(11-11-2018, 09:28 PM)DerVVulfman Wrote: Full understanding of what wings are, type of wings... joint coordinate with each other????

OMG!   I think Siletrea read the Frank Herbert novel 'Children of Dune' as she basically creating her own version of the Bene Gesserit summation of the 'The Union of Opposites'.


And yes, when you make a Child class, you can essentially 'whiteout' a method copied over from the Parent class.  But you do that by making your own version of that method.  If the parent class has a 'get_silly' method, the child must too have a 'get_silly' method.

Okay, the Superclass thing...  

Like I just said, your Child class must have the same methods as the Parent class, even if the Child rewrites the Parent's methods.  But that doesn't give you much flexibility.  That would only ensure that your child is a literal XEROX of the parent without any new features.

The whole thing about the Superclass is that you can create a new method in the Child class and quickly copy the stuff from the old method into it.  Basically, the use of the super() statement is a shortcut so you don't have to manually enter every single item from the parent's version.  It does that work for you.

If the parent class has a method called 'punch_freddy' and it looks like this:

Code:

def punch_freddy
 @target = @freddy
 @target.hp -= 20
 @target.damage = 20
 @target.flash = white
 @target.falls = true
end

You can use the super() statement in your child class to make a new 'punch_freddy' method like this:

Code:

def punch_freddy
 super()
 @target.woozy = true
 @target.screams = true
end

This saves some space in your code, so your child class doesn't have to rewrite everything like this:

Code:

def punch_freddy
 @target = @freddy
 @target.hp -= 20
 @target.damage = 20
 @target.flash = white
 @target.falls = true
 @target.woozy = true
 @target.screams = true
end

Looks like the new code with the super() statement only has three lines including the super() statement.  Certainly seems better than remaking the method with seven lines, right?

And let's face it, this is a small example.  Some methods you might be inheriting are HUMONGOUS!  WHO WANTS TO REWRITE A 30-LINE METHOD WHEN THROWING A super() IN ITS PLACE CAN BE DONE?

YES, def means define.  It is a statement that defines the start of a method.   You use the 'class' statement to define the start of a class, and a 'module' statement to define the start of a module.  You use the def statement so frequently because you make a lot of methods when writing code.  

Again, it's heiarchy:  A module can hold multiple classes, and classes can hold multiple methods... all a tree of sorts.  Or a shrub if the guy writing the code is a total mess.  ^_^

Now why use the ampersand (@) to define a variable rather than the dollar sign ($)...   First, let's talk about what we call them.
 
The variables with the $ symbol are called 'global' values.  They work throughout the whole system.  Not just one code, but could be referenced throughout your entire SCRIPT LIBRARY!!!!   WOOO!  POWER.  But it has drawbacks.  It's a memory hog, using more resources than instance variables  (next on the agenda).  Also, it's riskier.  If one script uses a $global variable of a particular name and another script uses a $global variable of the same name, they could wipe each other out!  

The variables with the @ symbol are called 'instance' variables.  They are defined to work specifically within their class.  And because they are class specific, you can have two classes with instance variables of the same name.  So if two different classes have a @my_name variable, they each can have different values set to each of them.  One won't overwrite the other.  Well, not without effort on the scripter's part.  And they use less memory resources.  

So while the $global variable has more reach, the @instance variable allows better coding.

Quote:in·stance
/ˈinstəns/
noun
noun: instance; plural noun: instances
Case 1
an example or single occurrence of something.
"a serious instance of corruption"
synonyms:
example, exemplar, occasion, occurrence, case;
illustration
"an instance of racism"

Case 2
a particular case.
"in this instance it mattered little"

(11-14-2018, 04:05 AM)DerVVulfman Wrote: The @ symbol is confusing?  Well, it basically means that the variable belongs to THAT particular class.

If I made a class called Shelley and a class called Miriam, each might have a variable called @hair_color.  I could set the @hair_color variable in the Shelley class to 'sandy_blonde', and set the @hair_color variable in the Miriam class to 'auburn_brown '.  Each has its own variable, even though they have the same name.  If I tried using the $hair_color value in either class, one would overwrite the other.

STUDY TIME:  Look at any of the initialize methods in the default classes.  They tend to have @instance variables belonging just to them.... mostly.


Oh, wow.   Um...  Yeah.   Xerox is the manufacturer of a a popular office copy machine.  In fact, it was the essential STANDARD for copiers.  So back in the day, we just called copiers 'Xerox', just like how we call adhesive bandages 'Bandaids'

Hey, I use phrases like 'oft' for often and other old phrases from before I was borne.  BUT I don't think I have ever used 'nary'.

So when I said "that your child is a literal XEROX of the parent", I meant it was a near-perfect copy or duplicate.  And well, yeah.  The super() statement is a way of letting you add new content to an existing method.  It's just that the super() statement  "IS" the old content and you're writing the new content around it.  

Code:

def goofy_method
  blah_blah_blah_new_statement1  
  blah_blah_blah_new_statement2
  super()
  blah_blah_blah_new_statement3
  blah_blah_blah_new_statement4
end

We could just say, we're taking the original 'goofy_method' method and adding two more statements to the start, and two more statements when the original method would have been done.

TEST TIME:  So, show me an example of a method using the super() statement.   Just an interpretation of what you think it means.  This is a no pressure thingie.  Just a gauge for discussion to see how I'm doing as a teacher and stuff.  More like a test on ME.

Siletrea Wrote:hmm the "super" statements... its like small bakesale!
the original list of items for sale would be muffins and cupcakes and brownies! BUT somewhere down the line a new seller in the bakesale comes in with cookies and tarts! instead of going to the computer and building up a whole new list from scratch and then having to print everything out and replace the old sign they just take a pen and add the new items on at the bottom of the list!
right?