Creating an abstract class in Objective-C

Question

I\'m originally a Java programmer who now works with Objective-C. I\'d like to create an abstract class, but that doesn\'t appear to be possible in Objective-C. Is this poss

Answer 1

If you are used to the compiler catching abstract instantiation violations in other languages, then the Objective-C behavior is disappointing.

As a late binding language it is clear that Objective-C cannot make static decisions on whether a class truly is abstract or not (you might be adding functions at runtime...), but for typical use cases this seems like a shortcoming. I would prefer the compiler flat-out prevented instantiations of abstract classes instead of throwing an error at runtime.

Here is a pattern we are using to get this type of static checking using a couple of techniques to hide initializers:

//
//  Base.h
#define UNAVAILABLE __attribute__((unavailable("Default initializer not available.")));

@protocol MyProtocol 
-(void) dependentFunction;
@end

@interface Base : NSObject {
    @protected
    __weak id _protocolHelper; // Weak to prevent retain cycles!
}

- (instancetype) init UNAVAILABLE; // Prevent the user from calling this
- (void) doStuffUsingDependentFunction;
@end

---

//
//  Base.m
#import "Base.h"

// We know that Base has a hidden initializer method.
// Declare it here for readability.
@interface Base (Private)
- (instancetype)initFromDerived;
@end

@implementation Base
- (instancetype)initFromDerived {
    // It is unlikely that this becomes incorrect, but assert
    // just in case.
    NSAssert(![self isMemberOfClass:[Base class]],
             @"To be called only from derived classes!");
    self = [super init];
    return self;
}

- (void) doStuffUsingDependentFunction {
    [_protocolHelper dependentFunction]; // Use it
}
@end

---

//
//  Derived.h
#import "Base.h"

@interface Derived : Base
-(instancetype) initDerived; // We cannot use init here :(
@end

---

//
//  Derived.m
#import "Derived.h"

// We know that Base has a hidden initializer method.
// Declare it here.
@interface Base (Private)
- (instancetype) initFromDerived;
@end

// Privately inherit protocol
@interface Derived () 
@end

@implementation Derived
-(instancetype) initDerived {
    self= [super initFromDerived];
    if (self) {
        self->_protocolHelper= self;
    }
    return self;
}

// Implement the missing function
-(void)dependentFunction {
}
@end