Go Interfaces Are Not Inheritance
Overview
Go interfaces facilitate the presence of functions with identical arguments and return values across multiple structures; however, this mechanism differs from the extension and overriding behavior of internal functions, as seen with Java's extends keyword. While a complete understanding of Go's compositional code reuse would prevent confusion with inheritance, achieving a theoretically perfect comprehension from the outset is challenging. Let us explore this concept through common error scenarios.
Common Mistakes
Beginners may commit the following errors:
1package main
2import (
3 "fmt"
4 "strings"
5)
6
7type Fruits interface {
8 GetBrix() float64
9 GetName() string
10 SetLabel()
11 GetLabel(string) string
12 PrintAll()
13}
14
15type Apple struct {
16 Label string
17 Name string
18 Brix float64
19}
20
21type Watermelon struct {
22 Label string
23 Name string
24 Brix float64
25}
26
27func (a *Apple) PrintAll() {
28 fmt.Printf("Fruit: %s, Label: %s, Brix: %v\n", a.Name, a.Label, a.Brix)
29}
30
31const (
32 NO_LABEL = "EMPTY LABEL"
33)
34
35func (a *Apple) SetLabel(lbl string) {
36 a.Brix = 14.5;
37 a.Name = "apple";
38 lbl_lower := strings.ToLower(lbl)
39 if strings.Contains(lbl_lower, a.Name) {
40 fmt.Println("Succeed: Label was ", lbl)
41 a.Label = lbl;
42 } else {
43 fmt.Println("Failed: Label was ", lbl)
44 a.Label = NO_LABEL;
45 }
46}
47
48func (w *Watermelon) SetLabel(lbl string) {
49 w.Brix = 10;
50 w.Name = "watermelon";
51 lbl_lower := strings.ToLower(lbl)
52 if strings.Contains(lbl_lower, w.Name) {
53 w.Label = lbl;
54 } else {
55 w.Label = NO_LABEL;
56 }
57}
58
59func main() {
60 fmt.Println("Inheritance test #1")
61 apple := new(Apple)
62 watermelon := apple
63 apple.SetLabel("Apple_1")
64 fmt.Println("Apple, before copied to Watermelon")
65 apple.PrintAll()
66 watermelon.SetLabel("WaterMelon_2")
67 fmt.Println("Apple, after copied to Watermelon")
68 apple.PrintAll()
69 fmt.Println("Watermelon, which inherited Apple's Method")
70 watermelon.PrintAll()
71}
This code might appear unproblematic if one mistakenly assumes that Go adheres to traditional inheritance. However, its output is as follows:
1Inheritance test #1
2Succeed: Label was Apple_1
3Apple, before copied to Watermelon
4Fruit: apple, Label: Apple_1, Brix: 14.5
5Failed: Label was WaterMelon_2
6Apple, after copied to Watermelon
7Fruit: apple, Label: EMPTY LABEL, Brix: 14.5
8Watermelon, which inherited Apple's Method
9Fruit: apple, Label: EMPTY LABEL, Brix: 14.5
Here, Go's behavior becomes unequivocally clear.
1watermelon := apple
This code does not transform an Apple into a Watermelon class whatsoever.
Rather, watermelon is merely a pointer to apple.
It is emphasized again that Go does not adhere to the traditional concept of inheritance.
Writing code under such a misunderstanding can lead to critical errors, such as the creation of meaningless pointers or the unexpected copying of functions intended for other structures.
What, then, constitutes exemplary code?
