[MFlow-devel] Multi-folder support Question

[David M C. <da...@ca...>]

Okay... here's an architecture issue that needs to be fixed, and I want
your input on it.

Currently, the MsgStore interface has no concept of folders.  It is
possible to have multiple MsgStores in a configuration, but they would
have no connection to each other.

So, options:
1) Have the UI display all MsgStores in a list as "folders", but allow
no subfolders.
2) Have the UI display all root MsgStores in a list, but also alter
MsgStore so that it has a concept of "sub-MsgStores" for subfolders.
(That is, a MsgStore represents one folder, and some are roots while
others are children)
3) Have the UI display all MsgStores in a list, but also alter MsgStore
so that it optionally supports sub-folders as part of the MsgStore
itself. (That is, MsgStores represent a pseudo-filesystem, with a root
and subfolders)
4) Have a separate UI for each MsgStore (no subfolders, could lead to
many UI windows).

Other options are welcome.

Personally, I'm leaning towards option 3.  It is very flexible and makes
the MsgStore concept closer to the concept of an Inbox, with the
possibility of having multiple Inboxes, similar to many email clients
today.  However, it makes the implementation of a MsgStore more
difficult.

Option 2 is also fairly viable.  It supports multiple "Inboxes" as well
as subfolders, but does so in a way to make writing MsgStores very
simple.  It makes writing the UI a bit more difficult, but that only
needs to be implemented once and will work with all MsgStores.  However,
it complicates managing connections and such more complicated, and
increases the number of objects involved by a fair number, as each
folder would be a separate object.

Option 1 and 4 are too restrictive, in my opinion.

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| David Michael Carr     |
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