/*
 * Copyright 1999,2004 The Apache Software Foundation.
 * 
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 * 
 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 * 
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */


package org.apache.catalina;


import java.beans.PropertyChangeListener;


/**
 * A <b>Loader</b> represents a Java ClassLoader implementation that can
 * be used by a Container to load class files (within a repository associated
 * with the Loader) that are designed to be reloaded upon request, as well as
 * a mechanism to detect whether changes have occurred in the underlying
 * repository.
 * <p>
 * In order for a <code>Loader</code> implementation to successfully operate
 * with a <code>Context</code> implementation that implements reloading, it
 * must obey the following constraints:
 * <ul>
 * <li>Must implement <code>Lifecycle</code> so that the Context can indicate
 *     that a new class loader is required.
 * <li>The <code>start()</code> method must unconditionally create a new
 *     <code>ClassLoader</code> implementation.
 * <li>The <code>stop()</code> method must throw away its reference to the
 *     <code>ClassLoader</code> previously utilized, so that the class loader,
 *     all classes loaded by it, and all objects of those classes, can be
 *     garbage collected.
 * <li>Must allow a call to <code>stop()</code> to be followed by a call to
 *     <code>start()</code> on the same <code>Loader</code> instance.
 * <li>Based on a policy chosen by the implementation, must call the
 *     <code>Context.reload()</code> method on the owning <code>Context</code>
 *     when a change to one or more of the class files loaded by this class
 *     loader is detected.
 * </ul>
 *
 * @author Craig R. McClanahan
 * @version $Revision$ $Date$
 */

public interface Loader {


    // ------------------------------------------------------------- Properties


    /**
     * Execute a periodic task, such as reloading, etc. This method will be
     * invoked inside the classloading context of this container. Unexpected
     * throwables will be caught and logged.
     */
    public void backgroundProcess();


    /**
     * Return the Java class loader to be used by this Container.
     */
    public ClassLoader getClassLoader();


    /**
     * Return the Container with which this Loader has been associated.
     */
    public Container getContainer();


    /**
     * Set the Container with which this Loader has been associated.
     *
     * @param container The associated Container
     */
    public void setContainer(Container container);


    /**
     * Return the "follow standard delegation model" flag used to configure
     * our ClassLoader.
     */
    public boolean getDelegate();


    /**
     * Set the "follow standard delegation model" flag used to configure
     * our ClassLoader.
     *
     * @param delegate The new flag
     */
    public void setDelegate(boolean delegate);


    /**
     * Return descriptive information about this Loader implementation and
     * the corresponding version number, in the format
     * <code>&lt;description&gt;/&lt;version&gt;</code>.
     */
    public String getInfo();


    /**
     * Return the reloadable flag for this Loader.
     */
    public boolean getReloadable();


    /**
     * Set the reloadable flag for this Loader.
     *
     * @param reloadable The new reloadable flag
     */
    public void setReloadable(boolean reloadable);


    // --------------------------------------------------------- Public Methods


    /**
     * Add a property change listener to this component.
     *
     * @param listener The listener to add
     */
    public void addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener);


    /**
     * Add a new repository to the set of repositories for this class loader.
     *
     * @param repository Repository to be added
     */
    public void addRepository(String repository);


    /**
     * Return the set of repositories defined for this class loader.
     * If none are defined, a zero-length array is returned.
     */
    public String[] findRepositories();


    /**
     * Has the internal repository associated with this Loader been modified,
     * such that the loaded classes should be reloaded?
     */
    public boolean modified();


    /**
     * Remove a property change listener from this component.
     *
     * @param listener The listener to remove
     */
    public void removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener);


}