Customer composite entity

[Andrew Zilahi]

Here is a scenario: why not make Customer a composite entity and make MileageAccount a BMP bean connecting to the Oracle DB directly? We need the mileage availability to avoid back end trip when insufficient miles?

[Dan Drillich]

Andrew,

In one breath you are saying two distinct things, right?

why not make Customer a composite entity

I agree.

and make MileageAccount a BMP bean connecting to the Oracle DB directly?

An interesting thought - however, by doing so, you bind together two stand-alone systems. Even though it seems to be possible physically, logically you probably want to create an adapter to the Frequent Flyer Mileage system.

Regards,
Dan

[Andrew Zilahi]

Originally posted by Dan Drillich:
Even though it seems to be possible physically, logically you probably want to create an adapter to the Frequent Flyer Mileage system.

You are right, on a second thought it may not be such a good idea. What do you mean by "an adapter to the Frequent Flyer Mileage system"?

thanks,
Andrew

[Dan Drillich]

Andrew,

http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-09-2003/jw-0926-designpatterns.html explains it well:

Adapters are necessary because dissimilar elements need to interoperate. From wrenches to computer networks, physical adapters are abundant. In software, adapters make dissimilar software packages work together; for example, .....


In Design Patterns, the authors describe the Adapter pattern like this:

Convert the interface of a class into another interface clients expect. Adapter lets classes work together that couldn't otherwise because of incompatible interfaces.

Regards,
Dan

[Andrew Zilahi]

I am aware of the definition of "adapter" -- my question was what you concretely had in mind. I would imagine that you refer to some screen scraping, etc. method to access the Frequent Flyer system, right?

My approach is to connect directly to the underlying Oracle database (entity bean, BMP). I suppose nothing stops me from doing it, does it?

please advise...

thanks,
Andrew

[Dan Drillich]

Andrew,

I agree with you - connecting directly to the Oracle database, makes perfect sense.

Regards,
Dan