Message Forwarding vs Direct Method Calls

Developers should learn message forwarding when working with dynamic languages like Objective-C or Swift to implement advanced patterns like proxy objects, where one object stands in for another to control access or add functionality meets developers should use direct method calls when they need simple, efficient, and predictable execution paths, such as in performance-critical applications or when working with well-defined apis where the method to call is known at compile-time. Here's our take.

Message Forwarding

Nice Pick

Developers should learn message forwarding when working with dynamic languages like Objective-C or Swift to implement advanced patterns like proxy objects, where one object stands in for another to control access or add functionality

Pros

• It's essential for building flexible architectures, such as in iOS/macOS development for handling unimplemented methods dynamically, enabling features like method interception or creating adaptable components that can respond to unknown messages at runtime
• Related to: objective-c, swift

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Direct Method Calls

Developers should use direct method calls when they need simple, efficient, and predictable execution paths, such as in performance-critical applications or when working with well-defined APIs where the method to call is known at compile-time

Pros

• This is common in scenarios like utility functions, mathematical operations, or when implementing design patterns like the Template Method, where base class methods are directly invoked by derived classes
• Related to: object-oriented-programming, function-calls

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Message Forwarding if: You want it's essential for building flexible architectures, such as in ios/macos development for handling unimplemented methods dynamically, enabling features like method interception or creating adaptable components that can respond to unknown messages at runtime and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Direct Method Calls if: You prioritize this is common in scenarios like utility functions, mathematical operations, or when implementing design patterns like the template method, where base class methods are directly invoked by derived classes over what Message Forwarding offers.

The Bottom Line

Message Forwarding wins

Developers should learn message forwarding when working with dynamic languages like Objective-C or Swift to implement advanced patterns like proxy objects, where one object stands in for another to control access or add functionality