Hello, I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like: CounterApp showOn: counter. This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created: ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter. However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking! Thank you, Rob
Rob Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid the presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback. Stef Stef On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
Hi Stef, I think you are correct and you would still always perform actions like: initializeWidgets (to create components and sub-components) initializePresenter (to define interactions between components) But, there could also be a third initialization step like initializeSubject: aSubjectModel That would allow you to initialize the domain model of each component relative to your overall model. Then, by exposing the aspects of your model available for viewing by a UI as ValueHolders, it looks pretty straightforward (for simple objects) to extend Spec to use those ValueHolders so that UI elements can implicitly update themselves. The source of my inspiration is the Dolphin "Better Hello World" example(s) here: http://object-arts.com/blog/files/better-hello-world.html To try it out, I added a few Spec extensions and tried a little "counter" test (like your MOOC example) displayed by a CounterApp (having an increment button, decrement button, and label to show the count) such that CounterApp showOn: counter triggers CounterApp>>initializeSubject: aSubjectModel subject := aSubjectModel. countLabel initializeSubject: subject countHolder This results in replacing the UI label ValueHolder with the Counter's "count" ValueHolder. If I had more aspects of my model I wanted to connect, I would do it here, or if I wanted to connect the same thing to multiple widgets (like a slider, for example), I would do that here as well. This allows direct interactions with the Counter model (for example, an "increment" button) to be reflected directly by the UI without having to explicitly update the value after the interaction or listening for events. I'll have to think about it some more, but I think Spec has what it needs already to create a nice set of "type presenters" instead of what is currently seems more like "widget presenters." Then, instead of adding a LabelModel to a ComposableModel, you could add something like a NumberPresenter and specify the spec you want to use (which would in turn display the desired widget). I didn't go that far yet, and created a NumberLabelModel for my example above. It worked, but seems like the wrong way to go about it. Or maybe you need both...I'm not sure! I also want to take a look at self-updating complex widgets as well (lists, tables, etc...) so that telling a list presenter it's list means that adding a value to that list could automatically update the widget and so on. I had some crude prototyping success with that in VW before deciding (hopefully for the last time) that "native" widgets aren't as important to me as a solid and simple way to connect a model to a UI presentation. This seems much easier to achieve in Pharo, and after years of intermittent attempts I am hopeful that my knowledge level has finally become sufficient to contribute something to this heroic effort. Take care, Rob On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob
Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid the presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback.
Stef
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
Hi Stef,
I think you are correct and you would still always perform actions like:
initializeWidgets (to create components and sub-components) initializePresenter (to define interactions between components)
But, there could also be a third initialization step like
initializeSubject: aSubjectModel
Yes I do not remember exactlty but I have the impression that I identified the same problem recently because I wanted to do MyApp on: aModel and I realized that the flow proposed did not let me do it that way (may be I'm incorrect).
That would allow you to initialize the domain model of each component relative to your overall model.
Yes.
Then, by exposing the aspects of your model available for viewing by a UI as ValueHolders, it looks pretty straightforward (for simple objects) to extend Spec to use those ValueHolders so that UI elements can implicitly update themselves.
The source of my inspiration is the Dolphin "Better Hello World" example(s) here:
http://object-arts.com/blog/files/better-hello-world.html
To try it out, I added a few Spec extensions and tried a little "counter" test (like your MOOC example) displayed by a CounterApp (having an increment button, decrement button, and label to show the count) such that
CounterApp showOn: counter
triggers
CounterApp>>initializeSubject: aSubjectModel
subject := aSubjectModel.
countLabel initializeSubject: subject countHolder
This results in replacing the UI label ValueHolder with the Counter's "count" ValueHolder. If I had more aspects of my model I wanted to connect, I would do it here, or if I wanted to connect the same thing to multiple widgets (like a slider, for example), I would do that here as well.
This allows direct interactions with the Counter model (for example, an "increment" button) to be reflected directly by the UI without having to explicitly update the value after the interaction or listening for events.
I'll have to think about it some more, but I think Spec has what it needs already to create a nice set of "type presenters" instead of what is currently seems more like "widget presenters."
