Question

I am writing my own Vector class by inheriting from my own Point class. The fields which I call x, y, and z in the Point class I would like to call i, j, and k in the Vector class. The same private double variables back the properties.

The approach I am using is to declare x, y, and z as private in the Vector class and set up i, j, and k as public, but with the same get/setters, like so:

Will this work okay, or am I setting myself up for heartache?

public class ptsVector : ptsPoint
{
   private double x { get { return x_; } set { x_ = value; } }
   private double y { get { return y_; } set { y_ = value; } }
   private double z { get { return z_; } set { z_ = value; } }

   public double i { get { return x_; } set { x_ = value; } }
   public double j { get { return y_; } set { y_ = value; } }
   public double k { get { return z_; } set { z_ = value; } }
   // methods elided for clarity
}

Note that the Point class has x_, y_, and z_ as protected doubles.

Answer 1

I think we need more info on how you are going to use these. If you don’t need to refer to a ptsVector as a ptsPoint, then I would ditch the inheritance. Can you say a vector is a point? If not, then polymorphism is not appropriate here.

This particular example aside, I think aliasing a property is a Bad Idea, no matter what. It adds lots of complexity for no real benefit.