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POHow can I hide my implementation with interfaces and still build upon classes with inheritance?
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copied!<p>I like the idea of using interfaces to hide my implementation details. I also really enjoying using inheritance as a way to build upon my previously created classes. How can I get both of these benefits to coexist together? Here is an example of my problem:</p> <pre><code>object.h class object { protected: //stuff that should be available to derived classes virtual void derivedHelper () = 0; public: //stuff that should be available to the client virtual object* create () = 0; virtual void mainTask () = 0; } object.cpp class objectPriv : public object { private: //implementation specific details and members protected: void derivedHelper () { //some stuff } public: objectPriv() { } object* create () { return(new objectPriv()); } void mainTask () { //more stuff } } superObject.h class superObject : public object { //problem #1 public: //stuff that should be available to the client virtual superObject* create () = 0; } superObject.cpp class superObjectPriv : public superObject { //problem #2 private: //the magic behind super object public: superObjectPriv() { } superObject* create () { return(new superObjectPriv()); } void mainTask () { object::mainTask(); //problem #3 object::derivedHelper(); //problem #4 //super extra stuff } } </code></pre> <p>So you can see here that this won't compile.</p> <p>I could implement the pure virtuals of object for superObject, but that defeat the purpose of deriving from object. I don't want to duplicate the implementation, I want to build on it.</p> <p>I could change superObject to derive from objectPriv, but then I would be exposing my implementation details. I want to hide everything specific about objectPriv from everybody.</p> <p>I can't think of any way to achieve this. I have a bad feeling that it might not be possible, but I have my fingers crossed that you folks will have some clever trick for me :)</p> <p>Thanks Les</p>

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