Java Language Singletons Extending singleton (singleton inheritance)
Example
In this example, base class Singleton provides getMessage() method that returns "Hello world!" message.
It's subclasses UppercaseSingleton and LowercaseSingleton override getMessage() method to provide appropriate representation of the message.
//Yeah, we'll need reflection to pull this off.
import java.lang.reflect.*;
/*
Enumeration that represents possible classes of singleton instance.
If unknown, we'll go with base class - Singleton.
*/
enum SingletonKind {
UNKNOWN,
LOWERCASE,
UPPERCASE
}
//Base class
class Singleton{
/*
Extended classes has to be private inner classes, to prevent extending them in
uncontrolled manner.
*/
private class UppercaseSingleton extends Singleton {
private UppercaseSingleton(){
super();
}
@Override
public String getMessage() {
return super.getMessage().toUpperCase();
}
}
//Another extended class.
private class LowercaseSingleton extends Singleton
{
private LowercaseSingleton(){
super();
}
@Override
public String getMessage() {
return super.getMessage().toLowerCase();
}
}
//Applying Singleton pattern
private static SingletonKind kind = SingletonKind.UNKNOWN;
private static Singleton instance;
/*
By using this method prior to getInstance() method, you effectively change the
type of singleton instance to be created.
*/
public static void setKind(SingletonKind kind) {
Singleton.kind = kind;
}
/*
If needed, getInstance() creates instance appropriate class, based on value of
singletonKind field.
*/
public static Singleton getInstance()
throws NoSuchMethodException,
IllegalAccessException,
InvocationTargetException,
InstantiationException {
if(instance==null){
synchronized (Singleton.class){
if(instance==null){
Singleton singleton = new Singleton();
switch (kind){
case UNKNOWN:
instance = singleton;
break;
case LOWERCASE:
/*
I can't use simple
instance = new LowercaseSingleton();
because java compiler won't allow me to use
constructor of inner class in static context,
so I use reflection API instead.
To be able to access inner class by reflection API,
I have to create instance of outer class first.
Therefore, in this implementation, Singleton cannot be
abstract class.
*/
//Get the constructor of inner class.
Constructor<LowercaseSingleton> lcConstructor =
LowercaseSingleton.class.getDeclaredConstructor(Singleton.class);
//The constructor is private, so I have to make it accessible.
lcConstructor.setAccessible(true);
// Use the constructor to create instance.
instance = lcConstructor.newInstance(singleton);
break;
case UPPERCASE:
//Same goes here, just with different type
Constructor<UppercaseSingleton> ucConstructor =
UppercaseSingleton.class.getDeclaredConstructor(Singleton.class);
ucConstructor.setAccessible(true);
instance = ucConstructor.newInstance(singleton);
}
}
}
}
return instance;
}
//Singletons state that is to be used by subclasses
protected String message;
//Private constructor prevents external instantiation.
private Singleton()
{
message = "Hello world!";
}
//Singleton's API. Implementation can be overwritten by subclasses.
public String getMessage() {
return message;
}
}
//Just a small test program
public class ExtendingSingletonExample {
public static void main(String args[]){
//just uncomment one of following lines to change singleton class
//Singleton.setKind(SingletonKind.UPPERCASE);
//Singleton.setKind(SingletonKind.LOWERCASE);
Singleton singleton = null;
try {
singleton = Singleton.getInstance();
} catch (NoSuchMethodException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (InvocationTargetException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (InstantiationException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
System.out.println(singleton.getMessage());
}
}
