Classify.js

Classify.js is a library that allows for cross platform and cross browser Object Oriented Javascript class definitions using classical inheritance and namespaces behind the prototype syntax in an easy to use interface function. Classify also provides "bound" properties that passes the calling context as the first argument, and "static" properties for static properties and methods on the object definition.

Classify is tested in IE 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+, Chrome 3+, and Opera 10+, NodeJs.

Usage

Creating a class

var Pet = Classify({
    type : "",
    eaten : null,
    init : function(type) { // constructor method
        this.type = type;
        // don't assign objects to the prototype, because it
        // will be same reference in all instances
        this.eaten = [];
    },
    eat : function(food) {
        this.eaten.push(food);
    }
});

Inheritance

var Dog = Classify(Pet, {
    breed : "",
    init : function(breed) {
        this.$$parent("dog");
        this.breed = breed;
    }
});

Mixins/Multiple Inheritance

// Implementations will only be attached to the prototype
var feline_traits = {
    is_asleep : false,
    sleep : function() {
        this.is_asleep = true;
    },
    wake : function() {
        this.is_asleep = false;
    }
};
var Cat = Classify(Pet, [ feline_traits ], {
    breed : "",
    init : function(breed) {
        this.$$parent("cat");
        this.breed = breed;
    }
});

Static Properties/Methods

// Static properties can be defined with the "$$static$$" prefix
// or defined in bulk with $$static$$ : {prop1:1, prop2:2}
var Bird = Classify(Pet, {
    breed : "",
    init : function(breed) {
        this.$$parent("bird");
        this.breed = Bird.validateBreed(breed);
    },
    $$static$$BREEDS : {
        parrot : "Parrot",
        canary : "Canary"
    },
    $$static$$validateBreed : function(breed) {
        return Bird.BREEDS[breed] || "Unknown";
    }
});

Autobinding

// Auto bound properties can be defined with the "$$bind$$" prefix
// or defined in bulk with $$bind$$ : {prop1:function(){}, prop2:function(){}}
var Pig = Classify(Pet, {
    init : function() {
        this.$$parent("pig");
    },
    $$bind$$speak : function(event) {
        // this can now be called within the class with this.speak()
        // special property $$context added for the duration of this
        // method to pass along the calling context, with "this" is
        // still the instance
        alert(this.$$context.href);
    }
});
var p = new Pig();
// <a href="#oink" id="some-link">Click me!</a>
document.getElementById("some-link").addEventListener("click", p.speak);

Calling overridden parent methods

var Dog = Classify(Pet, {
    breed : "",
    init : function(breed) {
        // "this.$$parent" is the parent of the calling method
        this.$$parent("dog");
        this.breed = breed;
    },
    eat : function() {
        // the dog can only eat fish...
        this.$$parent("fish");
    },
    eatBiscuit : function() {
        // using "this.$$apply" can call any method in the parent prototype
        // with an array of arguments similar to "Function.apply()"
        // this will call Pet.prototype.eat with the argument biscuit
        // shortcut for Pet.prototype.eat.apply(this, [ "biscuit" ]);
        this.$$apply("eat", [ "biscuit" ]);
    },
    eatDogFood : function() {
        // using "this.$$call" can call any method in the parent prototype
        // with a set of arguments similar to "Function.call()"
        // this will call Pet.prototype.eat with the argument biscuit
        // shortcut for Pet.prototype.eat.call(this, "biscuit");
        this.$$call("eat", "biscuit");
    }
});

Namespaces

// creating/retrieving a namespace
var namespace = Classify("Life");
// OR
var namespace = Classify.Namespace.from("Life", {} /* any object can be a coerced into a namespace */);
// note that this cannot be accessed with 'Classify("Life");'
// if global access is needed use 'Classify.Namespace.from("Life", {}, true);'

method 1: through the namespace objects

// creating classes within a namespace
namespace.create("Reptile", {
    species : "",
    init : function(species) {
        this.species = species;
    }
});
// retrieving classes within a namespace
var Reptile = namespace.get("Reptile");
 
// extending classes within a namespace
namespace.create("Tortoise", "Reptile", {
    init : function() {
        this.$$parent("tortoise");
    }
});
// retrieving classes within a namespace
var Tortoise = namespace.get("Tortoise");
 
namespace.create("Tortoise.DesertTortoise", "Tortoise", {
    age : null,
    init : function() {
        this.$$parent();
        this.age = 0;
    }
});
// retrieving classes within a namespace
var DesertTortoise = namespace.get("Tortoise.DesertTortoise");
 
