Matlab equivalent to calling inside static class

Question

Confer the following code:

classdef highLowGame
    methods(Static)
        function [wonAmount, noGuesses] = run(gambledAmount)
            noGuesses = 'something';
            wonAmount = highLowGame.getPayout(gambledAmount, noGuesses); % <---
        end
        function wonAmount = getPayout(gambledAmount, noGuesses)
            wonAmount = 'something';
        end
    end
end

Is there a way to call a static method of the same class (inside a static) method without having to write the class name? Something like "self.getPayout(...)" - in case the class turns out to get to 500 lines and I want to rename it.

Answer 1

As far as I can tell, "no" with a "but". In general, you can only specify the static method with the class name. However, you can fake your way around the restriction since MATLAB has feval:

classdef testStatic

    methods (Static)
        function p = getPi()  %this is a static method
            p = 3.14;
        end
    end

    methods
        function self = testStatic()

            testStatic.getPi  %these are all equivalent
            feval(sprintf('%s.getPi',class(self)))
            feval(sprintf('%s.getPi',mfilename('class')))
        end
    end
end

Here, class(self) and mfilename both evaluate to 'testStatic', so the functions above end up evaluating 'testStatic.getPi'.

Or, alteratively, you can write a non-static method, self.callStatic; then always use that. Inside that, just call testStatic.getPi. Then you'll only need to change that one line.

Answer 2

Not an answer to your question directly, but it's worth noting that you can also put "local functions" after the end of your classdef block in your class.m file, and these behave like private static methods, but you do not need to invoke them using the class name. I.e.

% myclass.m
classdef myclass
  methods ( Static )
    function x = foo()
      x = iMyFoo();
    end
  end
end
function x = iMyFoo()
  x = rand();
end
% end of myclass.m