[Tinyos-host-mote-wg] Re: [Tinyos-2.0wg] packages for nesC: why/etc [shortish so you can glance through it this morning]

[Philip Levis]

On Jun 1, 2005, at 9:31 AM, David Gay wrote:

> Name space for tinyos components and interfaces is getting complex:
>
>   - similar names needed for functionality at many layers:
>     hpl, hal, hil, oski
>   - similar names needed across platforms / chips
>   - some components are "private": not intended for independent use
>     (lookup, e.g., at tos/lib/FS in 1.x)
>
> Prefixing is not a good solution: names become very awkward,  
> prefixes are not
> used consistently, etc.

The major agenda for the meeting tomorrow is to discuss the package  
system. I'd recommend reading through David G.'s basic proposal, to  
get a basic idea of what's involved. The proposal is by no means  
complete or definitive, so let's not get hung up on details. The  
important thing to talk through tomorrow is the requirements for  
exactly what we would want a package system to do (its requirements).  
For example, Cory pointed out that the package system should not  
prevent a user from easily replacing a component: having to build a  
whole directory structure to just add one file is undesirable.

Important points of comparison: C++ namespaces, Perl packages, Python  
packages, and Java packages. If you don't know the first, take a  
look: it's very different than the other three (no binding between  
directory structure and namespace). But its compilation/loading/ 
linking model is bit more forgiving to that notion.

So there are currently two key requirements:

1) Simplify namespace management: a flat namespace is leading to  
convoluted names which are hard to use.
2) Keep component replace-in very easy.

Phil





-------

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."

- T. S. Eliot,  'Little Gidding'

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