Convert NSManagedObjects into structs in a "generic" way (Swift) - ios

I have a CoreDataStore class which has two generic placeholders and can be used for each entity type in the model. The idea is that it fetches an NSManagedObject subclass (based on one of the generic types) from the store, converts it into the appropriate object (based on the other generic type) and returns that object.
The purpose of this behaviour is so I'm keeping the Core Data aspects encapsulated and avoiding passing NSManagedObject instances all around the app.
Example potential usage
This is purely how the usage might look to further demonstrate what I am trying to achieve.
let personStore = CoreDataStore<ManagedPerson, Person>()
let personData = personStore.fetchSomeObject() // personData is a value type Person
I have the following code, separated over several files but shown here in a modified fashion for simplicity.
import Foundation
import CoreData
// MARK: - Core Data protocol and managed object
protocol ManagedObjectProtocol { }
class ManagedPerson: NSManagedObject, ManagedObjectProtocol {
var title: String?
}
class ManagedDepartment: NSManagedObject, ManagedObjectProtocol {
var name: String?
}
// MARK: - Simple struct representations
protocol DataProtocol {
typealias ManagedObjectType: ManagedObjectProtocol
init(managedObject: ManagedObjectType)
}
struct Person {
var title: String?
}
struct Department {
var name: String?
}
extension Person: DataProtocol {
typealias ManagedObjectType = ManagedPerson
init(managedObject: ManagedPerson) {
self.title = managedObject.title
}
}
extension Department: DataProtocol {
typealias ManagedObjectType = ManagedDepartment
init(managedObject: ManagedDepartment) {
self.name = managedObject.name
}
}
class CoreDataStore<ManagedObject: ManagedObjectProtocol, DataObject: DataProtocol> {
func fetchSomeObject() -> DataObject {
var managedObject: ManagedObject // fetch an NSManagedObject
// Error here
return DataObject(managedObject: managedObject)
}
}
The error I am receiving is when I try to initialise the struct in fetchSomeObject:
Cannot invoke initializer for type 'DataObject' with an argument list of type '(managedObject: ManagedObject)'
Obviously the compiler can't figure out that the DataObject (which is restricted to types conforming to DataProtocol) can be initialised with a ManagedObject (which is restricted to types conforming to ManagedObjectProtocol) despite it being declared as such in DataProtocol.
Is there any way to achieve this functionality? Additionally is this a reasonable approach or am I completely off the wall with this?
Update
After a bit of digging it seems that Swift generics are invariant which I believe is causing what I'm running into.

Think your CoreDataStore again, for example, CoreDataStore<ManagedPerson, Department> doesn't make any sense. Why not? Because the Department is a DataProtocol without problem, but its corresponding typealias ManagedObjectType is not ManagedPerson.
The reason why your code won't compile is just the same. Here return DataObject(managedObject: managedObject) you can't initialize an DataObject from an armbitary ManagedObject, only a DataObject.ManagedObjectType is acceptable.
So what you need is a type constraint, add this where clause, your code should work:
class CoreDataStore<ManagedObject: ManagedObjectProtocol, DataObject: DataProtocol
where DataObject.ManagedObjectType == ManagedObject>

