Object-Oriented Programming with MATLAB

Day 1 of 2

Creating Custom Data Types

Objective: Learn basic techniques and experience the differences between procedural and object-oriented programming. Create a simple custom data type known as a class.

• Grouping data and functionality into a single class definition file
• Documenting classes
• Using classes to create workspace variables known as objects

Designing a Robust and User-Friendly Class

Objective: Design an intuitive, easy-to-use class. Prevent unsafe interactions with the class.

• Ensuring data is accessed in a safe manner by using property attributes
• Improving user friendliness by providing data access methods
• Customizing standard operators for the class

Hiding Implementation Details

Objective: Hide implementation details from the user to achieve easy maintenance and a simple user interface.

• Preventing data inconsistencies by restricting property and method access
• Improving class maintenance by separating the visible interface of the class from its implementation

Day 2 of 2

Building Class Hierarchies

Objective: Avoid code duplication by creating a common superclass to contain the shared functionality of several similar classes.

• Creating a common superclass for two similar classes
• Extending the superclass through a subclass and implementing specialized behavior
• Using abstract properties and methods when data and functions cannot be fully defined on the superclass level

Facilitating Multiple References

Objective: Ensure data consistency by using reference (handle) behavior to share a single data object throughout the application. Extend the functionality of a class by embedding it into another class through association.

• Creating a class that exhibits reference behavior
• Embedding a data class into a viewer class responsible for data visualization
• Choosing between pass-by-reference and the usual pass-by-value behavior

Writing Unit Tests

Objective: Improve code maintainability by creating unit tests that ensure correct code behavior. Use the MATLAB unit-testing framework to enhance the quality and flexibility of your software.

• Writing a unit test
• Creating a test environment using setup and teardown methods
• Parameterizing tests
• Aggregating and running suites of tests
• Creating test coverage reports

Synchronizing Objects

Objective: Automatically trigger function calls in response to specific data changes. Determine which data changes to monitor and which functions to execute by utilizing events, listeners, and callbacks.

• Use events to specify data changes that need to be monitored
• Define listeners which trigger reactions to events
• Implement callbacks specifying code to be executed as a reaction