#ifndef OSG_OBJECT
#define OSG_OBJECT 1

#include <osg/Referenced>

namespace osg {

/** Base class/standard interface for objects which require IO support, 
    cloning and reference counting.
    Based on GOF Composite, Prototype and Template Method patterns.
*/
class SG_EXPORT Object : public Referenced
{
    public:
        /** Construct an object. Note Object is a pure virtual base class
            and therefore cannot be constructed on its own, only derived
            classes which overide the clone and className methods are
            concrete classes and can be constructed.*/
        Object() {}

        /** return a shallow copy of a node, with Object* return type.
            Must be defined by derived classes.*/
        virtual Object* clone() const = 0;

        virtual bool isSameKindAs(const Object*) const { return true; }

        /** return the name of the object's class type. Must be defined
            by derived classes.*/
        virtual const char* className() const = 0;

    protected:

        /** Object destructor. Note, is protected so that Objects cannot
            be deleted other than by being derefernced and the reference
            count being zero (see osg::Referenced), preventing the deletion
            of nodes which are still in use. This also means that
            Node's cannot be created on stack i.e Node node will not compile,
            forcing all nodes to be created on the heap i.e Node* node
            = new Node().*/
        virtual ~Object() {}

    private:

        /** disallow any form of deep copy.*/
        Object(Object&): Referenced() {}
        Object& operator = (const Object&) { return *this; }
};

};

#endif