Classes Revisited - Learning Java Through Games - page 179

public String getName () {
return name ;
} public void setName( String name) {
this .name = name;
abstract double computeStrength() ;

public int compareTo(FictionalCharacter other) {
if (computeStrength() − other . computeStrength() > 0) {
return 1;
} if (computeStrength() − other . computeStrength() < 0) {
return

− 1;

return 0;
} public static int memberCount () {
return memberCount ;

}

}

The static variable memberCount keeps track of the number of fictional characters. The
count is initially zero and is incremented by one every time a new fictional character is
created. The variable is static because it is not associated with a particular object, but
rather with the whole class. Next, imagine we also add object counting capabilities to the
Superhero class.
public class Superhero extends FictionalCharacter {

private int goodPower ;
private int respect ;
private static int memberCount = 0;
public Superhero {
memberCount++;
} public Superhero(String name, int goodPower ,

int respect) {

super (name) ;
this . goodPower = goodPower ;
this . respect = respect ;
memberCount++;
double

{
return goodPower ∗ respect ∗ Math . random ( ) ;
} public String toString() {
return super .getName()+ " is a superhero that has good power = " +
goodPower+ " and respect = " +respect ;
} public static int memberCount () {
return memberCount ;

computeStrength()

}

}

Now, if we call Superhero.memberCount() ,thenwewillgetthenumberofsuperheroes.
Conversely, the code FictionalCharacter.memberCount() will return the number of fic-
tional characters. Note that if the memberCount method for the Superhero classisre-