As new SWT versions will be released, SWTBot will use classes and methods which
don't exist in SWT 3.3, on which SWTBot is currently based.
When SWTBot uses these new classes and methods, a compile error will occur in
the classpath of the previous version. SWTBot users will not be able to use the
new SWTBot version unless they can upgrade their application under test to the
higher SWT version.
How can this issue be dealt or solved? Here are some ways:
1. Old users which cannot upgrade to the new SWT version are simply not
supported with updates and bug fixes for SWTBot. They need to use an old SWTBot
version which is not maintained any longer.
2. When a new SWT version is released, SWTBot is branched. Both branches will
be maintained in the same amount.
3. SWTBot will be implemented so that it works even with older SWT versions
(back to at least 3.3). But there will be compile errors when someone tries to
build it on that version. And the users will get NoClassDefFoundError if the
use a method which is only inteded for a later SWT version.
4. SWTBot will be compatible by not having any compile errors in the supported
environments. If a too late SWTBot method is used on an older SWT, SWTBot will
check this and quit with a qualified application exception and not with a
system exception like "NoClassDefFoundError".
Another issue are the Eclipse plugins ("Run as SWTBot Test"), which maybe won't
work in older PDE versions if they will use of elements which are only
contained in PDE 3.4, 3.5 etc.
Maybe there are even more options. I am just asking. You decide, although I
favor something like number 4 personally. A similiar question is, how much
importance will be laid on compatibility (with SWT and JDK) by you for future
SWTBot development?
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