Related

common functions issues while converting code from objective c to swift

Currently I have been working on a task of converting code from objective c to swift. The work was going smooth until I occured with a common resuable code that works in objective c but I haven't getting any idea how should I do that in swift.
The scenario working in objective c is.
I have a common function in my dataManager class
- (void)saveRequest:(id)request forId:(NSNumber *)requestId {
WebRequest *requestData = [[WebRequest alloc] initWithEntity:[NSEntityDescription entityForName:WEB_REQUEST inManagedObjectContext:self.context] insertIntoManagedObjectContext:self.context];
requestData.data = [request toJSON];
requestData.requestId = requestId;
requestData.timestamp = [NSDate date];
[self save];
}
in my project the request classes are already created which contains the toJSON function.
from my controller according to user changes I created the request object and passes the request object to this function and this function calls the toJSON function in the request class and everything works in objective c.
But when I convert this function in swift then it didn't support id as function input variable and if I use Any in place of id then it gives an error that Any don't have any toJSON function.
As this function is common different request objects will come from different controllers.
I don't have any idea how should I go further from hear, If anyone have any idea please help me out
Your class should be like
class WebRequest:NSObject
{
var data :Data?
var requestId: NSNumber?
var timestamp: Date?
init(entity:String , insertIntoManagedObjectContext:NSManagedObjectContext)
{
//your code here
}
}
and your code will be as follows
func saveRequest(request:Request, requestId:NSNumber)
{
let requestData = WebRequest(entity: "entityName", insertIntoManagedObjectContext:self.context)
requestData.data = request.toJSON();
requestData.requestId = requestId;
requestData.timestamp = Date()
}
and Request class in which toJson() present
class Request: NSObject
{
//has some members
func toJSON()->Data
{
return Data()
}
}
There is an existing Swift protocol, Codable (or you can do just Encodable if you want, as Codable is merely Encodable and Decodable), which is designed explicitly for representing an object in JSON (or other formats).
You then use JSONEncoder (rather than JSONSerialization, for example) to encode the object into JSON. See Encoding and Decoding Custom Types:
Consider a Landmark structure that stores the name and founding year of a landmark:
struct Landmark {
var name: String
var foundingYear: Int
}
Adding Codable to the inheritance list for Landmark triggers an automatic conformance that satisfies all of the protocol requirements from Encodable and Decodable:
struct Landmark: Codable {
var name: String
var foundingYear: Int
}
You can then do:
let landmark = Landmark(name: "Big Ben", foundingYear: 1859)
do {
let data = try JSONEncoder().encode(landmark)
print(String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)!)
} catch {
print(error)
}
That will product JSON like so:
{
"name": "Big Ben",
"foundingYear": 1859
}
See that Encoding and Decoding Custom Types for more information.
But, if you make your types Codable/Encodable, you could then retire your toJSON method entirely. There’s no need to write code to encode JSON anymore.
If you’re looking for a more tactical edit to your project as you convert it from Objective-C to Swift, you could define your own protocol, say JsonRepresentable, that has a single method requirement, your toJSON (or to whatever you’ve renamed this method during your conversion process).
protocol JsonRepresentable {
func toJSON() -> Data
}
And then, for all of the types that have implemented this method, just add this conformance.
Ideally, go back to those individual files and move the method into an extension for that protocol, e.g., for your first object type:
extension RequestObject1: JsonRepresentable {
func toJSON() -> Data {
...
}
}
And for your second:
extension RequestObject2: JsonRepresentable {
func toJSON() -> Data {
...
}
}
Etc.
is not there a simpler way rather than changing it in whole project
I would suggest that the above is best, but, if you don’t want to go back to all of those individual type declarations, you can just add conformance with an empty extension right where you defined JsonRepresentable:
extension RequestObject1: JsonRepresentable { }
extension RequestObject2: JsonRepresentable { }
As long as those types have implemented that method, these extensions will let the compiler know about their conformance to your protocol.
Anyway, this method can then use this protocol:
func save(_ request: JsonRepresentable, requestId: Int) {
let requestData = ...
requestData.data = request.toJSON()
requestData.requestId = requestId
requestData.timestamp = Date()
save()
}

Swift Protocol-Oriented Programming: Can Protocol Extension Property Have Same Name As Base Class Property

