application.mixin.automaton

application.mixin.automaton

Application Framework Mixin: transforms the application into an Automaton (state machine).

Depending on the concept you want to follow (Automata-based, Event-Driven, Virtual), the change of the state will be triggered automaticly by data, events, ...

State changes can't be triggered by the user of the application, it only follows the rules created by the application developer. In order to enforce this, no "changeState" method will be added to the application Object (see the usage section).

Directory Structure

At the package directory root a folder "states" has to exist.

Each state itself must be reflected into a subfolder and JavaScript file:

<package-root>
      |_ states
           |_ start
           |     |_ start.js
           |_ <state-A>
           |     |_ <state-A>.js
           |_ <state-B>
           |     |_ <state-B>.js
          ...
           |_ end
                 |_ end.js

Uppon load, the mixin will scrawl and register all defined states in this structure.

Reserved states

• start (mandatory state): triggered immediatly after the initalisation of the application.

• end (optional state): by default switching to end will call: process.exit()

Additions to the application Object

Method "state"

Returns the name of the current state.

app.state(); // return state name

Usage

Setting dependency

Your application project has to build upon the application.skeleton and you only have to set the new dependency:

npm install application.mixin.automaton --save

The application.skeleton will do all the work adding the Mixins to your application object.

Writing states

States are mixin templates that will be applied automatically to you application object on state changes. Define them as you would any template:

<project_root>states/myState/myState.js:

module.exports = {
  doSomething: function doSomething (arg1, arg2) {
    // ... some code ...

    // this references the application object
    this.someProperty = true;

    if (condition) {
      // trigger a state change
      automaton.changeState('otherState');
    }
  }
};

Beware:

• You HAVE to use named function declarations.
• The library enforces that the runtime context points to the application object
• The library will inject at runtime an automaton Object in every method you define. Using it you can trigger a state change at any moment you feel fit.

automaton Object Properties

states

A Map holding all state templates referenced by the state name.

state

The actual state object extended with a name property holding the state name.

changeState

Method triggering a state change. It will remove the methods of the actual state template, mixin any provided initial template before applying the new state template to the application object.

Parameters:

• stateName: the name of the target state
• initTemplate (optional): a template that will be used to set base behaviours to the application object

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Copyright (c) 2014 Luscus ([e-mail])

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