Classification of OO framework (Andrej Krajnc)

1, some definitions:

• A framework is a reusable design of all or part of a system that is represented by a set of abstract classes and the way their instance interact.
• A framework is a skeleton of an application that can be customized by an application developer.

2, how frameworks compare to other oo reuse techinques? (Component, class libraries, patterns)

• Vs. component: framework are generally consisted of more components, are more customizable and more complex interface than components.
• Vs. class libraries: framework provide reuse at a high level of isolation.
• Vs. patterns: patterns are more abstract than frameworks.

3, problems:

• Design, reusing and combination of framework are hard.
• A framework becomes a large and tightly coupled collection of classes that breaks sound moduliarization principles and is difficult to combine with other similar frameworks;

4, Framelet: are small frameworks which have a clearly defined simple interface, do not assume main control of an application and are easier manage, understand and specialize. it might be a pragmatic compromise between design patterns and application frameworks.

5, history:

• The first widely used one, write in Simula in the 1960's.
• Smalltalk, MVC
• MacApp
• Et ++
• CommonPoint, HotDraw, ACE, JAWS, MFC, OWL,
• COM/DCOM, CORBA, EJB/RMI,. NET
• Frameworks in Java:

6. Classifications:

• By Johnson and Foote [1, 1988]: Whitebox framework and Blackbox framework.
• Fayad, SChmidt and Johnson [1999]: Graybox framework, grassbox framework

 

• Application framework (GUI, database etc), domain framework (banking, insurance? Etc )? And support frameworks (utilities: distribute computing, file access? Etc ).

 

• Fayad and Schmidt [1997]: javasgem infrastructure framework, middleware integragtion frameworks and enterprise applecation frameworks.

A, Extensibility, whitebox, blackbox, graybox, glassbox

B, Scope, system infrastucture, middleware integration, domain, enterprise and business collaboration frameworks

C, Approach: Object oriented, component oriented, service oriented and aspect oriented