Singleton

classdef Singleton < handle
   %SINGLETON Abstract Class for Singleton OOP Design Pattern
   %  Intent:  Ensures a class only has one instance and provide a
   %  global point of access to it [1].
   %  Motivation:  It's important for some classes to have exactly one
   %  instance.  For example, it can be desirable to have only a
   %  single instance of a GUI.  With a MATLAB GUIDE built GUI, the driver
   %  or main function provides a global point of access which is
   %  executed to,
   %  1. initially instantiate the GUI; and
   %  2. subsequently bring the existing GUI into focus *not* creating
   %     a new one.
   %  Implementation:  MATLAB OOP doesn't have the notion of static
   %  properties.  Properties become available once the constructor
   %  of the class is invoked.  In the case of the Singleton Pattern, it
   %  is then undesirable to use the constructor as a global point of
   %  access since it creates a new instance before you can check if an
   %  instance already exists.  The solution is to use a persistent
   %  variable within a unique static method instance() which calls the
   %  constructor to create a unique 'singleton' instance.  The persistent
   %  variable can be interrogated prior to object creation and after
   %  object creation to check if the singleton object exists.  There are
   %  two conditions that all subclasses must satisfy:
   %  1. Constructor must be hidden from the user (Access=private).
   %  2. The concrete implementation of instance() must use a persistent
   %     variable to store the unique instance of the subclass.
   % 
   %  Refer to pp.127-134 Gamma et al.[1] for more information on the
   %  Singleton Design Pattern.
   % 
   %  Written by Bobby Nedelkovski
   %  The MathWorks Australia Pty Ltd
   %  Copyright 2009, The MathWorks, Inc.
   %
   %  Reference:
   %  [1] Gamma, E., Helm, R., Johnson, R. and Vlissides, J.
   %      Design Patterns : Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software.
   %      Boston: Addison-Wesley, 1995.

   % Unique properties of Singleton.  This can be only accessed
   % with the getter/setter methods via any subclass of Singleton.
   properties(Access=private)
      singletonData = [];
   end
   
   methods(Abstract, Static)
      % This method serves as the global point of access in creating a
      % single instance *or* acquiring a reference to the singleton.
      % If the object doesn't exist, create it otherwise return the
      % existing one in persistent memory.
      % Input:
      %    <none>
      % Output:
      %    obj = reference to a persistent instance of the class
      obj = instance();
   end
   
   methods % Public Access
      % Accessor method for querying the singleton data.
      % Input:
      %   obj = reference to the singleton instance of the subclass
      % Output:
      %   singletonData = internal data store for Singleton object
      function singletonData = getSingletonData(obj)
         singletonData = obj.singletonData;
      end
      
      % Accessor method for modifying the singleton data.
      % Input:
      %   obj = reference to the singleton instance of the subclass
      %   singletonData = new data to set internal data store
      % Output:
      %   <none>
      function setSingletonData(obj, singletonData)
         obj.singletonData = singletonData;
      end
      
   end

end