Algorithmic Sets

Definition Algorithmic Set

• We want to define an algorithmic set via a Predicate deciding if an element is part of the set or not.
• In java we could use the functional interface Predicate<T>

public interface Predicate<T>{
       // If test returns true, we consider the element be part of the algorithmic set.
       boolean test(T element);
}

• Such a simple definition allows a polymorphic approach for defining set predicates.
• So if a new predicate is needed only a new implementation of Predicate<T> needs to be implemented.
• These Predicate<T> implementations can introduce configurable properties, for a more flexible solution.
• Definition: An algorithmic set is defined by its predicate instance.

Performance considerations

• This approach is only reasonable if all tested elements are in memory, querying them from a database would be at least suboptimal.

Algorithmic sets and Notifications

• We want to define the receivers of a notification with an algorithmic set.
• This means every Notification has an algorithmic set of receivers attached to it.
• How this algorithmic set of receivers is attached is not part of this article.
• For identifying a receiver, we introduce a ConnectedClientTupel of the form:

public class ConnectedClientTupel{
    public Computer getComputer(); // Including the Platz.
    public User getUser(); // Including the role.
    ... // Will grow in the future.
}

• So the Predicate for Notification receivers would have the form:

public interface NotificationReceiverPredicate extends Predicate<ConnectedClientTupel>
{
}

• Every connected client queries its notifications via a REST interface.

• If the amount of different algorithmic sets is relatively low (this is often the case), it makes sense to group