[Cuis-dev] learned something interesting about installing packages

[ken.dickey at whidbey.com]

I also think this should be a warnong or error

-KenD

On 2024-08-18 16:51, Mark Volkmann via Cuis-dev wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 18, 2024 at 3:44 PM <ken.dickey at whidbey.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 2024-08-18 12:31, Mark Volkmann via Cuis-dev wrote:
>> 
>>> If a package is installed that defines subclasses of classes that are
>>> defined in packages that have not been installed yet, their 
>>> superclass
>>> will be changed to ProtoObject. No warning message about this will be
>>> displayed.
>>> 
>>> For example, suppose the UI-Entry package is not installed.
>>> That defines the class TextEntryMorph.
>>> If I install a package that defines the following class
>>> 
>>> TextEntryMorph subclass: #CenteredTextEntryMorph
>>> 
>>> that will be changed to
>>> 
>>> ProtoObject subclass: #CenteredTextEntryMorph --
>> 
>> As opposed to creating an error..
>> 
>> Good to see you are testing packages before releasing them on an
>> unsuspecting world. ;^)
>> 
>> When you see this, it is a reminder to have your shiny new package
>> _require_ the requisite packages.
> 
> The only way I discovered that the superclass had been changed to 
> ProtoObject is that I ran the app and got a MessageNotUnderstood debug 
> window. The message was for a method that was supposed to be in the 
> superclass and I tried to find out why it wasn't found. It seems to me 
> it would be better to get an error when the package is being installed 
> that its requirements (superclasses existing) are not met.
> 
> --
> 
> R. Mark Volkmann
> Object Computing, Inc.