplicated, but only increase the reference count)
Some deep copying has no functional sense. An object might reference its window it is in, but it makes no sense to duplicate the window.
An object might also reference data that is considered immutable, so it would not be efficient to duplicate that.
PS-2: You could have give me the hint of ctrl-K before I tried to format all my code manually.
PS-3: Apple-Z (undo) undoes all my formatting instead of the last one and I can't redo it.

ObjectiveC allocation and init?

I have just made a sample short demo program for fun when I was playing with Objective-C:
Some piece of code:
// TestClass.h:
#interface TestClass : NSObject {
int someNumber;
float someFloat;
}
#property int someNumber;
#property float someFloat;
// Returns String containing some instance values:
-(NSString *)getNiceString;
// Returns always the same string:
-(NSString *)getAnotherString;
-(id)init;
#end
--
//TestClass.m:
#import "TestClass.h"
#implementation TestClass
#synthesize someFloat;
#synthesize someNumber;
-(NSString*) getNiceString{
return [NSString stringWithFormat:
#"Float number: %f and the number is: %d", self.someFloat, self.someNumber];
}
-(NSString *) getAnotherString{
return [NSString stringWithString:#"TEST STRING"];
}
-(id)init{
self = [super init];
if(self){
self.someFloat = 100.34;
self.someNumber = 324;
return self;
}
return nil;
}
#end
And some main stuff:
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import "TestClass.h"
int main (int argc, const char * argv[])
{
#autoreleasepool {
TestClass* instance = [TestClass alloc];
// Version 2:
// TestClass* instance = [[TestClass alloc]init];
NSLog(#"%#", [instance getNiceString]);
NSLog(#"%#", [instance getAnotherString]);
}
return 0;
}
When I use TestClass* instance = [TestClass alloc]; in main the output is:
2013-03-05 09:56:34.767 ObjectiveTest[8367:903] Float number: 0.000000
and the number is: 0 2013-03-05 09:56:34.770 ObjectiveTest[8367:903]
TEST STRING
When the second version is used instead (TestClass* instance = [[TestClass alloc]init];):
2013-03-05 10:06:46.743 ObjectiveTest[8421:903] Float number:
100.339996 and the number is: 324 2013-03-05 10:06:46.750 ObjectiveTest[8421:903] TEST STRING
The question is if [TestClass alloc] makes any initialization stuff (String is returned properly and values are zeros)... It is worth to mention that if I remove the -(id)init: implementation from TestClass.m the outputs for versions with init and without it are exactly the same... Is there any default initialization?
alloc will zero out the memory region. More detail can be found here What happens when alloc or allocWithZone is called?
The question is if [TestClass alloc] makes any initialization stuff (String is returned properly and values are zeros)... It is worth to mention that if I remove the -(id)init: implementation from TestClass.m the outputs for versions with init and without it are exactly the same... Is there any default initialization?
alloc doesn't initialize any member, so if you just call alloc, then someFloat will not be initialized (default value will be 0.0). If you keep away your alloc method from your class implementation the same happens: someFloat will not be initialized and it will have a default value of 0.0 .
But calling just alloc and not init has many disadvantages: all the subclass initializers will not be called, thus you will not be able to use some NSObject's attributes, you shouldn't call just alloc. alloc-init is always used by convention.
alloc doesn't initialize the object correctly, and so must always be used.
The float isn't initialized correctly (0.000 != 100.34) and the string is the result of calling a method which returns a string literal, not an instance variable.

