I have started some initial work on the concept of MutableNumbers, that
I mentioned a few months ago. Before I begin anything major, I want to
get some feedback.
Any comments and suggestions are appreciated, especially with regard to
class design, and usefulness.
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Initial design
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MutableNumber
// Internal value
double value;
// java.lang.Number overrides
byte byteValue()
short shortValue()
int intValue()
long longValue()
float floatValue()
double doubleValue()
// Mutator methods
setByteValue(byte)
setShortValue(short)
setIntValue(int)
setLongValue(long)
setFloatValue(float)
setDoubleValue(double)
Two sample extensions would be:
MutableInteger
MutableInteger(int)
MutableFloat
MutableFloat(float)
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Questions
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1) Would MutableNumbers be useful?
A typical usage could be:
Thing.setId(new Integer(1))
Thing.setId(new Integer(2))
Thing.setId(new MutableInteger(1))
Thing.getId().setIntValue(2)
But, in looking at this, it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
Are there any other uses?
2) Is double an acceptable internal type for all numbers? It seemed
simplest to choose the largest type, and upcast all other types.
3) Where should the following methods go?
Byte byteObject()
Short shortObject()
Integer intObject()
Long longObject()
Float floatObject()
Double doubleObject()
The could all easily be placed in the MutableNumber class itself, but
this would almost eliminate the need for subclasses entirely.
If MutableNumber is not abstract, it becomes:
MutableNumber num = new MutableNumber()
num.setIntValue(5)
num.intObject()
vs.
MutableInteger mutInt = new MutableInteger(5)
mutInt.intObject()
4) Would the following be good additions also?
boolean booleanValue()
setBooleanValue(boolean)
Boolean booleanObject()
This may duplicate some current commons functionality (in BooleanUtils I
believe), but I think this addition would be consistent with the other
methods.
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