You know I agree. When I first saw the getEntityAsObject() I assumed it
converted the object for me. I didn't really think it was something so
complex that I'd have to create a converter. But I obviously didn't make
the connection with the ObjectRepresentation. I just followed the docs
and source to Message, then Application, where I didn't see how to use
the converter with a client request. I've really just started using this
a couple days ago, and most of my time has been reading, asking
questions, and a little coding. It does seem there is a lack of
documentation. Is there more some where? I think I've read most
everything. A couple points I would like more documentation on is client
side coding, and client security. Which I'll probably post about the
security part soon.
Rob Heittman wrote:
To my mind, what's misleading about the current setup is the
inconsistent semantics. Other flavors of getEntityAsXXX return
XXXRepresentation:
DomRepresentation getEntityAsDom()
SaxRepresentation getEntityAsSax()
By association, developers may intuit that getEntityAsObject should
automatically return ObjectRepresentation, when in fact it returns
null unless the entity is associated with an Application (e.g. is an
incoming request routed through an Application) and the developer has
set up a custom Converter attached to the Application. One might
observe that given the Javadoc and the fact that it returns Object and
not ObjectRepresentation, this difference should be obvious, but the
discussion here proves it's not.
I'd seriously propose something like this; although it breaks API
compatibility, I think it's the right thing to do for semantic
consistency.
ObjectRepresentation getEntityAsObject() -- works like
getEntityAsDom() and getEntityAsSax()
Object getConvertedEntity() -- works like the current
getEntityAsObject()
I hope that although Restlet has reached a 1.0 release, the API won't
be prematurely ossified ... as more developers work with the code in
real life, some points of confusion like this will need to get
addressed in ways that aren't reverse compatible.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stanczak Group" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 9:11:44 AM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
Subject: Re: getEntityAsObject()?
This works, thanks. I still don't understand why getEntityAsObject() is
even there.
--
Justin Stanczak
Stanczak Group
812-735-3600
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Edmund Burke
