Persisting technology agnostic Java Model: JAXB vs. eCore [closed]

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

Problem

Given a technology specific Java Model T, I want to have:

• a technology agnostic model A to use in my code (i.e. the M in MVC).
• a persistence mechanism P to store my model A.

Approach

Currently I have figured out some m.tuteehub.com/tag/options">options:

Option 1:

• Manually create the classes for A
• Manually create the code to translate T to A
• Manually create an XSD of a third JAXB-Model J
• Generate JAXB-Model-Classes from J
• Manually create the code to translate A to J
• Use JAXB to automatically save J
• When loading all translations have to be created into the other direction manually.
• Advantage: can't see one. Thats my question :)
• Disadvantage: most developing effort of all Options.

Option 2:

• Manually create an XSD of a JAXB-Model of A
• Generate JAXB-Model-Classes for A
• Manually create the code to translate T to A
• Use JAXB to automatically save A
• When loading the translations has to be created into the other direction manually.
• Advantage: Low developing effort. A can be persisted directly.
• Disadvantage: I read, that it's a bad Idea, to use JAXB-classes as modell. But I don't understand why.

Option 3:

• Manually create the Model of A as an eCore-Model
• Generate the classes of A from the ecore-Model
• Manually create the code to translate T to A
• Use eCore-resources to automatically save A
• When loading the translations has to be created into the other direction manually.
• Advantage: Low developing effort. A can be persisted directly.
• Disadvantage: None?

Looking at the advantages and disadvatages, I it seems like I should definitly use eCore instead of JAXB.

Question

• Is it really that clear, to use eCore? Or are there advantages/disadvantages I should also think about?
• Is here an easier way to translate from the technology specific model T to the technology agnostic modell A. Currenly I have to implement A and the translation A <-> T myself. Some easier way would be nice.

manpreet 2 years ago