Publishing XML and Properties

This commit is contained in:
Robert Jelic
2025-02-25 10:32:18 +01:00
parent bab28f681c
commit 8a88c3290b
2 changed files with 91 additions and 89 deletions

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@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ export default defineConfig({
{ text: 'Annotations', link: '/guides/annotations' },
{ text: 'Animations', link: '/guides/animations' },
{ text: 'Benchmark', link: '/guides/benchmarks' },
{ text: 'Properties', link: '/guides/properties' },
{ text: 'States', link: '/guides/states' },
{ text: 'XML', link: '/guides/xml' },
{ text: 'FAQ', link: '/guides/faq' },
],

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@@ -1,120 +1,120 @@
# Properties in Basalt
Properties are the foundation of how Basalt elements store and manage their attributes. Understanding how properties work is key to effectively using Basalt.
Properties are a core concept in Basalt that control how elements store and access their values.
## Basic Usage
## Property Initialization
Every element in Basalt has properties that can be accessed and modified:
You can set properties when creating elements:
```lua
-- Initialize multiple properties at creation
local button = main:addButton({
x = 5,
y = 5,
width = 10,
height = 3,
text = "Click me"
})
-- Equivalent to:
local button = main:addButton()
:setPosition(5, 5) -- Set position property
:setSize(10, 3) -- Set size property
:setText("Click me") -- Set text property
:setX(5)
:setY(5)
:setSize(10, 3)
:setText("Click me")
```
## Accessing Properties
There are three ways to interact with properties, each with different characteristics:
### 1. Method Syntax (Traditional)
```lua
element:setX(5) -- Most validation, observers called
local x = element:getX()
```
- Full validation
- Type checking
- Observers called
- Most overhead
### 2. Direct Access (Convenient)
```lua
element.x = 5 -- Convenient, observers called
local x = element.x
```
- Medium validation
- Observers called
- Good balance of safety and performance
### 3. Set/Get Function (Performance)
```lua
element.set("x", 5) -- Minimal validation, observers called
local x = element.get("x")
```
- Minimal validation
- Only calls observers
- Best performance
- Use with caution
## Combined Properties
These are special methods that modify multiple properties at once:
```lua
-- These modify x and y properties together
element:setPosition(5, 5)
-- These modify width and height properties together
element:setSize(10, 3)
```
## Dynamic Properties
Properties can be dynamic using strings or functions:
Any property can be set to a function that gets called on access:
```lua
-- String-based dynamic properties
button:setPosition("{parent.width - 10}", 5) -- 10 pixels from right edge
-- Function-based dynamic properties
button:setPosition(function(self)
-- Function as property value
element.x = function(self)
return self:getParent():getWidth() - 10
end, 5)
end
-- Function gets called when accessing x
local xPos = element.x -- Calls the function
```
## Property Types
## Reactive Properties (Plugin Required)
### Position Properties
- `x`, `y` - Element position
- `width`, `height` - Element size
- `z` - Layer order (higher numbers = on top)
### Visual Properties
- `background` - Background color
- `foreground` - Text color
- `visible` - Whether element is shown
- `text` - Element's text content
### State Properties
- `focused` - Has keyboard focus
- `clicked` - Currently being clicked
- `enabled` - Can receive input
## Combined Properties
Some properties can be set together:
With the reactive plugin, you can use string expressions that automatically update:
```lua
button:setSize(10, 3) -- Individual
button:setPosition(5, 5) -- Individual
-- OR combined:
button:setSize({10, 3}) -- Combined
button:setPosition({5, 5}) -- Combined
-- Requires reactive plugin
element:setX("{parent.width - 10}") -- Updates when parent width changes
```
## Property Inheritance
Elements inherit properties from their parent containers:
```lua
local frame = main:addFrame()
:setBackground(colors.blue) -- All children inherit this background
frame:addButton() -- Button has blue background unless overridden
```
## Property Events
## Property Observers
You can react to property changes:
```lua
button:onChange("text", function(self, newText)
-- Called when text property changes
element:onChange("x", function(self, newX)
-- Called when x changes through any method
end)
```
## Tips & Best Practices
## Tips & Performance
1. **Dynamic Updates**
- Use dynamic properties for responsive layouts
- Avoid expensive calculations in property functions
- Chain property setters for cleaner code
1. **Choose the Right Access Method**
- Use `:setX()` when you need validation
- Use `.x` for convenient access
- Use `.set()` for maximum performance
2. **Performance**
- Only update properties when needed
- Use combined setters when changing multiple related properties
- Consider using states for complex property management
3. **Organization**
- Group related property changes together
- Initialize all important properties at creation
- Use meaningful values for better readability
## Common Patterns
### Responsive Layout
```lua
element:setPosition(2, 2)
:setSize("{parent.width - 4}", "{parent.height - 4}")
```
### Conditional Styling
```lua
button:setBackground(function(self)
return self.clicked and colors.gray or colors.lightGray
end)
```
### Layout Calculations
```lua
element:setPosition(function(self)
local parent = self:getParent()
return math.floor((parent:getWidth() - self:getWidth()) / 2)
end)
2. **Dynamic Properties**
- Function properties don't auto-update observers
- Reactive strings (with plugin) do update observers
- Cache computed values when possible
3. **Combined Properties**
- `setPosition` modifies x and y
- `setSize` modifies width and height
- More efficient than setting individually