printString is a template method printOn: a hook so you should specialize printOn: On Jun 25, 2011, at 6:07 AM, Alan Rodas wrote:
Hello folks
I was wondering why does Smalltlak prefer the printOn: aStream method over the printString method.
As I work with Java and C# all the time, I'm used to define a printString like method where you return a string representing the object, and, today, having to do the same in smalltlak I unconsciously redefined the printString method. As soon as I realize that my collections were using printOn: instead of my redefined printSrting method for printing their contents, I wondered:
Why was this decision taken? I mean, every other language seems more simple (from the end user point of view, as it does not require the user to understand streams at all), In the other hand, printOn: seems more versatile.
Pointless question, I know, but I'm quite curious and I cannot seem to find anything about this, and I though that you guys may know.
Cheers -- Alan Rodas Bonjour