Provided by: tcl-itcl4-doc_4.2.2-1_all 
NAME
itcl - object-oriented extensions to Tcl
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DESCRIPTION
[incr Tcl] provides object-oriented extensions to Tcl, much as C++ provides object-oriented extensions to
C. The emphasis of this work, however, is not to create a whiz-bang object-oriented programming
environment. Rather, it is to support more structured programming practices in Tcl without changing the
flavor of the language. More than anything else, [incr Tcl] provides a means of encapsulating related
procedures together with their shared data in a namespace that is hidden from the outside world. It
encourages better programming by promoting the object-oriented "library" mindset. It also allows for
code re-use through inheritance.
CLASSES
The fundamental construct in [incr Tcl] is the class definition. Each class acts as a template for
actual objects that can be created. Each object has its own unique bundle of data, which contains
instances of the "variables" defined in the class. Special procedures called "methods" are used to
manipulate individual objects. Methods are just like the operations that are used to manipulate Tk
widgets. The "button" widget, for example, has methods such as "flash" and "invoke" that cause a
particular button to blink and invoke its command.
Within the body of a method, the "variables" defined in the class are automatically available. They need
not be declared with anything like the global command. Within another class method, a method can be
invoked like any other command-simply by using its name. From any other context, the method name must be
prefaced by an object name, which provides a context for the data that the method can access.
Each class has its own namespace containing things that are common to all objects which belong to the
class. For example, "common" data members are shared by all objects in the class. They are global
variables that exist in the class namespace, but since they are included in the class definition, they
need not be declared using the global command; they are automatically available to any code executing in
the class context. A class can also create ordinary global variables, but these must be declared using
the global command each time they are used.
Classes can also have ordinary procedures declared as "procs". Within another class method or proc, a
proc can be invoked like any other command-simply by using its name. From any other context, the
procedure name should be qualified with the class namespace like "className::proc". Class procs execute
in the class context, and therefore have automatic access to all "common" data members. However, they
cannot access object-specific "variables", since they are invoked without reference to any specific
object. They are usually used to perform generic operations which affect all objects belonging to the
class.
Each of the elements in a class can be declared "public", "protected" or "private". Public elements can
be accessed by the class, by derived classes (other classes that inherit this class), and by external
clients that use the class. Protected elements can be accessed by the class, and by derived classes.
Private elements are only accessible in the class where they are defined.
The "public" elements within a class define its interface to the external world. Public methods define
the operations that can be used to manipulate an object. Public variables are recognized as
configuration options by the "configure" and "cget" methods that are built into each class. The public
interface says what an object will do but not how it will do it. Protected and private members, along
with the bodies of class methods and procs, provide the implementation details. Insulating the
application developer from these details leaves the class designer free to change them at any time,
without warning, and without affecting programs that rely on the class. It is precisely this
encapsulation that makes object-oriented programs easier to understand and maintain.
The fact that [incr Tcl] objects look like Tk widgets is no accident. [incr Tcl] was designed this way,
to blend naturally into a Tcl/Tk application. But [incr Tcl] extends the Tk paradigm from being merely
object-based to being fully object-oriented. An object-oriented system supports inheritance, allowing
classes to share common behaviors by inheriting them from an ancestor or base class. Having a base class
as a common abstraction allows a programmer to treat related classes in a similar manner. For example, a
toaster and a blender perform different (specialized) functions, but both share the abstraction of being
appliances. By abstracting common behaviors into a base class, code can be shared rather than copied.
The resulting application is easier to understand and maintain, and derived classes (e.g., specialized
appliances) can be added or removed more easily.
This description was merely a brief overview of object-oriented programming and [incr Tcl]. A more
tutorial introduction is presented in the paper included with this distribution. See the class command
for more details on creating and using classes.
NAMESPACES
[incr Tcl] now includes a complete namespace facility. A namespace is a collection of commands and
global variables that is kept apart from the usual global scope. This allows Tcl code libraries to be
packaged in a well-defined manner, and prevents unwanted interactions with other libraries. A namespace
can also have child namespaces within it, so one library can contain its own private copy of many other
libraries. A namespace can also be used to wrap up a group of related classes. The global scope (named
"::") is the root namespace for an interpreter; all other namespaces are contained within it.
See the namespace command for details on creating and using namespaces.
MEGA-WIDGETS
Mega-widgets are high-level widgets that are constructed using Tk widgets as component parts, usually
without any C code. A fileselectionbox, for example, may have a few listboxes, some entry widgets and
some control buttons. These individual widgets are put together in a way that makes them act like one
big widget.
[incr Tk] is a framework for building mega-widgets. It uses [incr Tcl] to support the object paradigm,
and adds base classes which provide default widget behaviors. See the itk man page for more details.
[incr Widgets] is a library of mega-widgets built using [incr Tk]. It contains more than 30 different
widget classes that can be used right out of the box to build Tcl/Tk applications. Each widget class has
its own man page describing the features available.
KEYWORDS
class, object, object-oriented, namespace, mega-widget