[599] in Coldmud discussion meeting

Deleting inherited parameters

daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sat Nov 26 16:53:58 1994 )

From: brandon@avon.declab.usu.edu
To: coldstuff@MIT.EDU
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 94 14:52:39 -0700

Once again I am bringing this subject up :)  I REALLY would like to see this
ability in the driver, what were the arguments against it?  Basically a func  
could be created along the lines of: (called on the defining object) 

     clear_parameter($descendant, 'parameter)

Example:

-----
Two Objects:

Object: $A:
Parents: [$misc]
Methods:
  bar()        (returns the value of bar)
$root Parameters:
  [...]
$A Parameters:
  bar: ['nothing]

Object: $B
Parents: [$A]
Methods:
  (none)
$root Parameters:
  [...]
$A Parameters:
  bar: ['my_own_value, 1]
-----
Object $A removes the parameter 'bar.
Object $B still has 'bar set on $A.  However, it is completely useless
   since $A no longer defines 'bar (calling $B.bar() will return ~paramnf--
   it will work again if you add the parameter back to $A)
-----
Then on $A a method is defined as:

@program $A.clear_bar
     clear_parameter(this(), 'bar);
.

-----
At which point you should be able to call $B.clear_bar() and remove 'bar...

Comments?

(BTW, I do not consider copying an entire object just to clear a parameter as
a valid option, it is a horrid kludge to get around a gaping hole, in my
opinion)

-Brandon (Lynx)-