Category method names should be prefixed

[bdolman]

What happens if Apple introduces -[NSDictionary map:] in iOS 7?

http://cocoamanifest.net/articles/2011/06/clash-of-the-categories.html

With such common method names, it's not unlikely that this could happen. Ideally you could name it bk_map instead of just map. Not as elegant, but 100x safer.

[atomkirk]

here, here! and then you could do something like magic record where they add something that lets people use the category methods without a prefix, so you could add this and make it somewhat "backwards compatible", as long as existing users add the flag to remove the prefix.

[zwaldowski]

It's being taken into consideration. Alex and I have discussed it from time to time. The whole idea of BlocksKit is that Apple would never introduce -[NSDictionary map:], because that's not how they write the language. The (optional) choice to use BlocksKit is an acknowledgement of the understanding of those method names, which is against Obj-C (but better for us). The runtime stuff we do would benefit greatly from prefixing

As far as MagicalRecord, while I like the kit itself, I can't stand behind the auto/sort-of/not-really prefixing. It's a mangling of C. We swizzled base methods on NSObject before, and it was a disaster. I'm afraid we won't be taking that approach, but stay tuned as far as prefixing other areas.

[seivan]

I agree with @atomkirk @bdolman - I recently started prefixing categories as it makes it easier to find a particular category (couldn't resist) of categories. But yeah I'm not so much pro swizzling just to get rid of the prefixes. I don't use the MR shorthand, so I can't tell how properly it works, three additional characters isn't so bad :) (MR_) and makes it easier to find the selectors I'm looking for. MR_

[seivan]

Any take on this?
It's getting annoying to see notification selectors on [NSNotificationCenter.defaultCenter ....] or [[self.collectionView perform ....] that's polluting the public interface.

EDIT: Just to clarify, I'm asking for your views on this if it would be feasible or if I should do a fork. I've been meaning to add some more stuff to BlocksKit as well.

[zwaldowski]

It's going to happen, just not during exam season. Sorry. But soon! Thanks for the support.

[zwaldowski]

I encourage you to fork if you have any extra features to have, but method prefixing of the whole shebang is on the roadmap for 2.0. We'll also intend to do a lot more safety checking for how A2DD's interference affects private uses (i.e., UIAlertView subclasses).

[zwaldowski]

Completed in next by #151.