teichmann@475: package org.dive4elements.artifacts;
felix@352: 
felix@352: /**
felix@352:  * DataProviders register on a Blackboard with a key (basically shouting
felix@352:  * "I can or know X!").
felix@352:  *
felix@352:  * Consumers look at the blackboard and then consume data from these
felix@352:  * DataProvider, passing them (optional) parameterization and the blackboard
felix@352:  * itself.
felix@352:  *
felix@352:  * Through the blackboard-passing-when-consuming, also recursive patterns can
felix@352:  * be modelled (but take care, there is no in-built cycle detection).
felix@352:  */
felix@352: public interface DataProvider {
felix@352:     /** Register this DataProvider on a blackboard under a key. */
felix@352:     public void register(CallContext blackboard);
felix@352: 
felix@352:     /** Provide data, given parameterization and a "blackboard". */
felix@352:     public Object provideData(Object key, Object param, CallContext context);
felix@352: }
felix@352: // vim:set ts=4 sw=4 si et sta sts=4 fenc=utf8 :