How do I handle combinations of behaviours?

Question

I am considering the problem of validating real numbers of various formats, because this is very similar to a problem I am facing in design.

Real numbers may come in different combinations of formats, for example: 1. with/without sign at the front 2. with/without a decimal point (if no decimal point, then perhaps number of decimals can be agreed beforehand) 3. base 10 or base 16

We need to allow for each combination, so there are 2x2x2=8 combinations. You can see that the complexity increases exponentially with each new condition imposed.

In OO design, you would normally allocate a class for each number format (e.g. in this case, we have 8 classes), and each class would have a separate validation function. However, with each new condition, you have to double the number of classes required and it soon becomes a nightmare.

In procedural programming, you use 3 flags (i.e. has_sign, has_decimal_point and number_base) to identify the property of the real number you are validating. You have a single function for validation. In there, you would use the flags to control its behaviour.

// This is part of the validation function

if (has_sign)
   check_sign();

for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
{
    if (has_decimal_point)
        // Check if number[i] is '.' and do something if it is. If not, continue

if (number_base = BASE10)
    // number[i] must be between 0-9
else if (number_base = BASE16)
    // number[i] must be between 0-9, A-F


}

Again, the complexity soon gets out of hand as the function becomes cluttered with if statements and flags.

I am sure that you have come across design problems of this nature before - a number of independent differences which result in difference in behaviour. I would be very interested to hear how have you been able to implement a solution without making the code completely unmaintainable.

Would something like the bridge pattern have helped?

Answer 1

In OO design, you would normally allocate a class for each number format (e.g. in this case, we have 8 classes), and each class would have a separate validation function.

No no no no no. At most, you'd have a type for representing Numeric Input (in case String doesn't make it); another one for Real Number (in most languages you'd pick a built-in type, but anyway); and a Parser class, which has the knowledge to take a Numeric Input and transform it into a Real Number.

To be more general, one difference of behaviour in and by itself doesn't automatically map to one class. It can just be a property inside a class. Most importantly, behaviours should be treated orthogonally.

If (imagining that you write your own parser) you may have a sign or not, a decimal point or not, and hex or not, you have three independent sources of complexity and it would be ok to find three pieces of code, somewhere, that treat one of these issues each; but it would not be ok to find, anywhere, 2^3 = 8 different pieces of code that treat the different combinations in an explicit way.

Imagine that add a new choice: suddenly, you remember that numbers might have an "e" (such as 2.34e10) and want to be able to support that. With the orthogonal strategy, you'll have one more independent source of complexity, the fourth one. With your strategy, the 8 cases would suddenly become 16! Clearly a no-no.

Answer 2

I don't know why you think that the OO solution would involve a class for each number pattern. My OO solution would be to use a regular expression class. And if I was being procedural, I would probably use the standard library strtod() function.

Answer 3

You're asking for a parser, use one:

• http://www.pcre.org/
• http://www.complang.org/ragel/
• sscanf
• boost::lexical_cast
• and plenty of other alternatives...

Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parser_generator

Now how do I handle complexity for this kind of problems ? Well if I can, I reformulate.

In your case, using a parser generator (or regular expression) is using a DSL (Domain Specific Language), that is a language more suited to the problem you're dealing with.

Design pattern and OOP are useful, but definitely not the best solution to each and every problem.

Answer 4

Sorry but since i use vb, what i do is a base function then i combine a evaluator function so ill fake code it out the way i have done it

function getrealnumber(number as int){ return  getrealnumber(number.tostring) }
function getrealnumber(number as float){ return  getrealnumber(number.tostring) }
function getrealnumber(number as double){ return  getrealnumber(number.tostring) }
function getrealnumber(number as string){
if ishex(){ return evaluation()}
   if issigned(){ return evaluation()}
   if isdecimal(){ return evaluation()}
 }

and so forth up to you to figure out how to do binary and octal

Answer 5

You don't kill a fly with a hammer.

I realy feel like using a Object-Oriented solution for your problem is an EXTREME overkill. Just because you can design Object-Oriented solution , doesn't mean you have to force such one to every problem you have.

From my experience , almost every time there is a difficulty in finding an OOD solution to a problem , It probably mean that OOD is not appropiate. OOD is just a tool , its not god itself. It should be used to solve large scale problems , and not problems such one you presented.

So to give you an actual answer (as someone mentioned above) : use regular expression , Every solution beyond that is just an overkill.

If you insist using an OOD solution.... Well , since all formats you presented are orthogonal to each other , I dont see any need to create a class for every possible combination. I would create a class for each format and pass my input through each , in that case the complexity will grow linearly.