bevy/examples/ecs
MrGVSV f16768d868 bevy_derive: Add derives for Deref and DerefMut (#4328)
# Objective

A common pattern in Rust is the [newtype](https://doc.rust-lang.org/rust-by-example/generics/new_types.html). This is an especially useful pattern in Bevy as it allows us to give common/foreign types different semantics (such as allowing it to implement `Component` or `FromWorld`) or to simply treat them as a "new type" (clever). For example, it allows us to wrap a common `Vec<String>` and do things like:

```rust
#[derive(Component)]
struct Items(Vec<String>);

fn give_sword(query: Query<&mut Items>) { 
  query.single_mut().0.push(String::from("Flaming Poisoning Raging Sword of Doom"));
}
```

> We could then define another struct that wraps `Vec<String>` without anything clashing in the query.

However, one of the worst parts of this pattern is the ugly `.0` we have to write in order to access the type we actually care about. This is why people often implement `Deref` and `DerefMut` in order to get around this.

Since it's such a common pattern, especially for Bevy, it makes sense to add a derive macro to automatically add those implementations.


## Solution

Added a derive macro for `Deref` and another for `DerefMut` (both exported into the prelude). This works on all structs (including tuple structs) as long as they only contain a single field:

```rust
#[derive(Deref)]
struct Foo(String);

#[derive(Deref, DerefMut)]
struct Bar {
  name: String,
}
```

This allows us to then remove that pesky `.0`:

```rust
#[derive(Component, Deref, DerefMut)]
struct Items(Vec<String>);

fn give_sword(query: Query<&mut Items>) { 
  query.single_mut().push(String::from("Flaming Poisoning Raging Sword of Doom"));
}
```

### Alternatives

There are other alternatives to this such as by using the [`derive_more`](https://crates.io/crates/derive_more) crate. However, it doesn't seem like we need an entire crate just yet since we only need `Deref` and `DerefMut` (for now).

### Considerations

One thing to consider is that the Rust std library recommends _not_ using `Deref` and `DerefMut` for things like this: "`Deref` should only be implemented for smart pointers to avoid confusion" ([reference](https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/ops/trait.Deref.html)). Personally, I believe it makes sense to use it in the way described above, but others may disagree.

### Additional Context

Discord: https://discord.com/channels/691052431525675048/692572690833473578/956648422163746827 (controversiality discussed [here](https://discord.com/channels/691052431525675048/692572690833473578/956711911481835630))

---

## Changelog

- Add `Deref` derive macro (exported to prelude)
- Add `DerefMut` derive macro (exported to prelude)
- Updated most newtypes in examples to use one or both derives

Co-authored-by: MrGVSV <49806985+MrGVSV@users.noreply.github.com>
2022-03-29 02:10:06 +00:00
..
component_change_detection.rs Implement and require #[derive(Component)] on all component structs (#2254) 2021-10-03 19:23:44 +00:00
custom_query_param.rs Implement WorldQuery derive macro (#2713) 2022-02-24 00:19:49 +00:00
ecs_guide.rs Make get_resource (and friends) infallible (#4047) 2022-02-27 22:37:18 +00:00
event.rs Simplify sending empty events (#2935) 2022-02-04 01:24:47 +00:00
fixed_timestep.rs Down with the system! (#2496) 2021-07-27 23:42:36 +00:00
generic_system.rs bevy_derive: Add derives for Deref and DerefMut (#4328) 2022-03-29 02:10:06 +00:00
hierarchy.rs default() shorthand (#4071) 2022-03-01 20:52:09 +00:00
iter_combinations.rs default() shorthand (#4071) 2022-03-01 20:52:09 +00:00
parallel_query.rs bevy_derive: Add derives for Deref and DerefMut (#4328) 2022-03-29 02:10:06 +00:00
removal_detection.rs default() shorthand (#4071) 2022-03-01 20:52:09 +00:00
startup_system.rs Down with the system! (#2496) 2021-07-27 23:42:36 +00:00
state.rs default() shorthand (#4071) 2022-03-01 20:52:09 +00:00
system_chaining.rs bevy_derive: Add derives for Deref and DerefMut (#4328) 2022-03-29 02:10:06 +00:00
system_param.rs Fix doc_markdown lints in examples (#3486) 2021-12-29 17:25:34 +00:00
system_sets.rs Auto-label function systems with SystemTypeIdLabel (#4224) 2022-03-23 22:53:56 +00:00
timers.rs bevy_derive: Add derives for Deref and DerefMut (#4328) 2022-03-29 02:10:06 +00:00