## GstMiniObject GstMiniObject — Lightweight base class for the GStreamer object hierarchy |

## Synopsis

    #include <gst/gst.h>

    struct              GstMiniObject;
    enum                GstMiniObjectFlags;
    GstMiniObject *     (*GstMiniObjectCopyFunction)        (const GstMiniObject *obj);
    void                (*GstMiniObjectFinalizeFunction)    (GstMiniObject *obj);
    void                (*GstMiniObjectWeakNotify)          (gpointer data,
                                                             GstMiniObject *where_the_mini_object_was);
    #define             GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAGS               (obj)
    #define             GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_IS_SET         (obj,
                                                             flag)
    #define             GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_SET            (obj,
                                                             flag)
    #define             GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_UNSET          (obj,
                                                             flag)
    #define             GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT            (obj)
    #define             GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE      (obj)
    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_new                 (GType type);
    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_copy                (const GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    gboolean            gst_mini_object_is_writable         (const GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_make_writable       (GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_ref                 (GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    void                gst_mini_object_unref               (GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    void                gst_mini_object_replace             (GstMiniObject **olddata,
                                                             GstMiniObject *newdata);
    void                gst_mini_object_weak_ref            (GstMiniObject *object,
                                                             GstMiniObjectWeakNotify notify,
                                                             gpointer data);
    void                gst_mini_object_weak_unref          (GstMiniObject *object,
                                                             GstMiniObjectWeakNotify notify,
                                                             gpointer data);
    struct              GstParamSpecMiniObject;
    GParamSpec *        gst_param_spec_mini_object          (const char *name,
                                                             const char *nick,
                                                             const char *blurb,
                                                             GType object_type,
                                                             GParamFlags flags);
    void                gst_value_set_mini_object           (GValue *value,
                                                             GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    void                gst_value_take_mini_object          (GValue *value,
                                                             GstMiniObject *mini_object);
    GstMiniObject *     gst_value_get_mini_object           (const GValue *value);
    GstMiniObject *     gst_value_dup_mini_object           (const GValue *value);

## Description

GstMiniObject is a baseclass like GObject, but has been stripped down of features to be fast and small. It offers sub-classing and ref-counting in the same way as GObject does. It has no properties and no signal-support though.

Last reviewed on 2005-11-23 (0.9.5)

## Details

### struct GstMiniObject

    struct GstMiniObject {
      GTypeInstance instance;
      gint refcount;
      guint flags;
    };

Base class for refcounted lightweight objects. Ref Func: gst_mini_object_ref Unref Func: gst_mini_object_unref Set Value Func: gst_value_set_mini_object Get Value Func: gst_value_get_mini_object

GTypeInstance `instance`; | type instance
gint `refcount`; | atomic refcount
guint `flags`; | extra flags.

### enum GstMiniObjectFlags

    typedef enum {
      GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_READONLY = (1<<0),
      GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_RESERVED1 = (1<<1),
      /* padding */
      GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_LAST = (1<<4)
    } GstMiniObjectFlags;

Flags for the mini object

`GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_READONLY` | is the miniobject readonly or writable
`GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_RESERVED1` | a flag reserved for internal use e.g. as GST_BUFFER_FLAG_MEDIA4. Since: 0.10.33.
`GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_LAST` | first flag that can be used by subclasses.

### GstMiniObjectCopyFunction ()

    GstMiniObject *     (*GstMiniObjectCopyFunction)        (const GstMiniObject *obj);

Virtual function prototype for methods to create copies of instances.

`obj` : | MiniObject to copy
Returns : | reference to cloned instance.

### GstMiniObjectFinalizeFunction ()

    void                (*GstMiniObjectFinalizeFunction)    (GstMiniObject *obj);

Virtual function prototype for methods to free ressources used by mini-objects. Subclasses of the mini object are allowed to revive the passed object by doing a `gst_mini_object_ref()`. If the object is not revived after the finalize function, the memory associated with the object is freed.

`obj` : | MiniObject to finalize

### GstMiniObjectWeakNotify ()

    void                (*GstMiniObjectWeakNotify)          (gpointer data,
                                                             GstMiniObject *where_the_mini_object_was);

A GstMiniObjectWeakNotify function can be added to a mini object as a callback that gets triggered when the mini object is finalized. Since the mini object is already being finalized when the GstMiniObjectWeakNotify is called, there's not much you could do with the object, apart from e.g. using its adress as hash-index or the like.

`data` : | data that was provided when the weak reference was established
`where_the_mini_object_was` : | the mini object being finalized

Since 0.10.35

### GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAGS()

    #define GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAGS(obj)  (GST_MINI_OBJECT_CAST(obj)->flags)

This macro returns the entire set of flags for the mini-object.

`obj` : | MiniObject to return flags for.

### GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_IS_SET()

    #define GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_IS_SET(obj,flag)        !!(GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAGS (obj) & (flag))

This macro checks to see if the given flag is set.

`obj` : | MiniObject to check for flags.
`flag` : | Flag to check for

### GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_SET()

    #define GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_SET(obj,flag)           (GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAGS (obj) |= (flag))

This macro sets the given bits.

`obj` : | MiniObject to set flag in.
`flag` : | Flag to set, can by any number of bits in guint32.

### GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_UNSET()

    #define GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_UNSET(obj,flag)         (GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAGS (obj) &= ~(flag))

This macro usets the given bits.

`obj` : | MiniObject to unset flag in.
`flag` : | Flag to set, must be a single bit in guint32.

### GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT()

    #define GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT(obj)           ((GST_MINI_OBJECT_CAST(obj))->refcount)

Get access to the reference count field of the mini-object.