Indeed. Thanks a lot for your analysis.
Then, instead of adding a LabelModel to a ComposableModel, you could add something like a NumberPresenter and specify the spec you want to use (which would in turn display the desired widget). I didn't go that far yet, and created a NumberLabelModel for my example above. It worked, but seems like the wrong way to go about it. Or maybe you need both...I'm not sure!
I also want to take a look at self-updating complex widgets as well (lists, tables, etc...) so that telling a list presenter it's list means that adding a value to that list could automatically update the widget and so on. I had some crude prototyping success with that in VW before deciding (hopefully for the last time) that "native" widgets aren't as important to me as a solid and simple way to connect a model to a UI presentation.
This seems much easier to achieve in Pharo, and after years of intermittent attempts I am hopeful that my knowledge level has finally become sufficient to contribute something to this heroic effort.
Superb. We are discussing with peter (but EsUG is so intense and I should finish the lectures for real now that I do not have the braincells) about a pragma driven to declare menus because this is a real lack. What I suggest is - Please please continue your experiment. - It would be great if we can compare some typical examples. - After that we can take a decision and improve/modify Spec and update the documentation. I want to write a small interface for a small app. I checked my code and I thought that it was strange that we cannot initialize presenter once the model is done GameListModel new on: GameCollector smallCollection; openWithSpec "protocol: #initialization" initializeWidgets listModel := self newList. listModel items: (collector collectionNamed: #owned) and then back then I realized that I was wrong. Stef thanks for this discussion.
Take care,
Rob
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob
Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid the presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback.
Stef
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
On Thu, Sep 7, 2017 at 2:12 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Stef,
I think you are correct and you would still always perform actions like:
initializeWidgets (to create components and sub-components) initializePresenter (to define interactions between components)
But, there could also be a third initialization step like
initializeSubject: aSubjectModel
Yes I do not remember exactlty but I have the impression that I identified the same problem recently because I wanted to do
MyApp on: aModel and I realized that the flow proposed did not let me do it that way (may be I'm incorrect).
That would allow you to initialize the domain model of each component relative to your overall model.
Yes.
Then, by exposing the aspects of your model available for viewing by a UI as ValueHolders, it looks pretty straightforward (for simple objects) to extend Spec to use those ValueHolders so that UI elements can implicitly update themselves.
The source of my inspiration is the Dolphin "Better Hello World" example(s) here:
http://object-arts.com/blog/files/better-hello-world.html
To try it out, I added a few Spec extensions and tried a little "counter" test (like your MOOC example) displayed by a CounterApp (having an increment button, decrement button, and label to show the count) such that
CounterApp showOn: counter
triggers
CounterApp>>initializeSubject: aSubjectModel
subject := aSubjectModel.
countLabel initializeSubject: subject countHolder
This results in replacing the UI label ValueHolder with the Counter's "count" ValueHolder. If I had more aspects of my model I wanted to connect, I would do it here, or if I wanted to connect the same thing to multiple widgets (like a slider, for example), I would do that here as well.
This allows direct interactions with the Counter model (for example, an "increment" button) to be reflected directly by the UI without having to explicitly update the value after the interaction or listening for events.
I'll have to think about it some more, but I think Spec has what it needs already to create a nice set of "type presenters" instead of what is currently seems more like "widget presenters."
Indeed. Thanks a lot for your analysis.
You're welcome. Thank you very much for your time--it's helpful to know there probably isn't some sophisticated wizardly way to do this that I am not even able to see or comprehend!
Then, instead of adding a LabelModel to a ComposableModel, you could add something like a NumberPresenter and specify the spec you want to use (which would in turn display the desired widget). I didn't go that far yet, and created a NumberLabelModel for my example above. It worked, but seems like the wrong way to go about it. Or maybe you need both...I'm not sure!
I also want to take a look at self-updating complex widgets as well (lists, tables, etc...) so that telling a list presenter it's list means that adding a value to that list could automatically update the widget and so on. I had some crude prototyping success with that in VW before deciding (hopefully for the last time) that "native" widgets aren't as important to me as a solid and simple way to connect a model to a UI presentation.
