# Objective
Currently in order to retrieve the inner values from direction types is
that you need to use the `Deref` trait or `From`/`Into`. `Deref` that is
currently implemented is an anti-pattern that I believe should be less
relied upon.
This pull-request add getters for retrieving the inner values for
direction types.
Advantages of getters:
- Let rust-analyzer to list out available methods for users to
understand better to on how to get the inner value. (This happens to me.
I really don't know how to get the value until I look through the source
code.)
- They are simple.
- Generally won't be ambiguous in most context. Traits such as
`From`/`Into` will require fully qualified syntax from time to time.
- Unsurprising result.
Disadvantages of getters:
- More verbose
Advantages of deref polymorphism:
- You reduce boilerplate for getting the value and call inner methods
by:
```rust
let dir = Dir3::new(Vec3::UP).unwrap();
// getting value
let value = *dir;
// instead of using getters
let value = dir.vec3();
// calling methods for the inner vector
dir.xy();
// instead of using getters
dir.vec3().xy();
```
Disadvantages of deref polymorphism:
- When under more level of indirection, it will requires more
dereferencing which will get ugly in some part:
```rust
// getting value
let value = **dir;
// instead of using getters
let value = dir.vec3();
// calling methods for the inner vector
dir.xy();
// instead of using getters
dir.vec3().xy();
```
[More detail
here](https://rust-unofficial.github.io/patterns/anti_patterns/deref.html).
Edit: Update information for From/Into trait.
Edit: Advantages and disadvantages.
## Solution
Add `vec2` method for Dir2.
Add `vec3` method for Dir3.
Add `vec3a` method for Dir3A.
70da903cec