FunctionalKit Boilerplate Justice.m

// replace annoying boilerplate with declarative justice using FunctionalKit:

UITableViewCell *cell = [aTableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
if (cell == nil) {
  cell = [[[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleSubtitle reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];
}

// =>
// nota bene: category on UITableView for convenient factory method is highly recommended.
id maybeCell = [[aTableView maybe] dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
UITableViewCell *cell = [maybeCell orJustFromBlock:^{ return [UITableViewCell cellWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleSubtitle reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier]; }];

Excellent idea, although a more illustrative example might look like

UITableViewCell *cell = [maybeCell orJustFromBlock:^{
  id c = [UITableViewCell cellWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleSubtitle reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
  [c setBackgroundColor:[UIColor redColor]];
  [c setTextColor:[UIColor greenColor]];
  return c;
}];

If extra configuration is needed in the initial creation of the UITableViewCell object, your block construct could prove very useful!

That's a good example. However, I added the block even with no configuration for a good reason: if you use your original code, you'll be creating extra cells whether or not they're needed.

Zomg, good point. Damn Objective-C not being a lazy-evaluating language!

I need to make a HOM for forcing operations to be lazy.