This seems much easier to achieve in Pharo, and after years of intermittent attempts I am hopeful that my knowledge level has finally become sufficient to contribute something to this heroic effort.
Superb.
We are discussing with peter (but EsUG is so intense and I should finish the lectures for real now that I do not have the braincells) about a pragma driven to declare menus because this is a real lack.
Good luck!
What I suggest is - Please please continue your experiment. - It would be great if we can compare some typical examples. - After that we can take a decision and improve/modify Spec and update the documentation.
That's a really good idea since I am no Spec expert! I can probably make a few things work the way I'd like them to, though, in order to produce some typical examples like master-detail lists and so on.
I want to write a small interface for a small app. I checked my code and I thought that it was strange that we cannot initialize presenter once the model is done
Right...you can see in Spec that each type of widget creates a static ValueHolder ( such as '' asValueHolder ) for each type of widget and does not currently offer a method to swap it out with a new one. Also, there are probably more available Morphic widgets that could be adapted (like a progress bar as an number presenter, for example).
GameListModel new on: GameCollector smallCollection; openWithSpec
"protocol: #initialization"
initializeWidgets listModel := self newList. listModel items: (collector collectionNamed: #owned)
and then back then I realized that I was wrong.
It would be interesting to hear the arguments against lists and trees updating themselves when their underlying objects change. It looks like Spec, VW, and Pharo all require you to monitor and replace the UI list when something is updated.
Stef
thanks for this discussion.
You're very welcome. Take care, Rob
Take care,
Rob
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Stephane Ducasse <
stepharo.self@gmail.com>
wrote:
Rob
Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid the presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback.
Stef
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object
similar
to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
I like the idea about your extension. We should really get it so that we understand it.
countLabel initializeSubject: subject countHolder
You're welcome. Thank you very much for your time--it's helpful to know there probably isn't some sophisticated wizardly way to do this that I am not even able to see or comprehend!
:)
Then, instead of adding a LabelModel to a ComposableModel, you could add something like a NumberPresenter and specify the spec you want to use (which would in turn display the desired widget). I didn't go that far yet, and created a NumberLabelModel for my example above. It worked, but seems like the wrong way to go about it. Or maybe you need both...I'm not sure!
I also want to take a look at self-updating complex widgets as well (lists, tables, etc...) so that telling a list presenter it's list means that adding a value to that list could automatically update the widget and so on. I had some crude prototyping success with that in VW before deciding (hopefully for the last time) that "native" widgets aren't as important to me as a solid and simple way to connect a model to a UI presentation.
This seems much easier to achieve in Pharo, and after years of intermittent attempts I am hopeful that my knowledge level has finally become sufficient to contribute something to this heroic effort.
Superb.
We are discussing with peter (but EsUG is so intense and I should finish the lectures for real now that I do not have the braincells) about a pragma driven to declare menus because this is a real lack.
Good luck!
What I suggest is - Please please continue your experiment. - It would be great if we can compare some typical examples. - After that we can take a decision and improve/modify Spec and update the documentation.
That's a really good idea since I am no Spec expert! I can probably make a few things work the way I'd like them to, though, in order to produce some typical examples like master-detail lists and so on.
Yes excellent.
I want to write a small interface for a small app. I checked my code and I thought that it was strange that we cannot initialize presenter once the model is done
Right...you can see in Spec that each type of widget creates a static ValueHolder ( such as '' asValueHolder ) for each type of widget and does not currently offer a method to swap it out with a new one.
yes this is not really good.
Also, there are probably more available Morphic widgets that could be adapted (like a progress bar as an number presenter, for example).
GameListModel new on: GameCollector smallCollection; openWithSpec
"protocol: #initialization"
initializeWidgets listModel := self newList. listModel items: (collector collectionNamed: #owned)
and then back then I realized that I was wrong.
To fit Spec (but Spec is certainly too limited)
It would be interesting to hear the arguments against lists and trees updating themselves when their underlying objects change. It looks like Spec, VW, and Pharo all require you to monitor and replace the UI list when something is updated.
mistake :) Lack of analysis. We are learning while doing it so let us continue.