Appropriate Examples in Go Language
1package main
2import (
3 "fmt"
4 "strings"
5)
6
7type Fruits interface {
8 GetBrix() float64
9 GetName() string
10 SetLabel()
11 GetLabel(string) string
12 PrintAll()
13}
14
15type BaseFruit struct {
16 Name string
17 Brix float64
18}
19
20type Apple struct {
21 Label string
22 Fruit BaseFruit
23}
24
25type Watermelon struct {
26 Label string
27 Fruit BaseFruit
28
29}
30
31func (b *BaseFruit) PrintAll() {
32 fmt.Printf("Fruit: %s, Brix: %v\n", b.Name, b.Brix)
33}
34
35
36const (
37 NO_LABEL = "EMPTY LABEL"
38)
39
40func (a *Apple) SetLabel(lbl string) {
41 a.Fruit.Brix = 14.5;
42 a.Fruit.Name = "apple";
43 lbl_lower := strings.ToLower(lbl)
44 if strings.Contains(lbl_lower, a.Fruit.Name) {
45 fmt.Println("Succeed: Label was ", lbl)
46 a.Label = lbl;
47 } else {
48 fmt.Println("Failed: Label was ", lbl)
49 a.Label = NO_LABEL;
50 }
51 fmt.Printf("Fruit %s label set to %s\n", a.Fruit.Name, a.Label);
52 a.Fruit.PrintAll()
53}
54
55func (w *Watermelon) SetLabel(lbl string) {
56 w.Fruit.Brix = 10;
57 w.Fruit.Name = "Watermelon";
58 lbl_lower := strings.ToLower(lbl)
59 if strings.Contains(lbl_lower, w.Fruit.Name) {
60 w.Label = lbl;
61 } else {
62 w.Label = NO_LABEL;
63 }
64 fmt.Printf("Fruit %s label set to %s\n", w.Fruit.Name, w.Label);
65 w.Fruit.PrintAll()
66}
67
68func main() {
69 apple := new(Apple)
70 watermelon := new(Watermelon)
71 apple.SetLabel("Apple_1")
72 watermelon.SetLabel("WaterMelon_2")
73}
However, it is possible to make Go appear like it supports inheritance. An example of this is anonymous embedding, which is achieved by declaring an inner structure without a name. In such cases, fields of the inner structure can be accessed directly without explicit qualification. Utilizing this pattern, where inner structure fields are promoted to the outer structure, can improve readability in certain situations. Nevertheless, it is not recommended for scenarios where the inner structure needs to be explicitly visible.
1package main
2import (
3 "fmt"
4 "strings"
5)
6
7type Fruits interface {
8 GetBrix() float64
9 GetName() string
10 SetLabel()
11 GetLabel(string) string
12 PrintAll()
13}
14
15type BaseFruit struct {
16 Name string
17 Brix float64
18}
19
20type Apple struct {
21 Label string
22 BaseFruit
23}
24
25type Watermelon struct {
26 Label string
27 BaseFruit
28
29}
30
31func (b *BaseFruit) PrintAll() {
32 fmt.Printf("Fruit: %s, Brix: %v\n", b.Name, b.Brix)
33}
34
35
36const (
37 NO_LABEL = "EMPTY LABEL"
38)
39
40func (a *Apple) SetLabel(lbl string) {
41 a.Brix = 14.5;
42 a.Name = "apple";
43 lbl_lower := strings.ToLower(lbl)
44 if strings.Contains(lbl_lower, a.Name) {
45 fmt.Println("Succeed: Label was ", lbl)
46 a.Label = lbl;
47 } else {
48 fmt.Println("Failed: Label was ", lbl)
49 a.Label = NO_LABEL;
50 }
51 fmt.Printf("Fruit %s label set to %s\n", a.Name, a.Label);
52 a.PrintAll()
53}
54
55func (w *Watermelon) SetLabel(lbl string) {
56 w.Brix = 10;
57 w.Name = "Watermelon";
58 lbl_lower := strings.ToLower(lbl)
59 if strings.Contains(lbl_lower, w.Name) {
60 w.Label = lbl;
61 } else {
62 w.Label = NO_LABEL;
63 }
64 fmt.Printf("Fruit %s label set to %s\n", w.Name, w.Label);
65 w.PrintAll()
66}
67
68func main() {
69 apple := new(Apple)
70 watermelon := new(Watermelon)
71 apple.SetLabel("Apple_1")
72 watermelon.SetLabel("WaterMelon_2")
73}
These examples present the following distinctions:
1w.PrintAll() // Invocation via anonymous structure, not w.Fruit.PrintAll(), through automatic promotion.
2The crucial points common to both examples are:
3- Simplify main, categorize functions by feature.
4- Use distinct objects for distinct structures.
5- Employ internal structures when sharing is necessary.
6
7What advantages does such a programming philosophy offer?
8
9## Advantages
10
11- Clear distinction between methods requiring sharing and those that do not.
12- Separation of responsibility for individual structures and methods.
13- Structurally separated code based on required functional specifications.
14
15
16Initially, the Go language may seem unfamiliar due to its divergence from traditional OOP; however, familiarity enables more explicit programming.
17
18## Summary
19- Isolate responsibilities.
20- Subdivide into granular structures.
21- Methods should not be understood as abstract classes in Java.
22- Engage in explicit and specific programming.
23The Go language should be approached as more straightforward and distinct than traditional OOP models. Rather than programming expansively, let us write code in a step-by-step and structurally separated manner.
24