Package edu.mit.stellar.directory

Stellar Directory Services API.

See:
Description

Interface Summary

Nexus	A class implementing the Nexus interface allows directory information about a nexus to be accessed.
NexusFactory	A class implementing the NexusFactory interface is a factory for objects implementing the Nexus interface.
Person	A class implementing the Person interface allows directory information about a person to be accessed.
PersonFactory	A class implementing the PersonFactory interface is a factory for objects implementing the Person interface.
SubjectLookupService	A class implementing the SubjectLookupService interface can be used to perform a number of mappings between: "master subject ID + term", "site url" and "site uuid" The "site uuid" is the key for accessing a "site information service" which is a directory service for site information and attributes.

Package edu.mit.stellar.directory Description

Stellar Directory Services API.

The project includes the directory services for user and nexus to be used by portable tools.

The initial version does not support suppression of properties, but future versions should. Until then, only highly trusted applications should be allowed to access this service.

In addition to the user and nexus services, there is a subject service which can be used to perform a number of mappings between: "master subject ID + term", "site url" and "site uuid" The "site uuid" is the key for accessing a "site information service" which is a directory service for site information and attributes. To support independent sections for a subject, the 'site url' and 'site uuid' may be lists. Non-academic sites or sites which are not related to a current master subject ID would need to be know their 'site uuid' or 'site url' and could get the other given either.

In the future, there should also be writable attribute services offered to tools for them to store user and site attributes (preferences, settings). The tool would have its own attribute namespace, and set policy on the visibility of each attribute to other tools and other users.

The directory services provide methods to return the string value entries for the user or nexus, and convenience methods for accessing key common entries. Accessing attributes is via methods getProperty, getPropertyValues, getPropertyMap (this is like getParameter, getParameterValues, and getParameterMap in javax.servlet.ServletRequest ). The approach of a getting general properties for a user is in alignment with the O.K.I. OSID approach.