Stef
thanks for this discussion.
You're very welcome.
Take care,
Rob
Take care,
Rob
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob
Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid the presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback.
Stef
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 1:24 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
I like the idea about your extension. We should really get it so that we understand it.
I published some experiments on smalltalkhub in a project called "Spec-Bindings" (owner RobRothwell) that loads into a clean 6.1-64 image. It just has some LabelModel and TextModel capabilities with a few tests and very simple examples. I've never really used smalltalkhub before, though, so please let me know if I didn't get it set up right. I changed and added methods only at this time, but there ComposableModel probably needs an instance variable for the subject/domain model. I didn't want to start a new branch of Spec-Core, though, so I created a Presenter subclass to create new UIs with, but the widgets all have a ValueHolder already (with different names per widget).
countLabel initializeSubject: subject countHolder
You're welcome. Thank you very much for your time--it's helpful to know there probably isn't some sophisticated wizardly way to do this that I am not even able to see or comprehend!
:)
Then, instead of adding a LabelModel to a ComposableModel, you could
add
something like a NumberPresenter and specify the spec you want to use (which would in turn display the desired widget). I didn't go that far yet, and created a NumberLabelModel for my example above. It worked, but seems like the wrong way to go about it. Or maybe you need both...I'm not sure!
I also want to take a look at self-updating complex widgets as well (lists, tables, etc...) so that telling a list presenter it's list means that adding a value to that list could automatically update the widget and so on. I had some crude prototyping success with that in VW before deciding (hopefully for the last time) that "native" widgets aren't as important to me as a solid and simple way to connect a model to a UI presentation.
This seems much easier to achieve in Pharo, and after years of intermittent attempts I am hopeful that my knowledge level has finally become sufficient to contribute something to this heroic effort.
Superb.
We are discussing with peter (but EsUG is so intense and I should finish the lectures for real now that I do not have the braincells) about a pragma driven to declare menus because this is a real lack.
Good luck!
What I suggest is - Please please continue your experiment. - It would be great if we can compare some typical examples. - After that we can take a decision and improve/modify Spec and update the documentation.
That's a really good idea since I am no Spec expert! I can probably make a few things work the way I'd like them to, though, in order to produce some typical examples like master-detail lists and so on.
Yes excellent.
I want to write a small interface for a small app. I checked my code and I thought that it was strange that we cannot initialize presenter once the model is done
Right...you can see in Spec that each type of widget creates a static ValueHolder ( such as '' asValueHolder ) for each type of widget and does not currently offer a method to swap it out with a new one.
yes this is not really good.
Hopefully my examples show that it shouldn't be too hard to modify this.
Also, there are probably more available Morphic widgets that could be adapted (like a progress bar as an number presenter, for example).
GameListModel new on: GameCollector smallCollection; openWithSpec
"protocol: #initialization"
initializeWidgets listModel := self newList. listModel items: (collector collectionNamed: #owned)
and then back then I realized that I was wrong.
To fit Spec (but Spec is certainly too limited)
Like you said, it just needs some continuous improvement!
It would be interesting to hear the arguments against lists and trees updating themselves when their underlying objects change. It looks like Spec, VW, and Pharo all require you to monitor and replace the UI list
when
something is updated.
mistake :) Lack of analysis. We are learning while doing it so let us continue.
I'll try to recreate my VW experiments, which needed a sort of "complex object value holder" so you could have something like a Person object in your list that that displayed some representative string like a full name. Then, if any of the components of Person (or any of their their sub-components, like aPerson personName firstName) changed, these changes propagated to the to top and let the list know that one of it's items had changed so it knew to update it in the list. Take care, Rob
Stef
thanks for this discussion.
You're very welcome.
Take care,
Rob
Take care,
Rob
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob
Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid
the
presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback.
Stef
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com
wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
Hi Rob I discussed with peter and I hope that he has more and younger braincells than me. I'm *****super***** busy with lectures preparation, workshop preparation and business issues. So I would love to get some time to get concentrated but not before beginning of October at the minimum. May be when I am at Prague we can discuss with Peter. Stef On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 4:43 AM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 1:24 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
I like the idea about your extension. We should really get it so that we understand it.