// instances
var pet = new DesertTortoise();
pet instanceof Tortoise;
pet instanceof Reptile;
pet.getNamespace() === namespace;
 
// removing a class within a namespace
namespace.destroy("Tortoise.DesertTortoise");
 
// checking a class within a namespace
namespace.exists("Tortoise.DesertTortoise");

method 2: through the Classify function

// creating classes within a namespace
Classify("Life", "Reptile", {
    species : "",
    init : function(species) {
        this.species = species;
    }
});
// OR using a "/" will denote namespace/classname
Classify("Life/Reptile", {
    species : "",
    init : function(species) {
        this.species = species;
    }
});
// retrieving classes within a namespace
var Reptile = Classify("Life", "Reptile");
// OR using a "/" will denote namespace/classname
var Reptile = Classify("Life/Reptile");
 
// extending classes within a namespace
// Classify("Life", "Tortoise", "Reptile", {
Classify("Life/Tortoise", "Reptile", {
    init : function() {
        this.$$parent("tortoise");
    }
});
// retrieving classes within a namespace
var Tortoise = Classify("Life/Tortoise");
 
Classify("Life/Tortoise.DesertTortoise", "Tortoise", {
    age : null,
    init : function() {
        this.$$parent();
        this.age = 0;
    }
});
// retrieving classes within a namespace
var DesertTortoise = Classify("Life/Tortoise.DesertTortoise");
 
// instances
var pet = new DesertTortoise();
pet instanceof Tortoise;
pet instanceof Reptile;
pet.getNamespace() === namespace;

Instantiating

var Reptile = Classify("Life/Reptile");
 
// instances
var pet = new Reptile("tortoise");
pet instanceof Reptile;
 
// instances
var pet = new Classify("Life/Reptile", [ "tortoise" ])
pet instanceof Reptile;
!(pet instanceof Classify);

Utility

(function(Classify) {
    // here you can use the Classify object and remove the global reference to it
    // this function is only available on browser environments
})(Classify.noConflict());

Environments

Classify is CommonJS compliant and can be used in the browser scope or the server scope.

In the browser:

<script src="path/to/classify.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- Classify() is now in the global context -->

In NodeJs environment:

npm install classifyjs

var Classify = require("classifyjs").Classify;

With an AMD loader like RequireJS:

require({
    "paths" : {
        "classify" : "path/to/classify"
    }
}, [ "classify" ], function(Classify) {
    console.log(Classify.version);
});

Building the Source

Classify uses the grunt build system. Building Classify requires node.js and a command line gzip program.

# Install grunt. 
$ npm install -g grunt-cli bower
 
# Clone the Classify git repo. 
$ git clone git://github.com/weikinhuang/Classify.git
$ cd Classify
 
# Install node modules. 
$ npm install
$ bower install
 
# Run grunt. 
$ grunt

Running the tests:

$ grunt test

For saucelabs users, test can be run from the test task with:

$ export SAUCE_USERNAME=[saucelabs username]
$ export SAUCE_ACCESS_KEY=[saucelabs access token]

To skip the saucelabs tests

$ grunt test:local

There are many other tasks that can be run through grunt. For a list of all tasks:

$ grunt --help

Changelog

v0.14.1

Adding `priority` property to mutators to allow for mutator processing order

v0.14.0

Ability to set internal references for namespaces created with `Namespace.from()`

v0.13.1

BREAKING CHANGE: Renaming more additional internal props for consistiency

    Namespace.nsname => Namespace.$$nsname
    Namespace.nsref => Namespace.$$nsref

v0.13.0

BREAKING CHANGE: the mutator prefix is now $$\w+$$
BREAKING CHANGE: underscores are no longer allowed in mutator names
BREAKING CHANGE: multiple mutators can be specified in the mutator prefix separated by an _
BREAKING CHANGE: the mutator prefix is always removed regardless if there is a mutator attached or not
greedy mutators can be added to always be run onPropAdd and onPropRemove

    // prefix change
    { __mutator_prop : 1 } => { $$mutator$$ : 1 }
    // multiple mutators
    { $$mutate1_mutate2$$ : 1 }
    // greedy mutators
    addMutator({ greedy : true })
    // prefix removed when attached to an object
    $$abc$$prop : 1 => prop : 1

v0.12.0

BREAKING CHANGE: Class.toString now returns the init method body
BREAKING CHANGE: Renaming internal properties and certain magic properties.
BREAKING CHANGE: Change behavior of the bind mutator to make context a property instead of a argument.

