Question

How can I restrict the implementation class of my Abstract class from modifying the scope of a method from protected to public?

For example : Suppose I have a Abstract Class

package com.rao.test;

public abstract  class AbstractTEClass {

    protected abstract void function1();

    protected abstract void function2();


    protected void doWork() //I want to call the abstract methods from this method.
    {
        function1(); //implementation classes will give implementation of these methods
        function2();

    }

}

Now, I have a implementation class which extends the above abstract class

package com.rao.test;

public class AbstractTEClassImpl extends AbstractTEClass {

    @Override
    public void function1() {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
        System.out.println("FUnction1");
    }

    @Override
    public void function2() {
        // TODO Auto-generated method stub
        System.out.println("Function2");
    }


    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        AbstractTEClassImpl objTEClass = new AbstractTEClassImpl();

        objTEClass.doWork();

    }

}

Notice here that I am changing the scope of the 2 abstract methods in the implementation class from protected to public, how can I restrict my implementation class from modifying the scope.
Any design changes or recommendation or patterns are welcome.

Answer 1

You can’t. I suspect what you want to do is fiddle with doWork() so it can survive any abuse extending classes might do inside the function1 and 2 overrides. You might want to add methods and/or change what those methods do.

Overriding is a handy thing. I often get real annoyed working in C# because Microsoft “seals” everything to prevent overriding. (I exaggerate; they only seal the methods I want to override.) Don’t go that route. Figure out what your real problem is and handle it in your base AbstractTEClass class.