CONFIGURATION-ORIENTED
PROGRAMMING
Introduction into the new paradigm
Radovan Brečka
Department of Computer Science, Comenius University,
Mlynská dolina, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia
email: brecka@dandiway.sk
Content
History
Illustrative examples
COP definition
How it works
Blox® Framework
Advantages
References
History of programming
Imperative programming
Simple computing definition
Pseudo codes
Structured & procedural programming
Data types, Control structures, Procedures
PL/1, C, Pascal, …
Object-oriented programming
Object (data + code), Inheritance, Dynamic method binding
C++, Java, .NET, …
Configuration-oriented programming
Configuration
From OOP to COP
OOP Class
Data
Code
COP Module
Data
Setup (configuration form definition)
Code
OOP Instance
COP Configuration
Atributtes
Submodules
Inheritance + Dynamic method binding
OOP vs. COP
illustrative example
OOP
COP
COP definition
COP Module
Data: constants & module configurations (COP configuration)
Setup: definition how this module will be configured
Code: imperative code with direct configuration support
COP Configuration
Attributes: defined with respect to Setup part of Module
Sub-modules: defined with respect to Setup definition
How it works:
Example 1 – CMS
CMS – Content Management System
Modules:
Portal, Page, Section, Text, Image
Configuration:
Representation of Content
How it works:
Example 1 – CMS
Illustrative video 1.
How it works:
Example 2 – Form
Form layer
Modules:
Data source, Data type, Data attributes
Forms, Form attributes
Configuration:
Data table type
Form structure
Prerequisites:
Created table example with columns: id, name, desc
How it works:
Example 2 – Form
Illustrative video 2.
Programming with
configuration patterns
New programming technique
Result is achieved by executing an altered
configuration
1. Module / Data – contains the configuration pattern
2. Pattern is modified by code
3. Execution of pattern achieves desired result
Programming with
configuration patterns
Module Person:
Method draw alters a configuration stored in Data part according
to values of attributes Point X, Point Y and executes it.
Programming with
configuration patterns
Section + Text
New module with attributes:
userText: String
userSkin: String
Draws the section with userSkin color with text
with userText inside
Programming with
configuration patterns
Illustrative video 3.
Blox® Framework
Full framework for project development
Core implemented in Java
executable on J2EE application servers
Configuration tool implemented in COP
Implemented in itself
Modules are defined as configuration of special Setup modules
Configuration refactoring
Over 1000 modules
Blox® Framework
Architecture
CMS
Data
Form
Security
View
Extensions
OLAP
DMS
WfMS
Blox® Framework
Architecture
Illustrative video 4.
COP Advantages
Simpler and faster IS building using configuration
Splitting development: Code implementation & Configuration
Better reusability of COP modules
Setup function directly defines how to use the modules
Complex configuration patterns can be hidden in special modules
New programming techniques
Programming with configuration patterns (sub-problem abstraction)
Power of configuration polymorphism (better level of domain decomposition)
Simpler IS maintenance
Transparent architecture in configuration
Configuration refactoring
New point of view on Rapid Application Development
Prototypes can be build only by configuration
Driven through configuration refactoring and module upgrading
Practical results
Orange Slovensko, a.s.
Major mobile operator in Slovakia
Back-end of portal: www.orange.sk
Slovak Bar Association
Independent professional organization,
currently associating cca 4100 lawyers and 1220 trainee lawyers
Extranet system
Intranet system
Železničná spoločnosť, a.s.
Leader in providing services in rail passenger transport in Slovakia
Intranet information system
Document management system
Workflow management system
Thank you for your attention!