C++'s 'friend' like solution in c#?

Question

HI!

My problem is:

I have 2 classes. A Form class called MainForm and GamePlayManager class.

MainForm handles graphics and GamePlayManager handles the logic beyond graphics.

I separeted them into 2 classes because I don't want to mingle them into one (I think it would be a nasty solution).

question:

How should I implement them, to access the classes of each other?

I think public, and internal modifiers would be nasty solution. Setter and getter would be too elaborate.

In c++ there is friend modifier, however there is no friend in c#.

What is the solution for my problem?

thanks, in advance

Martin

Vulpes · Answer

Personally I have no problem using the 'internal' modifier to share access to fields within the same assembly when I'm working on my own. I know it means that not just your other class but all other classes in the assembly have access to those fields as well but I don't really think there's a better solution available to the .NET programmer. For forms an alternative is to always access controls via the form's Controls collection which enables them to remain private. But if you need to access several controls this is a tedious solution particularly if you have to 'drill down' through several containers to get to the control you want. You can also define your own internal FindControl method which searches for controls recursively using their name and I know a lot of WF developers prefer that to using the Controls collection or exposing the controls directly.