`obj` : | a GstMiniObject

### GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE()

    #define GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE(obj)     (g_atomic_int_get (&(GST_MINI_OBJECT_CAST(obj))->refcount))

Get the reference count value of the mini-object.

`obj` : | a GstMiniObject

### gst_mini_object_new ()

    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_new                 (GType type);

Creates a new mini-object of the desired type.

MT safe

`type` : | the GType of the mini-object to create
Returns : | the new mini-object. [transfer full]

### gst_mini_object_copy ()

    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_copy                (const GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Creates a copy of the mini-object.

MT safe

`mini_object` : | the mini-object to copy
Returns : | the new mini-object. [transfer full]

### gst_mini_object_is_writable ()

    gboolean            gst_mini_object_is_writable         (const GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Checks if a mini-object is writable. A mini-object is writable if the reference count is one and the GST_MINI_OBJECT_FLAG_READONLY flag is not set. Modification of a mini-object should only be done after verifying that it is writable.

MT safe

`mini_object` : | the mini-object to check
Returns : | TRUE if the object is writable.

### gst_mini_object_make_writable ()

    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_make_writable       (GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Checks if a mini-object is writable. If not, a writable copy is made and returned. This gives away the reference to the original mini object, and returns a reference to the new object.

MT safe

`mini_object` : | the mini-object to make writable. [transfer full]
Returns : | a mini-object (possibly the same pointer) that is writable. [transfer full]

### gst_mini_object_ref ()

    GstMiniObject *     gst_mini_object_ref                 (GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Increase the reference count of the mini-object.

Note that the refcount affects the writeability of `mini`-object, see `gst_mini_object_is_writable()`. It is important to note that keeping additional references to GstMiniObject instances can potentially increase the number of memcpy operations in a pipeline, especially if the miniobject is a GstBuffer.

`mini_object` : | the mini-object
Returns : | the mini-object. [transfer full]

### gst_mini_object_unref ()

    void                gst_mini_object_unref               (GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Decreases the reference count of the mini-object, possibly freeing the mini-object.

`mini_object` : | the mini-object

### gst_mini_object_replace ()

    void                gst_mini_object_replace             (GstMiniObject **olddata,
                                                             GstMiniObject *newdata);

Modifies a pointer to point to a new mini-object. The modification is done atomically, and the reference counts are updated correctly. Either `newdata` and the value pointed to by `olddata` may be NULL.

`olddata` : | pointer to a pointer to a mini-object to be replaced. [inout][transfer full]
`newdata` : | pointer to new mini-object

### gst_mini_object_weak_ref ()

    void                gst_mini_object_weak_ref            (GstMiniObject *object,
                                                             GstMiniObjectWeakNotify notify,
                                                             gpointer data);

Adds a weak reference callback to a mini object. Weak references are used for notification when a mini object is finalized. They are called "weak references" because they allow you to safely hold a pointer to the mini object without calling `gst_mini_object_ref()` (`gst_mini_object_ref()` adds a strong reference, that is, forces the object to stay alive).

`object` : | GstMiniObject to reference weakly
`notify` : | callback to invoke before the mini object is freed
`data` : | extra data to pass to notify

Since 0.10.36

### gst_mini_object_weak_unref ()

    void                gst_mini_object_weak_unref          (GstMiniObject *object,
                                                             GstMiniObjectWeakNotify notify,
                                                             gpointer data);

Removes a weak reference callback to a mini object.

`object` : | GstMiniObject to remove a weak reference from
`notify` : | callback to search for
`data` : | data to search for

Since 0.10.36

### struct GstParamSpecMiniObject

    struct GstParamSpecMiniObject {
      GParamSpec parent_instance;
    };

A `GParamSpec` derived structure that contains the meta data for `GstMiniObject` properties.

GParamSpec `parent_instance`; | private `GParamSpec` portion

### gst_param_spec_mini_object ()

    GParamSpec *        gst_param_spec_mini_object          (const char *name,
                                                             const char *nick,
                                                             const char *blurb,
                                                             GType object_type,
                                                             GParamFlags flags);

Creates a new GParamSpec instance that hold GstMiniObject references.

`name` : | the canonical name of the property
`nick` : | the nickname of the property
`blurb` : | a short description of the property
`object_type` : | the GstMiniObject GType for the property
`flags` : | a combination of GParamFlags
Returns : | a newly allocated GParamSpec instance. [transfer full]

### gst_value_set_mini_object ()

    void                gst_value_set_mini_object           (GValue *value,
                                                             GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Set the contents of a `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived GValue to `mini_object`. The caller retains ownership of the reference.

`value` : | a valid GValue of `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived type
`mini_object` : | mini object value to set. [transfer none]

### gst_value_take_mini_object ()

    void                gst_value_take_mini_object          (GValue *value,
                                                             GstMiniObject *mini_object);

Set the contents of a `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived GValue to `mini_object`. Takes over the ownership of the caller's reference to `mini_object`; the caller doesn't have to unref it any more.

`value` : | a valid GValue of `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived type
`mini_object` : | mini object value to take. [transfer full]

### gst_value_get_mini_object ()

    GstMiniObject *     gst_value_get_mini_object           (const GValue *value);

Get the contents of a `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived GValue. Does not increase the refcount of the returned object.

`value` : | a valid GValue of `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived type
Returns : | mini object contents of `value`. [transfer none]

### gst_value_dup_mini_object ()

    GstMiniObject *     gst_value_dup_mini_object           (const GValue *value);

Get the contents of a `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived GValue, increasing its reference count. If the contents of the GValue are `NULL`, `NULL` will be returned.

`value` : | a valid GValue of `GST_TYPE_MINI_OBJECT` derived type
Returns : | mini object contents of `value`. [transfer full]

Since 0.10.20