package org.alfresco.util.schemacomp.model;

import java.util.List;

import org.alfresco.util.schemacomp.DbObjectVisitor;
import org.alfresco.util.schemacomp.DiffContext;
import org.alfresco.util.schemacomp.Results;
import org.alfresco.util.schemacomp.validator.DbValidator;

/**
 * All database objects to be modelled for schema comparisons must implement this interface, examples
 * of which include: schemas, tables, indexes, primary keys, foreign keys, sequences and columns.
 * 
 * @author Matt Ward
 */
public interface DbObject
{
    /**
     * Are the two <code>DbObject</code>s logically the same? For example two Index objects may have
     * different names, but are the same index as they both index the same columns for the same table.
     * <p>
     * If two objects a and b have the same logical identity, it does not mean that <code>a.equals(b) == true</code>.
     * The two objects may well have differences and will be flagged as such by the schema comparison tool. When
     * <code>a.sameAs(b) == true</code> it makes it easier to show the differences as related, i.e. a and b are
     * different rather than, a is only in the 'left' tree and b is only in the 'right' tree. 
     *  
     * @param other DbObject
     * @return boolean
     */
    boolean sameAs(DbObject other);
    
    /**
     * All items can be asked for their name, but it may be null.
     * 
     * @return Name if available, null otherwise.
     */
    String getName();
    
    /**
     * Generate a report of differences between this object ('left') and another object ('right').
     * Differences between the left and right objects under inspection are captured in the {@link Results}
     * object passed in to this method.
     * 
     * @param right The object to compare against.
     * @param ctx The DiffContext
     */
    void diff(DbObject right, DiffContext ctx);
    
    
    /**
     * Allows a visitor to be invoked against this DbObject. Implementations should ensure that child
     * objects are visited first (by calling accept on them) before invoking the visitor on itself.
     * 
     * @param visitor DbObjectVisitor
     */
    void accept(DbObjectVisitor visitor);
    
    /**
     * Get the parent object for which this object is a child. If this is the root object
     * then null should be returned.
     * 
     * @return Parent reference or null
     */
    DbObject getParent();
    
    /**
     * Sets the parent object.
     * 
     * @see #getParent()
     * @param parent DbObject
     */
    void setParent(DbObject parent);
    
    
    /**
     * Retrieve the list of validators associated with this database object.
     * 
     * @see DbValidator
     * @return DbValidator List
     */
    List<DbValidator> getValidators();
    
    /**
     * Set/override the validators associated with this database object.
     * 
     * @param validators List<DbValidator>
     */
    void setValidators(List<DbValidator> validators);
    
    /**
     * Does the database object have any validators associated with it?
     * 
     * @return true if there are one or more validators.
     */
    boolean hasValidators();
    
    /**
     * Is there at least one validator that assumes object-level validation
     * that removes the requirement for reporting of differences for this object?
     * 
     * @return boolean
     */
    boolean hasObjectLevelValidator();
    
    /**
     * Type name, e.g. "column", "foreign key"
     * 
     * @return String
     */
    String getTypeName();
}