Alex Karasulu wrote:
Oh Ole I'm trying to get this EMF stuff but I'm just not groking it -
still need to back up and read these long emails. Thanks for not giving
up on us - I know the EMF concepts you talk about are valuable
especially when we really trick studio out the way I dream of.
Thanks for not blocking me as Spam on the mail list :-). I know when you are doing a big bang, and this Ole guy starts proposing a big bang on top of the big bang, it can be a little over the top.
One thing I can do to make it simpler is just create a simple little hello
world for it, that will demo the key capabilities that I think will be most
valuable for the directory project. Starting with the simplest XML Schema
possible, so that it's much easier to see what's going on and relate the inputs
to the outputs. The XBean Schema generated something like 40 implementation
classes (Impl posftixed classes), plus corresponding interfaces. Even though
these are the configuration beans, it's still pretty intensive to think about
how the graph of all of those are constructed from loading server.xml, in
addition to general EMF design concepts, which is all pattern based.
But before we invest time in general, we need to make sure we agree on an
understanding of the process in which EMF would be used, the the general
requirements it imposes on server components, such that everyone has a chance
to see whether they would enjoy that type of development style.
One thing you mentioned was storing the configuration in the DIT. With the LDAP DAS that
would be instant. Just load the generated model with server.xml, pass it to
DAS.save(model) (model is a reference to the Object that is the root element of
server.xml), and it's instantly in the DIT. Restoring it from the DIT is the same.
DAS.load("DN of root server.xml element"); So there's all sorts of benefits
like that end up being enabled, through use of EMF.
One question that probably should come up during the JPOX collaboration is
whether it can support a similar capability.
So once the dust settle a little, I'll be glad to help further our
understanding of ways EMF could be leveraged.
Have a terrific weekend,
- Ole