I published some experiments on smalltalkhub in a project called "Spec-Bindings" (owner RobRothwell) that loads into a clean 6.1-64 image.
It just has some LabelModel and TextModel capabilities with a few tests and very simple examples. I've never really used smalltalkhub before, though, so please let me know if I didn't get it set up right.
I changed and added methods only at this time, but there ComposableModel probably needs an instance variable for the subject/domain model. I didn't want to start a new branch of Spec-Core, though, so I created a Presenter subclass to create new UIs with, but the widgets all have a ValueHolder already (with different names per widget).
countLabel initializeSubject: subject countHolder
You're welcome. Thank you very much for your time--it's helpful to know there probably isn't some sophisticated wizardly way to do this that I am not even able to see or comprehend!
:)
Then, instead of adding a LabelModel to a ComposableModel, you could add something like a NumberPresenter and specify the spec you want to use (which would in turn display the desired widget). I didn't go that far yet, and created a NumberLabelModel for my example above. It worked, but seems like the wrong way to go about it. Or maybe you need both...I'm not sure!
I also want to take a look at self-updating complex widgets as well (lists, tables, etc...) so that telling a list presenter it's list means that adding a value to that list could automatically update the widget and so on. I had some crude prototyping success with that in VW before deciding (hopefully for the last time) that "native" widgets aren't as important to me as a solid and simple way to connect a model to a UI presentation.
This seems much easier to achieve in Pharo, and after years of intermittent attempts I am hopeful that my knowledge level has finally become sufficient to contribute something to this heroic effort.
Superb.
We are discussing with peter (but EsUG is so intense and I should finish the lectures for real now that I do not have the braincells) about a pragma driven to declare menus because this is a real lack.
Good luck!
What I suggest is - Please please continue your experiment. - It would be great if we can compare some typical examples. - After that we can take a decision and improve/modify Spec and update the documentation.
That's a really good idea since I am no Spec expert! I can probably make a few things work the way I'd like them to, though, in order to produce some typical examples like master-detail lists and so on.
Yes excellent.
I want to write a small interface for a small app. I checked my code and I thought that it was strange that we cannot initialize presenter once the model is done
Right...you can see in Spec that each type of widget creates a static ValueHolder ( such as '' asValueHolder ) for each type of widget and does not currently offer a method to swap it out with a new one.
yes this is not really good.
Hopefully my examples show that it shouldn't be too hard to modify this.
Also, there are probably more available Morphic widgets that could be adapted (like a progress bar as an number presenter, for example).
GameListModel new on: GameCollector smallCollection; openWithSpec
"protocol: #initialization"
initializeWidgets listModel := self newList. listModel items: (collector collectionNamed: #owned)
and then back then I realized that I was wrong.
To fit Spec (but Spec is certainly too limited)
Like you said, it just needs some continuous improvement!
It would be interesting to hear the arguments against lists and trees updating themselves when their underlying objects change. It looks like Spec, VW, and Pharo all require you to monitor and replace the UI list when something is updated.
mistake :) Lack of analysis. We are learning while doing it so let us continue.
I'll try to recreate my VW experiments, which needed a sort of "complex object value holder" so you could have something like a Person object in your list that that displayed some representative string like a full name. Then, if any of the components of Person (or any of their their sub-components, like aPerson personName firstName) changed, these changes propagated to the to top and let the list know that one of it's items had changed so it knew to update it in the list.
Take care,
Rob
Stef
thanks for this discussion.
You're very welcome.
Take care,
Rob
Take care,
Rob
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Rob
Spec deserves another pass. I see your point with showOn: now I do not see how you could avoid the presenter building. But may be I'm not enough into it. So I'm interested in your feedback.
Stef
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 7:11 AM, Peter Uhnak <i.uhnak@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Rob,
I'm making a note to look at your proposals and I will discuss it with Stef later.
