metatype

metatype is a simple bit of code for using objects and prototypes as if you were writing javascript.

metatype.extend

metatype.extend(prototype1, prototype2, ...)

Creates a new object that inherits from the prototypes given as arguments. Accepts any number of prototypes. Prototypes should be formatted as an Object.create propertiesObject. For more info on propertiesObject and Object.create, see this article on MDN. Keep in mind that order is important, a value on prototype2 will override a value on prototype1 and so on.

IMPORTANT

Remember if you set a .value, the default is that that value is not writable. So if you want to to modify properties on the prototype after creation, you must set propertiesObject.writable: true.

metatype.create

metatype.create(arg1, arg2, ...)

Create a new object from a prototype. If the prototype has a method named init, that method will be called with the arguments passed to this method.

var b = metatype.extend({
        init: {
            value: function (a, b) {
                this.a = a;
                this.b = b.
            }
        }
    }).create("one", "two")

console.log(b.a  === "one"); //true
console.log(b.b  === "two"); //true

metatype.set

metatype.set(keyString, value)

Really more of a bonus method to set properties. Will vivify any undefined properties.

b.set("foo.bar.0.baz", "vivified");
console.log(b.foo.bar[0].baz === "vivified"); // true;

metatype.get

metatype.get(keyString)

Getter using same syntax as above.

console.log(Array.isArray(b.get("foo.bar"))); //true
console.log(b.get("foo.bar.0.baz") === "vivified"); //true

Disclaimer

With great power comes great responsibility. If you don't understand the code in metatype.js, don't use it or you'll just end up shooting yourself in the foot. It's < 40 lines of code, take a few minutes and make sure you understand what's going on.

For example:

var person = metatype.extend({
        knowledge: {
            value: {
                javascript: false,
                html: false,
                css: false
            }
        }
    });

var me = person.create();

me.set("knowledge.javascript", true);

If you don't know why person.knowledge.javascript is true in the above example, you should learn a bit more about prototypes and object in JS!

Enjoy!