Start by clarifying the existing class hierarchy and the expected behavior of the new method, including edge cases and interactions with inherited methods. Then design the subclass using inheritance, ensuring you call super() appropriately and follow Liskov Substitution Principle. Finally, discuss trade-offs such as composition vs inheritance and testability.
Pro tip: Demonstrate awareness of the open-closed principle by extending behavior without modifying existing classes, and mention how you would unit test the new method in isolation and in integration with the parent class.
Ask questions to understand the existing classes, their methods, and the desired functionality of the new method. Identify any constraints or expected inputs/outputs.
Decide whether subclassing is appropriate or if composition would be more flexible. Justify your choice based on the problem context and maintainability.
Outline the class definition, including the new method and any overridden methods. Ensure proper use of super() to leverage parent functionality and avoid breaking existing behavior.
Discuss potential edge cases, such as invalid inputs or interactions with parent methods. Explain how you would test the new method and the subclass as a whole.
Mention any trade-offs of your approach, such as increased coupling with inheritance, and propose alternative designs if relevant.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.