[fpc-pascal] Implementing a true Singleton - Can we decrease the visibility of a method?

[Jonas Maebe]

On 8 dec 2006, at 13:44, Graeme Geldenhuys wrote:

>> I'm not even sure if there is a language which allows demoting
>> visibility of inherited class members. It would seem odd to me. Just
>> my 2c, of course. ;-)
>
> C++, C#, VB.Net are three I know of.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms182332(VS.80).aspx

Quote:

"You should not change the access modifier for inherited members."

So it's possible but discouraged, and they give warnings (and  
sometimes errors) for it with the recommendation "Do not exclude a  
warning from this rule."

As far as I understand the text on that page, the only case where  
it's considered "safe" is if the the method/class is declared  
"final". We do not have final methods/classes in Object Pascal, and  
such final methods/classes are often considered a cause of problems  
in themselves (because you can bet sooner or latter someone will have  
some need to override/inherit anyway).


Jonas