objective c - Setting default values for inherited property without using accessor -

i see people debating whether or not use property's setter in -init method. problem how create default value in subclass inherited property. have class called nslawyer -- framework class, can't change -- interface looks this:

@interface nslawyer : nsobject {     @private     nsuinteger _numberofclients; }  @property (nonatomic, assign) nsuinteger numberofclients;  @end 

and implementation looks this:

@implementation nslawyer  - (instancetype)init {     self = [super init];     if (self) {         _numberofclients = 0;     }     return self; }  @end 

now let's want extend nslawyer. subclass called seniorpartner. , since senior partner should have lots of clients, when seniorpartner gets initialized, don't want instance start 0; want have 10. here's seniorpartner.m:

@implementation seniorpartner  - (instancetype)init {     self = [super init];     if (self) {          // attempting set ivar directly result in compiler saying,          // "instance variable _numberofclients private."          // _numberofclients = 10; <- can't this.          // thus, way set mutator:         self.numberofclients = 10;          // or: [self setnumberofclients:10];     }     return self; }  @end 

so what's objective-c newcomer do? well, mean, there's 1 thing can do, , that's set property. unless there's i'm missing. ideas, suggestions, tips, or tricks?

you should has have; call accessor. declaring class typically avoids calling own accessors in init avoid accidentally calling overridden accessor in subclass might rely on consistency of data haven't initialized yet. superclass on other hand should consistent time subclass's init run, there no problem using superclass accessors @ time.

consider common , general case: want set transform in uiview subclass. how solve other call settransform:? subclassing non-apple code no different.