Remove need to bloat code by setters and getters, support get/set like in C# instead

[DartBot]

This issue was originally filed by [email protected]

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Following the Total example code at https://code.google.com/p/dart/source/browse/branches/bleeding_edge/dart/client/samples/total/src/Cell.dart you need to code a lot of setters and getters, which is a pain and bad practice:

class Cell {
  CellContent _content;
  Set<CellLocation> _dependents;
  bool _isStyleDirty;
  Style _style;

  // the following code should make you cry:

  CellContent get content() {
    return _content;
  }

  Set<CellLocation> get dependents() {
    return _dependents;
  }

  Style get style() {
    return _style;
  }

Have a look at the keywords 'get' and 'set' in C#. For instance getters could be created like this:

  CellContent _content { get; };
  Set<CellLocation> _dependents { get; };
  bool _isStyleDirty { get; };
  Style _style { get; }
      

[DartBot]

This comment was originally written by [email protected]

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The only reason those exist at all is to expose read-only access to a private field -- if it were public, you don't even need to declare a getter at all. So, your example would need some way to specify a public name for the field -- maybe this is common enough to justify special syntax for it.

BTW, that code could be much more succinct with:

CellContent get content() => _content;
Set<CellLocation> get dependents() => _dependents;

Granted, you still have to duplicate some things, but this also allows you to declare the types differently (for example, your public getter uses a supertype of the field) or the setter takes a different type.

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Added Area-Language, Triaged labels.

[gbracha]

Please keep in mind the difference between a feature request and a bug.

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Set owner to @gbracha.
Removed Type-Defect label.
Added Type-Enhancement, Duplicate labels.
Marked as being merged into #87.

[gbracha]

Please keep in mind the difference between a feature request and a bug.

[DartBot]

This comment was originally written by [email protected]

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A lot of code in Total was written before DartC supported the '=>' operator -- I've updated the code as suggested above.