4.1. Properties

Java: Bean convention, getX() and setX() methods

public class Person {
    private int age = 32;

    public int getAge() {
        return this.age;
    }

    public void setAge(int age) {
        this.age = age;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Person p = new Person();
        p.setAge(p.getAge() + 1);
    }
}

Vala: language support for properties, get { } and set { } blocks, can be accessed like fields

public class Person : Object {
    private int _age = 32;

    public int age {
        get { return _age; }
        set { _age = value; }
    }
}

void main () {
    var p = new Person ();
    p.age++;
}

Or even shorter for the standard implementation:

public class Person : Object {
    public int age { get; set; default = 32; }
}