Anticlue

Mach II: framework or methodology

There's a good question, and it was recently elaborated upon by my buddy, dave in this post.

Mach II came to life out of fusebox. My understanding is there was a divide in the fusebox community, some people wanting to utilize a procedural framework, and some people wanting to go an object oriented structure. If anyone can elaborate, please I'd like to hear the history.

So what is a framework?

A definition I've come across is that a framework is a class library that captures patterns of interaction between objects. A framework consists of a suite of concrete and abstract classes, explicitly designed to be used together. Applications are developed froma a framework by completion of the implementation of abstract classes. A framework can be also utilized to include additional utilities to aid in the completion of end-user applications.

So if we agree this defines a framework, what is a methodology?

A methodology is a codified set of recommended practices. I think that summarizes it up.

So what is Mach II. Well Mach II is definitely a framework, but utilizing that framework based software development, is a methodology. Utilizing a framework brings a different approach to solving a problem. One works from within the constraints of the framework, because the framework is extended for multiple applications.

So the code of Mach II itself is a framework, but utilizing Mach II in application development is a methodology.