[API Redesign] Complete text of refactoring plan

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Victor Woeltjen 2015-12-24 14:07:04 -08:00
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@ -122,6 +122,13 @@ Refactor existing applications built on Open MCT Web such that they
are no longer forks, but instead separate projects with a dependency
on the built artifacts from Step 2.
Note that this is achievable already using `bower` (see `warp-bower`
branch at http://developer.nasa.gov/mct/warp for an example.)
However, changes involved in switching to an imperative API and
introducing a build process may change (and should simplify) the
approach used to utilize Open MCT Web as a dependency, so these
changes should be introduced first.
## Step 4. Design registration API
Design the registration API that will replace declarative extension
@ -166,3 +173,57 @@ as some specific component will be responsible for creating any registries.
As such, "bundles" which _use_ specific registries will need to have an
enforceable dependency (e.g. require) upon those "bundles" which
_declare_ those registries.
## Step 6. Refactor individual extensions
Refactor individual extension categories and/or services that have
been identified as needing changes. This includes, but is not
necessarily limited to:
* Views/Representations/Templates (refactored into "components.")
* Capabilities (refactored into "roles", potentially.)
* Telemetry (from `TelemetrySeries` to `TelemetryService`.)
Changes should be made one category at a time (either serially
or separately in parallel) and should involve a tight cycle of:
1. Prioritization/reprioritization; highest-value API improvements
should be done first.
2. Design.
3. Review. Refactoring individual extensions will require significant
effort (likely the most significant effort in the process) so changes
should be validated early to minimize risk/waste.
4. Implementation.
By necessity, these changes may break functionality in applications
built using Open MCT Web. On a case-by-case basis, should consider
providing temporary "legacy support" to allow downstream updates
to occur as a separate task; the relevant trade here is between
waste/effort required to maintain legacy support, versus the
downtime which may be introduced by making these changes simultaneously
across several repositories.
## Step 7. Release candidacy
Once API changes are complete, Open MCT Web should enter a release
candidacy cycle. Important things to look at here:
* Are changes really complete?
* Are they sufficiently documented?
* Are they sufficiently tested?
* Are changes really sufficient?
* Do reviewers think they are usable?
* Does the development team find them useful in practice? This
will require calendar time to ascertain; should allocate time
for this, particularly in alignment with the sprint/release
cycle.
* Has learning curve been measurably decreased? Comparing a to-do
list tutorial to [other examples(http://todomvc.com/) could
provide an empirical basis to this. How much code is required?
How much explanation is required? How many dependencies must
be installed before initial setup?
* Does the API offer sufficient power to implement the extensions we
anticipate?
Any problems identified during release candidacy will require
subsequent design changes and planning.