If the class has a compare method that doesn't work for my current problem,
do I subclass it and create my own maxstr?
If you are referring to my original post, then yes. The Max class abstracts
the algorithm of calculating a maximum of objects - the subclass implements
the comparison in the appropriate context. Im not suggesting this is the best
OO solution, just one that is like the Higher-Order equivalent.
If you meant "Foo.compareTo() doesnt compare Foos like I want",
then the solution depends on (among other things)
how much internal access you need to compute the comparison. There are
quite a few ways this could be approached but to bring it back to my
original point, they are mostly structured and organized - not
hidden un-garbage-collected variables and blind function dereferencing.
What if each object needs a unique compare function?
Then what are you comparing it to? I would have thought similarity
was a prerequisite for comparison.
What if these functions aren't known at compile time?
Closures are compiled too. That is, whether you use
gt or
> (or whatever)
is decided at compile time - there is no runtime dynamic there.
What if there are so many functions that it's difficult to give them all unique and useful names?
They are all called 'compare' - different classes do different things when it is invoked.
update: clarification - Im not sure Im addressing your questions?
time was, I could move my arms like a bird and...