Template Method

Template method implementation in java

Template method pattern is a behavioral design pattern that defines the program skeleton of an algorithm in an operation, defering some steps to subclasses.

Structure:

Key notes:

Template method uses Inheritance
The Template method implemented by the base class should not be overridden. In this way, the structure of the algorithm is controlled by the super class, and the details are implemented in the sub classes

Code example:

import java.util.List;

class GameRule{

}
class GameInfo{
    String gameName;
    List<String> players;
    List<GameRule> rules;
}    

abstract class Game{
    protected GameInfo info;
    public Game(GameInfo info){
        this.info = info;
    }
    public abstract void createGame();
    public abstract void makeMoves();
    public abstract void applyRules();
    
    /* playGame is template method. This algorithm skeleton can't be changed by sub-classes. sub-class can change
       the behaviour only of steps like createGame() etc. */
       
    public void playGame(){
        createGame();
        makeMoves();
        applyRules();
        closeGame();
    }
    protected void closeGame(){
        System.out.println("Close game:"+this.getClass().getName());
        System.out.println("--------------------");
    }
}
class Chess extends Game{
    public Chess(GameInfo info){
        super(info);
    }
    public void createGame(){
        // Use GameInfo and create Game
        System.out.println("Creating Chess game");
    }
    public void makeMoves(){
        System.out.println("Make Chess moves");
    }
    public void applyRules(){
        System.out.println("Apply Chess rules");
    }
}
class Checkers extends Game{
    public Checkers(GameInfo info){
        super(info);
    }
    public void createGame(){
        // Use GameInfo and create Game
        System.out.println("Creating Checkers game");
    }
    public void makeMoves(){
        System.out.println("Make Checkers moves");
    }
    public void applyRules(){
        System.out.println("Apply Checkers rules");
    }
    
}
class Ludo extends Game{
    public Ludo(GameInfo info){
        super(info);
    }
    public void createGame(){
        // Use GameInfo and create Game
        System.out.println("Creating Ludo game");
    }
    public void makeMoves(){
        System.out.println("Make Ludo moves");
    }
    public void applyRules(){
        System.out.println("Apply Ludo rules");
    }
}

public class TemplateMethodPattern{
    public static void main(String args[]){
        System.out.println("--------------------");
    
        Game game = new Chess(new GameInfo());
        game.playGame();
        
        game = new Ludo(new GameInfo());
        game.playGame();
        
        game = new Checkers(new GameInfo());
        game.playGame();
    }
}

Explanation:

Game is an abstract super class, which defines a template method : playGame()
Skeleton of playGame() is defined in base class: Game
Sub-classes like Chess, Ludo and Checkers can’t change the skeleton of playGame(). But they can modify the behaviour of some steps like
```
createGame();
makeMoves();
applyRules();
```

output:

--------------------
Creating Chess game
Make Chess moves
Apply Chess rules
Close game:Chess
--------------------
Creating Ludo game
Make Ludo moves
Apply Ludo rules
Close game:Ludo
--------------------
Creating Checkers game
Make Checkers moves
Apply Checkers rules
Close game:Checkers
--------------------