CODEWITHSUNDEEP
matlab
kjo
kjo

Reputation: 35321

How to implement an "importable namespace"?

I know that I can use a class consisting solely of static methods to implement a namespace in MATLAB. E.g.

classdef MyNamespace
    methods (Static = true)
        function [...] = foo(...)
            ...
        end
        function [...] = bar(...)
            ...
        end
        ...
    end
end

With the above I can call functions MyNamespace.foo, MyNamespace.bar, etc. (assuming, of course, that the file MyNamespace.m is in my search path, or in the current directory).

A paramount feature of this technique is that it allows simulating "namespace variables". For example, a function within the methods (Static = true) could have the form

        function out = BAZ(newval)
            persistent val;
            out = val;
            if nargin > 0, val = newval; end
        end

With this, the method MyNamespace.BAZ can mimic a "namespace variable" MyNamespace.BAZ (though, admittedly, in a very cumbersome way).

This feature is one that I absolutely require.

The implementation of namespaces described above is ok, but I'd like to be able import namespace, so that I can call their functions using their "short" (aka "unqualified") names, such as foo, bar, etc.

How can I implement a namespace that can be imported, in the sense described above?

BTW, I'd prefer answers that build on the technique illustrated above (for implementing namespaces), since it's a technique I have some experience with, but I'm also open to alternatives that are not based on this technique.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 50

Answers (1)

Ryan Livingston
Ryan Livingston

Reputation: 1928

MATLAB has a package system which allows creating a namespace of functions which are also importable. In short, just drop a directory whose name begins with a + in another directory on your path and add your function MATLAB files in that directory. If you have MyNamespace.m in the directory someDir then just create:

someDir/+MyNamespace/foo.m
someDir/+MyNamespace/bar.m

and so on. You can call them via MyNamespace.foo, MyNamespace.bar and import them:

import MyNamespace.foo

or:

import MyNamespace.*

Upvotes: 1

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