Scenario
I am working on an SDK that will be used in two separate projects. Both projects will be using CoreData and the SDK needs to be fed data that is present in both project's managed object model. To do this I am employing a protocol-oriented design to get the SDK the data it needs.
The project will start out with a NSManagedObject base class that contains it's properties...
// Project
class Tag: NSManagedObject {
var name: String!
var code: String!
var items: [Any]!
...
}
These names are basic and simple. It would be nice to not have to change these when we conform this class to the protocol.
The SDK declares two protocols. The first protocol will be the data source the SDK will need to populate it's views. Some class in the project will conform to this and be the delegate...
// SDK
protocol SDKDataSource {
func getTaggableObjects() -> [Taggable]
}
var delegate: SDKDataSource!
The second protocol will be the ultimatum the SDK will make to it's project that the NSManagedObject it will be fed should conform to...
// SDK
protocol Taggable {
var name: String { get }
var code: String { get }
var items: [Any] { get }
}
In the project I will create an extension of the class and agree to conform that class to the Taggable protocol...
// Extension (in Project w/ SDK included)
extension Tag: Taggable {
var name: String {
get {
self.name
}
}
var code: String {
get {
self.code
}
}
var items: [Any] {
get {
self.items
}
}
}
This way when the SDK asks it's datasource to getTaggableObjects() the SDK will receive the objects from the Project's CoreData model that it can understand.
Question
Does the name of property in the protocol extension have to be different than the name of the property that is in the base class, or will doing the above work? It would be nice if I knew this is okay before I implement my design.
I can confirm that using the same name is not allowed.
I tried and it's yes.
protocol MyArray {
var count: Int {get}
}
extension Array: MyArray {
}
But you can't make different implementations for different protocols that have the same function or property.
Update
If protocol and base class have property with the same name but different type. You can make different implementations.
protocol MyArray {
var count: Float {get}
}
extension Array: MyArray {
var count: Float {
get {
return 0.0
}
}
}

Immutable class accessors in swift 3

I am trying to implement objects similar to CNContact and CNMutableContact such that I can retrieve my immutable objects from a custom store and make editions only to mutable copies of the objects.
To tackle this I have taken a look at the CNContact source available through Xcode to find this:
open class CNContact : NSObject, NSCopying, NSMutableCopying, NSSecureCoding {
/*! The identifier is unique among contacts on the device. It can be saved and used for fetching contacts next application launch. */
open var identifier: String { get }
open var contactType: CNContactType { get }
...
}
However when I try something similar I get an error:
class MyModel: NSObject, NSCoding, NSSecureCoding {
// MARK: - Properties
var name: String { get }
...
}
The error being Expected '{' to start a getter definition. What am I doing wrong here?
The next step then would be to have a mutable subclass, very similar to CNMutableContact which would looks like this:
class MutableMyModel: MyModel {
// MARK: - Properties
var name: String
...
}
If my approach to this problem is sensible then why am I seeing this syntax error, and why is it valid within the Apple written code but not my own?
Finally am I going to hit any issues within my subclass where I am essentially redefining the name property?
var name: String { get } is only a definition in the protocol. A conforming class, such as MyModel needs to implement the definition, like so:
class MyModel: NSObject, NSCoding, NSSecureCoding {
var name: String { return "String Value here" }
}

Swift: how can I use an 'AnyClass' variable to define what type is inside an array?

The following code should explain what I want to do reasonably clearly. Of course, this produces a compile time error.
What is the correct way to do what the below code intends?
protocol FilterableDataSource {
var dataClass: AnyClass { get }
var data: [dataClass.dynamicType] { get }
}
You can't use generics with protocols, but if you try, Swift gives you a hint - associated types. Code rarely explains intent clearly, but I'm guessing what you want to achieve is along the lines of...
protocol FilterableDataSource {
typealias T
var data: [T] { get }
}
class MyData { }
class MyClass: FilterableDataSource {
typealias T = MyData
var data: [MyData] { return [MyData]() }
}
print(MyClass().data.count)
I would use AnyObject instead of AnyClass. Then you can just cast it into whatever you want.
I believe what you want to do is define a typealias requirement in your protocol.
protocol FilterableDataSource
{
typealias DataClass : AnyObject
var data: [DataClass] { get }
}
class PersonDataSource:FilterableDataSource
{
typealias DataClass = Person
var data[Person] = []
}
So instead of requiring your filterable data sources to devine a variable containing the class, you require them to define a typealias for the elements of the data[] variable. Ideally your data classes have a common ancestor other than AnyObject which you can use as the typealias restriction.

