Execute the code of an overridden method without having to call the base method

Belaidev

# Parent class
extends Node
class_name CustomNode
func _print_something():
    print("Hello")

# Child class
extends CustomNode
func _ready():
    _print_something
func _print_something():
    print("World")
    #._print_something() I don't want to have do this

# Desired console output upon playing the child class
Hello
World

I want to do what virtual methods do, that is "extend" methods instead of completely overriding their functionality.

TwistedTwigleg

In Godot 4.0, you will need to call super.base_function_here, but in Godot 3 you need to call .base_function_here. For better or for worse, GDScript does not automatically call parent functions automatically. C# calls parent functions though, which would give you the desired output.

Belaidev

Would it be possible to at least push a warning or error if a method is overridden?

TwistedTwigleg

I do not know. It should be possible in the C++ code, but I have no idea if the information of whether a function is overriden or not is exposed/passed to GDScript.

Belaidev

Thanks for your replies. I'm pretty sure having to always remember to call the base method is an anti pattern, so I'll have rethink how I do things.

JCDescy

I'm pretty sure that's not an anti pattern. That's why it's called overriding and not extending.

fire7side

I think most languages do it that way. If you want to call the base class, just don't override it and it will automatically be called. Otherwise you can call both by calling the super in the override, or just call the override by not calling the super.

Bearskij

Proper pattern for this would be

# Parent class
extends Node
class_name CustomNode


func _print_something():
    print("Hello")
    _on_print_something()


# The virtual function extending  _print_something()
func _on_print_something():
    pass

# Child class
extends CustomNode


func _ready():
    _print_something()


func _on_print_something():
    print("World")

# Output when Child class is _ready
Hello
World

For deeper hierarkies use composition instead, and you save yourself a lot of work by decoupling responsibilites.