Class in ObjectiveC doesn't seem to recognize inherited messages

I'm learning ObjectiveC with "Programming in Objective C" by Stephen G Kochan and I'm having some difficulties with an example. It creates a simple Fraction class that inherits from Object. That's where I get into trouble, when I try to send messages that are understood by Object instead of Fraction, such as init, alloc or free (see code below):
// Fraction
#import <stdio.h>
#import <objc/Object.h> // base object
// #interface section
#interface Fraction: Object
{
int numerator;
int denominator;
}
- (void) print;
- (void) setNumerator: (int) n;
- (void) setDenominator: (int) d;
#end
// #implementation section
#implementation Fraction;
-(void) print
{
printf(" %i/%i ", numerator, denominator);
}
-(void) setNumerator: (int) n
{
numerator = n;
}
-(void) setDenominator: (int) d
{
denominator = d;
}
#end
// Program section
int main( int argc, char *argv[])
{
Fraction *myFraction;
// Create Instance of fraction
myFraction = [Fraction alloc];
myFraction = [Fraction init];
// Set fraction to 1/3
[myFraction setNumerator: 1];
[myFraction setDenominator: 3];
// Display the fraction
printf("The value of my fraction is: ");
[myFraction print];
printf("\n");
// Destroy the instance
[myFraction free];
return 0;
}
When I compile it:
gcc fraction.m -o fraction -l objc
I get the following warnings:
fraction.m: In function ‘main’:
fraction.m:47: warning: ‘Fraction’ may not respond to ‘+alloc’
fraction.m:47: warning: (Messages without a matching method signature
fraction.m:47: warning: will be assumed to return ‘id’ and accept
fraction.m:47: warning: ‘...’ as arguments.)
fraction.m:48: warning: ‘Fraction’ may not respond to ‘+init’
fraction.m:62: warning: ‘Fraction’ may not respond to ‘-free’
fernando#McFofo ~/code/learning objective c:: ./fraction
objc[1678]: Fraction: Does not recognize selector forward::
and the program, when run, complains about an illegal instruction…
Anybody knows what's going on?
Classes in Cocoa (the most popular Objective-C library, they are almost synonymous) tend to inherit from NSObject, the Cocoa root class. It is documented here.
There is also the NSObject protocol, implemented by NSProxy. It forms the basis of Cocoa's support for Distributed Objects. That said, we may be getting ahead of ourselves with that!
I also notice that you are trying to do the following:
Fraction *myFraction;
myFraction = [Fraction alloc];
myFraction = [Fraction init];
You are allocating memory for your object and then losing it by overwriting the pointer with another one. The standard practice is to do it on one line as follows:
Fraction *myFraction = [[Fraction alloc] init];
If you must do it one multiple lines, you must do the following:
Fraction *myFraction;
myFraction = [Fraction alloc];
myFraction = [myFraction init];
// myFraction is now ready to go!
I stumbled across a site that refers to what appears to be the book you're reading. The examples highlighted on the website inherit from NSObject and import <Foundation/NSObject.h>. Is there any particular reason you eschewed this and decided upon the Object class provided by the runtime?

Class Composition Error?

I wonder if someone can explain where I am going wrong here, I am creating 2 objects (car & engine) where the car object contains a pointer to the engine object. I know I am missing the obvious or just making some silly mistake, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
NB: the code all works, except for the line that is comment ERROR.
// INTERFACE ------------------------------------------------------- **
#interface EngineClass : NSObject {
}
#end
#interface CarClass : NSObject {
EngineClass *engine;
}
- (void)setEngine:(EngineClass *)value;
#end
// IMPLEMENT ------------------------------------------------------- **
#implementation CarClass
- (void)setEngine:(EngineClass *)newEngine {
if (engine != newEngine) {
[engine release];
engine = [newEngine copy];
}
}
#end
#implementation EngineClass
#end
// MAIN ------------------------------------------------------------ **
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
int main (int argc, const char * argv[]) {
NSAutoreleasePool * pool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
CarClass *newCar_001;
EngineClass *newEngine_001;
newCar_001 = [[CarClass alloc] init];
newEngine_001 = [[EngineClass alloc] init];
[newCar_001 setEngine: newEngine_001]; // ERROR
// Clean up
[newCar_001 release];
[newEngine_001 release];
[pool drain];
return 0;
}
// END ------------------------------------------------------------- **
The ERROR is ....
run
2009-09-22 13:41:05.483 cocoa_engine_TEST[8606:a0f]
2009-09-22 13:41:05.485 cocoa_engine_TEST[8606:a0f]
2009-09-22 13:41:05.485 cocoa_engine_TEST[8606:a0f] -[EngineClass copyWithZone:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x10010c8d0
2009-09-22 13:41:05.486 cocoa_engine_TEST[8606:a0f] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[EngineClass copyWithZone:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x10010c8d0'
cheers -gary-
From the docs for the copy method:
This is a convenience method for
classes that adopt the NSCopying
protocol. An exception is raised if
there is no implementation for
copyWithZone:.
Have you implemented copyWithZone?
And why copy engine when you could just retain?
- (id)copyWithZone:(NSZone *)zone {
EngineClass *engineCopy = [[EngineClass allocWithZone: zone] init];
// copy variables here, deep or shallow
return engineCopy;
}
It returns a retained object, as copy methods should.