Error When Using Protocol as a Type in Swift

I'm using Swift and trying to make some collection objects. These collection objects have a backing Dictionary to hold custom objects. For example, an object might be of type Cat and the collection object would be of type Cats. Cats would have a private dictionary containing values of type Cat. I have other types that also need respective collections (each collection type has specific logic for the type it holds).
I created a protocol to ensure each collection has a few common characteristics. These common functions and subscripts are generally passthroughs to the backing dictionary. Here is the protocol:
protocol ObjectDictionaryProtocol {
// These are necessary for generics to work in protocols
typealias Key: Hashable
typealias Value
// MARK: - Properties
var count: Int { get }
var isEmpty: Bool { get }
var keys: LazyMapCollection<Dictionary<Key, Value>, Key> { get }
var values: LazyMapCollection<Dictionary<Key, Value>, Value> { get }
// MARK: - Subscripts
subscript(key: Key) -> Value? { get set }
}
When I go to actually use the protocol as a type, for instance:
var objects: ObjectDictionaryProtocol
or
init(objs: ObjectDictionaryProtocol) {
...
}
I get the error:
Protocol 'ObjectDictionaryProtocol' can only be used as a generic constraint because it has Self or associated type requirements
I've searched around and it looks like the Hashable protocol I'm conforming to for my Key typealias is causing this. What is the best way to get around this? Is there a way to change the protocol such that I don't need the Hashable, or do I need to do something in the class that is using ObjectDictionaryProtocol? Or maybe there's a better way to effectively 'subclass' a Swift Dictionary (quotes because I realize the Dictionary struct cannot be subclassed)?
A protocol with associated types is less a type and more a template for a type. The actual type exists when the protocol's associated types are specified. Thus ObjectDictionaryProtocol 'becomes' a type when you specify:
ObjectDictionaryProtocol<String,Cat>
but the above is not valid Swift...
So you asked... '[is there] a better way to effectively 'subclass' a Swift Dictionary'. You might get by with an extension with something like:
class Cat {}
extension Dictionary where Value : Cat {
func voice (name: Key) {
if let _ = self[name] {
print ("\(name): Meow")
}
}
}
var someCats = Dictionary<String,Cat>()
someCats["Spot"] = Cat()
someCats.voice("Spot")
// Spot: Meow
Or you may need to actually implement the protocol.
class ObjectDiciontary<Key:Hashable, Value> : ObjectDictionaryProtocol {
var backingDictionary = Dictionary<Key,Value>()
// implement protocol
}
var object : ObjectDictionary<String,Cat> = ...
// ...
The reason is because when you're using typealias you're effectivly making your Protocol into a generic protocol as Protocol<T>. Bear with me here, I'll explain why and how to fix it.
The issue here is that Apple has decided to make typealias the keyword for defining associated types. This is fixed in Swift 2.2 (Xcode 7.3)
You can read more about it on https://github.com/apple/swift-evolution/blob/master/proposals/0011-replace-typealias-associated.md
It's being renamed to associatedtype which makes more sense.
This means your protocol has to be adopted, and there define its associated types.
In your case it would look something like
protocol ObjectDictionaryProtocol {
associatedtype Value
}
extension String : ObjectDictionaryProtocol {
associatedtype = Double
}
The init could look like
init<T : ObjectDictionaryProtocol>(objs: ObjectDictionaryProtocol)
or
init<T : ObjectDictionaryProtocol
where T.Value == Double>(objs: ObjectDictionaryProtocol)
Now for typealias Key: Hashable it means that whatever type that is assigned to Key has to conform or be Hashable
This will give you an error that String isn't conforming to ObjectDictionaryProtocol as it can't fulfil the requirements.
protocol ObjectDictionaryProtocol {
associatedtype Value : FloatingPointType
}
extension String : ObjectDictionaryProtocol {
associatedtype = Int
}
Int isn't a FloatingPointType (but Double is)

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