mk_new

    package MyClass;
    use base 'Class::Accessor::Complex';
    __PACKAGE__->mk_new;

    package main;
    use MyClass;

    my $o = MyClass->new(foo => 12, bar => [ 1..5 ]);

is the same as

    my $o = MyClass->new;
    $o->foo(12);
    $o->bar([1..5]);

The constructor will also call an "init()" method, if there is one.

mk_singleton

This constructor only ever returns a single instance of the class. That is, after the first call, repeated calls to this constructor return the same instance. Note that the instance is instantiated at the time of the first call, not before. Any arguments are treated as for "mk_new()". Naturally, "init()" and any initializer methods are called only by the first invocation of this method.

mk_scalar_accessors

"*"

This method can store a value in a slot and retrieve that value. If it receives an argument, it sets the value. Only the first argument is used, subsequent arguments are ignored. If called without a value, the method retrieves the value from the slot.

*_clear, "clear_*"

Clears the value by setting it to undef.

mk_class_scalar_accessors

mk_concat_accessors

"*"

Like "mk_scalar_accessors()", but passing a value to the accessor doesn't clear out the original value, but instead concatenates the new value to the existing one. Thus, this kind of accessor is only good for plain scalars.

*_clear, "clear_*"

Clears the value by setting it to undef.

mk_array_accessors

"*"

This method returns the list of values stored in the slot. If any arguments are provided to this method, they replace the current list contents. In an array context it returns the values as an array and in a scalar context as a reference to the array. Note that this reference is currently a direct reference to the storage; changes to the storage will affect the contents of the reference, and vice-versa. This behaviour is not guaranteed; caveat emptor.

*_push, "push_*"

Pushes the given elements onto the end of the array. Like perl's "push()".

*_pop, "pop_*"

Pops one element off the end of the array. Like perl's "pop()".

*_shift, "shift_*"

Shifts one element off the beginning of the array. Like perl's "shift()".

*_unshift, "unshift_*"

Unshifts the given elements onto the beginning of the array. Like perl's "unshift()".

*_splice, "splice_*"

Takes an offset, a length and a replacement list. The arguments and behaviour are exactly like perl's "splice()".

*_clear, "clear_*"

Deletes all elements of the array.

*_count, "count_*"

Returns the number of elements in the array.

*_set, "set_*"

Takes a list, treated as pairs of index => value; each given index is set to the corresponding value. No return.

*_index, "index_*"

Takes a list of indices and returns a list of the corresponding values. This is like an array slice.

mk_class_array_accessors

mk_hash_accessors

"*"

Called with no arguments returns the hash stored in the slot, as a hash in a list context or as a reference in a scalar context.

Called with one simple scalar argument it treats the argument as a key and returns the value stored under that key.

Called with one array (list) reference argument, the array elements are considered to be be keys of the hash. x returns the list of values stored under those keys (also known as a hash slice.)

Called with one hash reference argument, the keys and values of the hash are added to the hash.

Called with more than one argument, treats them as a series of key/value pairs and adds them to the hash.

*_keys, "keys_*"

Returns the keys of the hash.

*_count, "count_*"

Returns the number of keys in the hash.

*_values, "values_*"

Returns the list of values.

*_exists, "exists_*"

Takes a single key and returns whether that key exists in the hash.

*_delete, "delete_*"

Takes a list and deletes each key from the hash.

*_clear, "clear_*"

Resets the hash to empty.

mk_class_hash_accessors

mk_abstract_accessors

"*"

When called, it either dies (if Error::Hierarchy is not installed) or throws an exception of type Error::Hierarchy::Internal::AbstractMethod (if it is installed).

mk_boolean_accessors

"*"

If given a true value - in the Perl sense, i.e. anything except "undef", 0 or the empty string - it sets the slot's value to 1, otherwise to 0. If no argument is given, it returns the slot's value.

*_set, "set_*"

Sets the slot's value to 1.

