groovy.lang
Interface MetaClassRegistry

All Known Implementing Classes:

MetaClassRegistryImpl

public interface MetaClassRegistry

A MetaClassRegistry is an object that is responsible for managing the a cache of MetaClass instances. Each java.lang.Class instance has an associated MetaClass and client code can query this interface for the MetaClass for a given associated java.lang.Class

Author:

John Wilson, Graeme Rocher, Jochen Theodorou

See Also:

MetaClass

Nested Class Summary

static class

MetaClassRegistry.MetaClassCreationHandle Class used as base for the creation of MetaClass implementations.

Method Summary

void	addMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener(MetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener listener) adds a ConstantMetaClassChangeListener
MetaClass	getMetaClass(Class theClass)
MetaClassRegistry.MetaClassCreationHandle	getMetaClassCreationHandler() Retrieves the MetaClassCreationHandle that is responsible for constructing MetaClass instances
MetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener[]	getMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListeners() Returns all registered ConstantMetaClassChangeListener objects.
Iterator	iterator() gets a snapshot of the current constant meta classes and returns it as Iterator.
void	removeMetaClass(Class theClass) Removes a cached MetaClass from the registry
void	removeMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener(MetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener listener) removes a ConstantMetaClassChangeListener
void	setMetaClass(Class theClass, MetaClass theMetaClass)
void	setMetaClassCreationHandle(MetaClassRegistry.MetaClassCreationHandle handle) Sets the MetaClassCreationHandle instance that is responsible for constructing instances

Method Detail

getMetaClass

MetaClass getMetaClass(Class theClass)

setMetaClass

void setMetaClass(Class theClass,
                  MetaClass theMetaClass)

removeMetaClass

void removeMetaClass(Class theClass)

Removes a cached MetaClass from the registry

Parameters:

theClass - The Java class of the MetaClass to remove

getMetaClassCreationHandler

MetaClassRegistry.MetaClassCreationHandle getMetaClassCreationHandler()

Retrieves the MetaClassCreationHandle that is responsible for constructing MetaClass instances

Returns:

The MetaClassCreationHandle instance

setMetaClassCreationHandle

void setMetaClassCreationHandle(MetaClassRegistry.MetaClassCreationHandle handle)

Sets the MetaClassCreationHandle instance that is responsible for constructing instances

Parameters:

handle - The handle instance

addMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener

void addMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener(MetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener listener)

adds a ConstantMetaClassChangeListener

Parameters:

listener - - the update listener

removeMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener

void removeMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener(MetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener listener)

removes a ConstantMetaClassChangeListener

Parameters:

listener - - the update listener

getMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListeners

MetaClassRegistryChangeEventListener[] getMetaClassRegistryChangeEventListeners()

Returns all registered ConstantMetaClassChangeListener objects.

Returns:

an array containing all change listener

iterator

Iterator iterator()

gets a snapshot of the current constant meta classes and returns it as Iterator. Modifications done using this Iterator will not cause a ConcurrentMoidificationExcpetion. If a MetaClass is removed using this Iterator, then the MetaClass will only be removed if the MetaClass was not replaced by another MetaClass in the meantime. If a MetaClass is added while using this Iterator, then it will be part of the Iteration. If a MetaClass replaces another constant meta class, then the Iteration might show two meta classes for the same class.
This Iterator may not used in multiple threads.

Returns:

Iterator for the constant meta classes