Thanks, Peter, I appreciate any insights you can offer. I will continue experimenting, and just wanted to make sure I figured out how to share my ideas during a window of opportunity I had.
he has more and younger braincells than me
But not enough connections between them. The cells just sit there alone and are not talking to anyone. :(
I can certainly relate to that! Unfortunately, some of my best thinking is out loud trying to explain something I don't really understand to someone else... Take care, Rob
Peter
On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 5:06 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Rob
I discussed with peter and I hope that he has more and younger braincells than me. I'm *****super***** busy with lectures preparation, workshop preparation and business issues. So I would love to get some time to get concentrated but not before beginning of October at the minimum. May be when I am at Prague we can discuss with Peter.
Stef
Hi Stef, Thank you very much for the encouragement, and good luck with all your endeavors. I have a huge MOOC project going on at work myself (you know how that can be), but I will keep experimenting with this and try to be prepared when there is some time available! Take care, Rob
Good luck because this is heavy after a while. I'm finishing a first full version of the book for the prague lecture as well as all the slides (done) now working on exercises.... tedious because also a long term effort. On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 10:51 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sat, Sep 9, 2017 at 5:06 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Rob
I discussed with peter and I hope that he has more and younger braincells than me. I'm *****super***** busy with lectures preparation, workshop preparation and business issues. So I would love to get some time to get concentrated but not before beginning of October at the minimum. May be when I am at Prague we can discuss with Peter.
Stef
Hi Stef,
Thank you very much for the encouragement, and good luck with all your endeavors. I have a huge MOOC project going on at work myself (you know how that can be), but I will keep experimenting with this and try to be prepared when there is some time available!
Take care,
Rob
Hi rob where can I find your code because I'm really thinking that something is missing in Spec. I'm writing a little editor for a gameItem and I should go through and I would like to use it as an example of what I do not like. In fact I would like to have all the models to work on aspect of the domain model. May be this is avaialbale in spec but I forgot and I forgot to document it in the book. Stef On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
Hi rob I wrote this missing chapter and I think that it exhibits the changes you wanted to introduce. So let me know. Stef On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 9:13 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi rob
where can I find your code because I'm really thinking that something is missing in Spec. I'm writing a little editor for a gameItem and I should go through and I would like to use it as an example of what I do not like. In fact I would like to have all the models to work on aspect of the domain model. May be this is avaialbale in spec but I forgot and I forgot to document it in the book.
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
Hi rob we are discussing in Peter and reading your solution. Now about your example, I think that the Presenter >> subject: aDomainObject subjectHolder := aDomainObject asValueHolder We should not have countHolder in the domain object. In the domain object we should only have the domain and no value holder. Now to access a part of a domain object to refresh/change it without changing the whole, we should have something similar to AspectAdaptor in VW. What do you think? Stef On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 9:21 PM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi rob
I wrote this missing chapter and I think that it exhibits the changes you wanted to introduce. So let me know.
Stef
On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 9:13 AM, Stephane Ducasse <stepharo.self@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi rob
where can I find your code because I'm really thinking that something is missing in Spec. I'm writing a little editor for a gameItem and I should go through and I would like to use it as an example of what I do not like. In fact I would like to have all the models to work on aspect of the domain model. May be this is avaialbale in spec but I forgot and I forgot to document it in the book.
Stef
On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 8:49 PM, Rob Rothwell <r.j.rothwell@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I was wondering what more experienced users than myself thought of the idea of an explicit Spec "connection point" to a domain model object similar to Dolphin's "showOn:" method, like:
CounterApp showOn: counter.
This would perhaps trigger something like Dolphin's Presenter>>model: message (although I've always found the use of "model" confusing when there are so many "models" involved.) after the widgets had been created:
ComposableModel>>initializeBindings: anObject
In many cases, if your domain model uses ValueHolders as well (like Spec does), making a connection could just mean replacing the Spec ValueHolder with your domain ValueHolder so changes to the domain model would automatically propagate to the UI presentation without providing explicit code in ComposableModel>>initializePresenter.
However, since I am still trying to understand and learn Spec, it's quite possible I am missing some key point and there are reasons not to explore this line of thinking!
Thank you,
Rob
participants (3)
-
Peter Uhnak -
Rob Rothwell -
Stephane Ducasse