ExternalisingAnInternalRepresentation

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Context

A system in which data is processed notionally in a number of phases, where the phases are invoked by a driver program which itself is easily modified. Phases are not currently well encapsulated, however: two phases which are currently always consecutive share an internal data representation which is adapted to the needs of those two specific phases, not designed to be an interface format for arbitrary processing. There is a requirement to add new (optional) phases which may intervene between two phases which previously were always called consecutively. It is expected that other new phases may be required in future.

Problem

Adding the new optional phases to the system as it stands requires either that functionality of the existing phases be duplicated, or that some optional phase use the ``internal'' format which was not designed as an interface format. Either course will create maintenance problems which are unacceptable in this context, given that there is an anticipated need to add further phases in future.

Solution

Incrementally replace the internal format with an newly defined and fully documented interface format, open to use by new phases. Modify the existing first phases to output the new format optionally. Develop the new optional phase using the new interface format as input. At this point the original first phase outputs two formats depending on what its successor will be. Next modify the old second phase to input the new format, at which point the old format can be abandoned, and the ability of the old first phase to output the old internal format can be removed. The structure of the new system is now modular, with the driver program as a Mediator\cite{GHJV}.

Consequences

The generation of an externally readable version of the representation allows new modules to be attached with no further alteration of the existing system, apart from the easily modifiable driver program. This creates a more open system.

Depending on the nature and use of the old intermediate format, the new system may possibly be slower than the old, since the interface format is no longer so well adapted to the particular needs of the two originally communicating phases. If speed is critical, this effect needs to be considered in designing the new format and the altered phases.

Contributors

Rob Pooley, Perdita Stevens
Related pages: ReengineeringPatterns

This page last edited on 5 January 2000
 
 
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