Predicate + Function = Rule

Another enhancement on top of google-collections that I want to share with you.

In essence, rule is condition and action. So I will use Predicate as a condition and Function as an action. The composite function then consists of list of rules, for the first predicate that evaluates to true, it will invoke the corresponding function. If none of the predicates are matched - default function will be invoked. Here is the source code, if you want more details.

For example, here is how I define a function "size" of an arbitrary object:

Function<Object, Integer> size = new Rules<Object,Integer>().
addRule(isNull(), constant(0)).
addRule(
or(
 instanceOf(Collection.class),
 instanceOf(Map.class)),
self().reflect("size").cast(Integer.class)).
addRule(
asPredicate(self().reflect("getClass").
           reflect("isArray").cast(Boolean.class)),
self().reflect(Array.class, "getLength").cast(Integer.class)).
setDefault(constant(1));

If you read my earlier post, you already know about the FunctionChain, this is where I statically import self() from. The reflect() function transfers Object to Object by invoking a parameterless method with given name on the current object, or passes current object to a single-parameter method of another object (or class for static methods). The cast() method performs a cast to given class. The instanceOf() function is a shortcut to ClassPredicate which returns true if the class it holds is assignable from a given class. I also assume statically imported or and isNull Predicates and Functions.constant. (I could replace reflect function calls with a special size and length functions, but I think it's enough to illustrate the idea as it is.)

The same segment in "normal" coding would look something like that:

if (object == null) {
 return 0;
} else if (object instanceof Collection) {
 return ((Collection)object).size(); {
} else if (object instanceof Map) {
 return ((Map)object).size(); {
} else if (object.getClass().isArray()) {
 return Array.getLength(object);
} else {
 return 1;
}

I don't pretend one is better than the other, but it's interesting enough, I think, and sometimes useful.