Should this JavaScript thing be an object or a singleton class?

Question

Hi,

I'm working on a JavaScript software that bears resemblance to Windows. It has a desktop, taskbar, etc. and I'm wondering whether I should make the desktop a class or an object?

I'm thinking about making a process list array that holds all instances of objects. It would hold an instance of desktop. Does this make sense? Or should I just have one global class called desktop that I don't instantiate?

Answer 1

I'm wondering whether I should make the desktop a class or an object

That's an easy decision, as in JavaScript there are no classes -- just objects.

JavaScript is a prototype-based language and not class-based.

You may want to check the following Stack Overflow posts for further reading on the topic:

• How do you define an OOP class in JavaScript?
• What are good JavaScript OOP resources?
• Is JavaScript object-oriented?
• Object Oriented questions in Javascript
• Advantages of prototype based OO over class based
• OO Javascript : Definitive explanation of variable scope

Answer 2

JavaScript doesn't have classes, only objects. You can chose how to initialize that object, either as a singleton (var desktop = {};) or with a constructor (var desktop = new Desktop();).

I usually make a singleton object, because there is no point in making the constructor if you are only ever going to construct it once. I know others like to make an anonymous self executing function (var desktop = (function(){return {}; })();), but it's pretty much the same thing.