Using taps to separate the user interface from the application code

摘要

A new mechanism based on taps is introduced to separate the output from the application code in graphical interactive interfaces. The mechanism is implemented in GINA, an object-oriented application framework. Taps maintain a functional mapping from application data to interface objects that is described in a general-purpose programming language. Taps are triggered automatically by user actions. Compared to constraints or the MVC model, taps do not need execution or memory support from the application objects, at the expense of a performance penalty. Screen updates, which pose the largest performance problem, are minimized by checking for attribute changes and window visibility. A comparison operation is used to maintain structural consistency between hierarchies of application and interface objects. Taps can be defined interactively using formulas in a spreadsheet-like tool.