    // calling parent method
    this.parent => this.$$parent
    this.invoke => this.$$apply
    adding this.$$call
    // internal variables
    Class.superclass => Class.$$superclass
    Class.subclass => Class.$$subclass
    Class.implement => Class.$$implement
    Class.mutators => Class.$$mutator
    Class.applicate => Class.$$apply
    Class.__isclass_ => Class.$$isclass
    // bind mutator
    function(context) {} => function() { this.$$context; }
    // shortcuts
    removed this.self, use Class.prototype.constructor/this.constructor instead

v0.11.0

Removing Observer and observable mutator from core. Now in Classify-Observable[https://github.com/weikinhuang/Classify-Observer]

v0.10.4

Pass arguments to onInit mutators

v0.10.3

Allow for mutators to be defined on a per class/namespace level
Ability to create mutators out of any object
Convert to grunt build system

v0.10.2

Fix requirejs and amd definitions, remove async autoloader to support it

v0.10.1

Android Mobile thinks typeof RegExp == "function"

v0.10.0

Allow init mutators to override constructor return value & throw on scalar values
Adding null value to the prototype for observable properties
Observer properties don't need to go through objectDefineProperty

v0.9.10

BREAKING CHANGE, implements overrides extends when defining a class that institutes both
Use ES5 Object.create when possible

v0.9.9

Fix issue when extending non Classify objects overriding special properties
Global namespace is now a property of Classify on Classify.global
Updated Observers to have a 'on' alias and be able to bind events to be fired only once
Using Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty instead of .hasOwnProperty

v0.9.8

The called context is passed in as argument 1 for auto bound functions

v0.9.7

Refactoring internals so that adding and removing mutators can be externalized
Added mutator to auto bind functions to a class instance

v0.9.6

Fix case where classes are added as properties of other classes

v0.9.5

Added ability to add non wrapped methods to the class prototype

v0.9.4

Adding Travis-ci config file
Fix issue with IE6-9 when extending from non Classify classes
General bug fixes, removing support for IE<6

v0.9.3

Renaming Class.Extend to Class.extend

v0.9.2

Ability to delay event listeners from being triggered in observers

v0.9.0

Ability to add statics and observers in a container

v0.8.5

Fix issue with adding overriding functions to a parent prototype

v0.8.0

Only fire observer listeners when the value has changed

v0.7.5

fixing parent invocation using applicate in default invoke method

v0.7.0

Ability to inherit from objects that are not created with Classify.create.
Allow Classify to be AMD compatible.
extend utility function that "extends" objects with properties from other objects in a shallow manner
fix issue with class invocation of "invoke" when class is a direct property of a namespace
"get" in namespace cascades into "GLOBAL" namespace classes
groundwork for ability to extend native and non create objects
Removing check for native objects (IE doesn't allow extending native objects).
throw Error objects instead of strings

v0.6.0

better detection of parameters for using Classify function ("namespace/classname" for retrieval)
minification optimizations
quicker access to the GLOBAL namespace

v0.4.0

ability to inherit the parent invoke method if not defined
exporting provide to the Classify object
GLOBAL namespace that all namespaced classes can inherit from

v0.3.5

ability to get a class definition synchronously and asynchronously in Classify
ability to test if a namespace exists
adding Classify.noConflict for conflict free usage of Classify

v0.3.0

using more standardized nomenclature
"_construct_" => "init"
"_invoke_" => "invoke"
"_apply_" => "applicate"
"_parent_" => "parent"
"_self_" => "self"

v0.2.0

ability to create and destory classes created within namespaces
better checking of enumerable keys in IE < 9
bugfix on Extend functionality
Classify function endpoint has ability to to get namespace and create classes within the namespace
fixing issue with adding multiple properties to a class with the addProperty call
"get" in namespace takes in a callback and passes in the class
global references
namespacing functionality
only export classify to root object if it's a browser
pulled out the body of invoke to apply and default invoke will call apply
the exported object is created using the internal Create method
updated to "use strict";

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All code released under the MIT License.

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