dealloc, use release or set to nil for properties?

Question

I have noticed a little confusion when looking at various bits of code both in books and on the web when it comes to implementing dealloc. My question is when using @property which of the following should I be using. Up until now I have been using VERSION_001.

@property(nonatomic, retain) NSString *name;
@property(nonatomic, retain) NSString *type;
@property(nonatomic, retain) NSString *payload;
@property(nonatomic, retain) NSString *orbit;

VERSION 001

- (void)dealloc {
    [name release];
    [type release];
    [payload release];
    [orbit release];
    [super dealloc];
}

VERSION 002

- (void)dealloc {
    [self setName:nil];
    [self setType:nil];
    [self setPayload:nil];
    [self setOrbit:nil];
    [super dealloc];
}

Answer 1

There is no real difference, Unless you are not using the @synthesize keyword. When you set the properties to nil, they are being released behind the scenes by the setter. Now, there may be a slight performance increase over the fist version, because not so much needs to happen behind the scenes (e.g. pointer comparison, and everything else apple hides behind the scenes). I always use version 001, because it is more to the point and future developers don't have to dig though my code to figure out what I am accomplishing.