src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/core/module/IFloodlightModule.java

package net.floodlightcontroller.core.module;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.Map;


/**
 * Defines an interface for loadable Floodlight modules.
 * <p/>
 * At a high level, these functions are called in the following order:
 * <ol>
 * <li> getServices() : what services does this module provide
 * <li> getDependencies() : list the dependencies
 * <li> init() : internal initializations (don't touch other modules)
 * <li> startUp() : external initializations (<em>do</em> touch other modules)
 * </ol>
 *
 * @author alexreimers
 */
public interface IFloodlightModule {

    /**
     * Return the list of interfaces that this module implements.
     * All interfaces must inherit IFloodlightService
     *
     * @return a list of class objects of services the module implements
     */

    public Collection<Class<? extends IFloodlightService>> getModuleServices();

    /**
     * Instantiate (as needed) and return objects that implement each
     * of the services exported by this module.  The map returned maps
     * the implemented service to the object.  The object could be the
     * same object or different objects for different exported services.
     *
     * @return The map from service interface class to service implementation
     */
    public Map<Class<? extends IFloodlightService>,
            IFloodlightService> getServiceImpls();

    /**
     * Get a list of Modules that this module depends on.  The module system
     * will ensure that each these dependencies is resolved before the
     * subsequent calls to init().
     *
     * @return The Collection of IFloodlightServices that this module depends
     * on.
     */

    public Collection<Class<? extends IFloodlightService>> getModuleDependencies();

    /**
     * This is a hook for each module to do its <em>internal</em> initialization,
     * e.g., call setService(context.getService("Service"))
     * <p/>
     * All module dependencies are resolved when this is called, but not every module
     * is initialized.
     *
     * @param context
     * @throws FloodlightModuleException
     */

    void init(FloodlightModuleContext context) throws FloodlightModuleException;

    /**
     * This is a hook for each module to do its <em>external</em> initializations,
     * e.g., register for callbacks or query for state in other modules
     * <p/>
     * It is expected that this function will not block and that modules that want
     * non-event driven CPU will spawn their own threads.
     *
     * @param context
     */

    void startUp(FloodlightModuleContext context)throws FloodlightModuleException;
}