*_clear, "clear_*"

Sets the slot's value to 0.

mk_integer_accessors

    __PACKAGE__->mk_integer_accessors(qw(some_counter other_index));

Takes a list of accessor base names (simple strings). For each string it creates methods as described below, where "*" denotes the accessor base name.

"*"

A basic getter/setter that stores an integer value. Actually, it can store any value, but when read back, it returns 0 if the value is undef.

*_reset, "reset_*"

Resets the slot's value to 0.

*_inc, "inc_*"

Increments the value, then returns it.

*_dec, "dec_*"

Decrements the value, then returns it.

Example:

  package Foo;

  use base 'Class::Accessor::Complex';
  __PACKAGE__->mk_integer_accessors(qw(score));

Then:

  my $obj = Foo->new(score => 150);
  my $x = $obj->score_inc;   # is now 151
  $obj->score_reset;         # is now 0

mk_set_accessors

A set is different from a list in that it can contain every value only once and there is no order on the elements (similar to hash keys, for example).

"*"

If called without arguments, it returns the elements in the set. If called with arguments, it puts those elements into the set. As such, it is a wrapper over "*_insert()" and "*_elements()".

*_insert, "insert_*"

Inserts the given elements (arguments) into the set. If you pass an array reference as the first argument, it is being dereferenced and used instead.

*_elements, "elements_*"

Returns the elements in the set.

*_delete, "delete_*"

Removes the given elements from the list. The order in which the elements are returned is not guaranteed.

*_clear, "clear_*"

Empties the set.

*_contains, "contains_*"

Given an element, it returns whether the set contains the element.

*_is_empty, "is_empty_*"

Returns whether or not the set is empty.

*_size, "size_*"

Returns the number of elements in the set.

mk_object_accessors

    MyClass->mk_object_accessors(
        'Foo' => 'phooey',
        'Bar' => [ qw(bar1 bar2 bar3) ],
        'Baz' => {
            slot => 'foo',
            comp_mthds => [ qw(bar baz) ]
        },
        'Fob' => [
            {
                slot       => 'dog',
                comp_mthds => 'bark',
            },
            {
                slot       => 'cat',
                comp_mthds => 'miaow',
            },
        ],
    );

The main argument should be a reference to an array. The array should contain pairs of class => sub-argument pairs. The sub-arguments parsed thus:

Hash Reference

See "Baz" above. The hash should contain the following keys:

Array Reference

As for "String", for each member of the array. Also works if each member is a hash reference (see "Fob" above).

String

The name of the instance attribute (slot).

For each slot "x", with forwarding methods "y()" and "z()", the following methods are created:

"x"

A get/set method, see "*" below.

"y"

Forwarded onto the object in slot "x", which is auto-created via "new()" if necessary. The "new()", if called, is called without arguments.

"z"

As for "y".

So, using the example above, a method, "foo()", is created, which can get and set the value of those objects in slot "foo", which will generally contain an object of class "Baz". Two additional methods are created named "bar()" and "baz()" which result in a call to the "bar()" and "baz()" methods on the "Baz" object stored in slot "foo".

Apart from the forwarding methods described above, "mk_object_accessors()" creates methods as described below, where "*" denotes the slot name.

"*"

If the accessor is supplied with an object of an appropriate type, will set set the slot to that value. Else, if the slot has no value, then an object is created by calling "new()" on the appropriate class, passing in any supplied arguments.

The stored object is then returned.

*_clear, "clear_*"

Removes the object from the accessor.

mk_forward_accessors

    __PACKAGE__->mk_forward_accessors(
        comp1 => 'method1',
        comp2 => [ qw(method2 method3) ],
    );

Takes a hash of mappings as its arguments. Each hash value is expected to be either a string or an array reference. For each hash value an accessor is created and forwarded to the accessor denoted by its associated hash key.

In the example above, a call to "method1()" will be forwarded onto "comp1()", and calls to "method2()" and "method3()" will be forwarded onto "comp2()".