What's a fluent interface?

Question

I recently came across this expression - but reading up on Wikipedia did not clarify it much for me - I still don't get it:

1. What's the point of it
2. How is it used in practice (i.e. how does it benefit a coder in their day to day work/building systems)?

[Edit] The Wikipedia article C++ example is overly long, and conflates the discussion of a fluent interface with an example of a simple Glut app. Can someone provide a SUCCINCT C++ example of a class that illustrates a fluent interface (how does such an influence differ from an ordinary C++ interface for example)?

Answer 1

It benefits the coder by reducing the amount he has to type (and read).

To use the C++ example on Wikipedia:

Before:

int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     GlutApp app(argc, argv);
     app.setDisplayMode(GLUT_DOUBLE|GLUT_RGBA|GLUT_ALPHA|GLUT_DEPTH); // Set framebuffer params
     app.setWindowSize(500, 500); // Set window params
     app.setWindowPosition(200, 200);
     app.setTitle("My OpenGL/GLUT App");
     app.create();
}

After:

 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     FluentGlutApp app(argc, argv);
     app.withDoubleBuffer().withRGBA().withAlpha().withDepth()
        .at(200, 200).across(500, 500)
        .named("My OpenGL/GLUT App");
     app.create();
 }