Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Command
8 KB Servlet
Figure 3.5
Breaking out the command is the first step in refactoring the Magic
Servlet. The
Command
is a design pattern that allows clean wrapping of
the business logic, or model. Later steps will break out the return-trip
view.
Submit
It is serving as the model for the program. The business logic is entirely
or partially included in the servlet.
It is serving as the controller for the program. It is handling the input
form.
It is performing the validation of the input data.
As we mentioned earlier, this design makes it difficult to make changes in busi-
ness process without corresponding changes in the code that returns the
HTML
to the server, the code that reads from the business model, the error-
handling code, and the code that marshals data between the user interface and
the business logic. Changes in the returning
HTML
are code changes instead
of simple editor changes. Validation and marshaling changes are similarly
intrusive.
Figure 3.5 shows how we should begin to refactor this solution. We should
break out the model for the program into a distinct component. Fortunately,
several design patterns exist that do just that. We could create an object model
to handle the back-end logic. We could package the components of this model
as
EJB
s, a solution explored in chapter 8. Or, we could explore a command
object
instead.
3.3.2
Wrapping the model with command objects
Several design patterns place a thin wrapper of code around the business logic,
or model, for convenience. The Facade design pattern in chapter 8 is essen-
tially a thin wrapper with a different interface. The Jakarta Struts framework
uses a similar wrapping concept, called
actions.
A third alternative is the
Com-
mand
design pattern, which has been around since the early days of Smalltalk.
Internet search engines provide a wealth of information about commands.
