Methref

Methref is a tool that gives you strong-type references to method names.

Sometimes you need to refer to a method in our code using their names. Usually in this cases, method names are stored as strings and they are not immune to method name changes and typing errors.

Methref is a tiny and cool utility, build on Proxetta, that provides strongly-typed references to method names. Here is how it works.

Strongly-typed method name references

Here are two examples how Methref can be used:

    Methref<Str> m = Methref.on(Str.class);  // create Methref tool

    // example #1
    m.to().boo();
    m.ref());                               // returns String: 'boo'

    // example #2
    m.ref(m.to().foo()));                   // returns String: 'foo'

In both cases, Methref object is created first for target class which method we are looking for. Methref objects are cached internally, so there will be no performance penalty on using it all over the code.

In first example, method is called separately from place where it's name is returned. In second example, all that is done in one line. Anyway, calling to() returns proxified instance of target class (cached). Then, by simple target method invocation in combination with m.ref(), the method name is returned! And that is all - now, when target method name is changed (e.g. using refactoring in IDE), no other action regarding new method name is required.

Two important things to remember:

1. Although there is a target method invocation, method code is NOT executed! Proxy just returns null or a method name if methods return type is a String.
2. Methref instances are not thread safe and should be not shared; create new Methref where needed.

Methods that return String

When method returns a String there is even a shortcut! Such methods will return method name as a result. For example:

    Methref.on(Str.class).to().foo();            // returns 'foo'

Or even shorter:

    Methref.onto(Str.class).foo();              // returns 'foo'

Methods with arguments

Of course, Methref supports methods with arguments: since method code is not invoked, any method argument value may be used until syntax is correct:

    Methref.onto(Str.class).foo2(null, 0);

If method is overloaded, use some constants for your arguments to distinguish between methods.

Enjoy!