Virtual Types

Virtual type is a way to define in a class a property that is associated with a type. This property can be used to type parameters, return of functions, variables, etc. Virtual types are inherited by subclasses and can be redefined.

Virtual types is a good solution when:

• A class need to refer to the real itself
• Two class hierarchy are somewhat parallel
• You want Covariance

Usage

Example, we have employees what works in standard office and bosses, that are technically employees, but hat works in boss offices (that are improved offices with a fridge).

One way to achieve the modeling is to use virtual types. virtual types are defined inside class (like methods and attributes) but with the keyword type. Inside the class, the virtual type can be used (almost) like any other static type.

class Employee
    type OFFICE: Office
    var office: OFFICE
end
class Office
    # ...
end

Subclasses can redefine (with redef) the virtual types they want to change. The only requirement is that the new bound is a sub-type of the previous bound.

class Boss
    super Employee
    redef type OFFICE: BossOffice
end
class BossOffice
    super Office
end

The redefinition of a virtual type is used by the compiler to prevent some type errors. For example, assuming that boss' offices have a fridge:

    var e: Employee = ...
    e.office.fridge.open # Compilation Error! Office has no method fridge
    var b: Boss = ...
    b.office.fridge.open # OK!