Build Your Own SuperHero

The builder pattern is great for constructing complex objects in a more digestible way. Speaking of complexity, the most difficult part of coming up with any super hero is not picking out their strengths, its finding good weaknesses. After all, a hero is only as interesting as their greatest foes!

In this C# example of the Builder Pattern, we'll be making our very own hero creator!

The Hero Class

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System;

public class SuperHero
{
   string name;
   string alterEgo;
   string baseOfOperations;
   string nemesis;

   List<string> strengths;
   List<string> weaknesses;

   bool wearsCape;

   public SuperHero(
       string name, string alterEgo, string baseOfOperations, 
       string nemesis, List<string> strengths, List<string> weaknesses, 
       bool wearsCape
       )
   {
       this.name = name;
       this.alterEgo = alterEgo;
       this.baseOfOperations = baseOfOperations;
       this.nemesis = nemesis;
       this.strengths = strengths;
       this.weaknesses = weaknesses;
       this.wearsCape = wearsCape;
   }

   public void PrintProfile()
   {
       Console.WriteLine("SuperHero Spotlight: " + this.name);
       Console.WriteLine("Alter Ego: " + this.alterEgo);
       Console.WriteLine("Base Of Operations: " + this.baseOfOperations);
       Console.WriteLine("Strengths: ");
       foreach(string strength in this.strengths)
       {
           Console.WriteLine("\t-"+ strength);
       }
       Console.WriteLine("Weaknesses: ");
       foreach(string weakness in this.weaknesses)
       {
           Console.WriteLine("\t-" + weakness);
       }

       Console.WriteLine("Nemesis:" + this.nemesis);
       Console.WriteLine("Wears a cape:" + this.wearsCape);

   }

}

The Hero Builder

public class HeroBuilder
{
   // Copy the properties to modify easily:
   string name;
   string alterEgo;
   string baseOfOperations;
   string nemesis;

   List<string> strengths;
   List<string> weaknesses;

   bool wearsCape;

   // Constructor:
   public HeroBuilder()
   {
       this.strengths = new List<string>();
       this.weaknesses = new List<string>();
   }

   // Set methods for setting the properties of the class:
   public HeroBuilder SetName(string heroName)
   {
       this.name = heroName;
       return this;
   }

   public HeroBuilder SetAlterEgo(string alterEgo)
   {
       this.alterEgo = alterEgo;
       return this;
   }

   public HeroBuilder SetBaseOfOperations(string location)
   {
       this.baseOfOperations = location;
       return this;
   }

   public HeroBuilder SetNemesis(string nemesis)
   {
       this.nemesis = nemesis;
       return this;
   }

   public HeroBuilder AddStrength(string strength)
   {
       this.strengths.Add(strength);
       return this;
   }

   public HeroBuilder AddWeakness(string weakness)
   {
       this.weaknesses.Add(weakness);
       return this;
   }

   public HeroBuilder WearsCape(bool wearsCape)
   {
       this.wearsCape = wearsCape;
       return this;
   }

   // Builds out our new hero:
   public SuperHero BuildHero()
   {
       return new SuperHero(this.name, this.alterEgo, this.baseOfOperations,
       this.nemesis, this.strengths, this.weaknesses, this,wearsCape);
   }
}

Creating Our Hero

public class Solution
{
   public static void main(string[] args)
   {
       HeroBuilder builder = new HeroBuilder();

       builder.SetName("Batman")
       .SetAlterEgo("Bruce Wayne")
       .SetBaseOfOperations("Gotham City")
       .SetNemesis("The Joker, Ra's-al-Ghul, The Court of Owls")
       .WearsCape(true);

       // Breaking it up for readability:
       builder.AddStrength("Genius-level intellect")
       .AddStrength("Expert in forensics")
       .AddStrength("Trained to physical perfection")
       .AddStrength("The World's Greatest Detective")
       .AddStrength("Lives by a code of honor to never kill");

       builder.AddWeakness("Can be prey to his own anger")
       .AddWeakness("Often refuses help from others");

       // Create the character:
       SuperHero theDarkKnight = builder.BuildHero();

       // Get to know the character!
       theDarkKnight.PrintProfile();
   }
}