Record typdefs?

[aloisdeniel]

Hello!

Thanks for this useful package!

Would it be possible to generate reflectors for record typedefs like the following one?

typedef User = ({
    String name,
    int age,
});

@ReflectionBridge([
  User,
])
class UserReflectionBridge {}

Thanks

[gmpassos]

There's no reflection for 'typedef' yet, and also I haven't tested it with records yet.

A full support for records is already planned, but I haven't realized the use with typedef. If you can provide a full use case, with complex examples, it can help the planning.

Best regards.

[aloisdeniel]

Sure,

I basically use typedefs with records to define simple data classes.

typedef User = ({
    String name,
    int age,
});

// You can add extension methods or properties
extension UserExtensions on User {
   String get description {
      return '$name $age';
   }
   
   bool isOlder(User other) {
      return age > other.age;
   }
}

void main() {
    final User user1 = (name: 'John', age: 34);
    final User user2= (name: 'Bob', age: 32);
    final isUser1Older = user1.isOlder(user2);
    print('${user1.description} ${user2.description} : $isUser1Older');
}

So the typedef is just a "shortcut" for the record type. It just makes it you avoid repeating the full record type each time. But I actually use them as I would use real types.

That said, If the reflection bridge works for the record type, it should work for the typedef of this same record type.

[gmpassos]

Nice,

Please add this approach to this thread, since no one mentioned it yet:

dart-lang/language#314

Now there's a proposal for data classes:

https://github.com/dart-lang/language/blob/main/working/value-classes/feature-specification.md

[gmpassos]

Could you demonstrate how you intend to utilize reflection_factory with your 'data' classes?

Just getting the list of fields? Since there's no reflection for extensions yet.

[aloisdeniel]

I would use it only for record properties, not for extension methods!

It is mainly to display the tree of data in the application.

[gmpassos]

Speaking about a tree of data: maybe this can be helpful to generate the tree for console:

https://pub.dev/packages/ascii_art_tree