I have an app that I want to extend its functionality with plugins
that also provide additional data stored and accessed via Core Data.
The thought is that the app has a standard (primary) persistent store
containing app specific data, besides the user's data. Each plugin
would provide additional functionality, including more sophisticated
app specific data relating to the added functionality of the specific
plugin. Without the specific plugin loaded, the additional app
specific data does not exist. My thoughts are to create a moc for
each plugin that contains the added specific data and merge it with
the primary moc.
By way of example (attempting to make this as simple as possible for
this purpose), let's say my primary app is the department and
employees NSPersistentDocument Core Data tutorial app. The primary
app has two entities, department and employee. Thus, the user can
enter information about a specific department, its employees and
their related manager. Now, let's say that the plugin is called Indie
Contractors and that it adds functionality for tracking independent
contractors that work with and/or are being supervised by certain
employees of a company's specific department. The plugin would add an
IndieContractor entity and functionality to track who the indie
contractor answers to, etc.
Obviously, there would have to be a migration of data from the
original persistent store if a user's document already includes user
data (e.g., employees and departments) prior to adding the plugin.
This could cause a number of problems if multiple plugins are
developed for different added functionality. If, for example, another
plugin were created for brother-sister company related project
tracking (ex., Bro-Sis plugin), then migration would need to be
handled for three different scenarios--migration of data for
purchasers of Bro-Sis plugin alone, Indie Contractors alone, and
combined Bro-Sis Indie Contractors plugins. This would become
exponentially impractical if more plugins are added. Not to mention
reversion of data to the original primary persistent store if the
user decides they don't need the added functionality (e.g., trial
users). Please remember, this is only a simplified example of the
added app specific data.
The more I write, the more I come to the conclusion that providing
different versions of the app may be best. But, before starting down
this path, I thought it would be wise to ask all of you your thoughts
on the road not taken. Can a plugin be used to merge additional
persistent store data to an existing persistent store? Any thoughts
on the feasibility of this approach... Any other possible approaches?
Thanks,
Marc
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