The main properties of an interface are:
- pass objects (i.e. share them between both sides of the interface);
- perform actions to the other side;
- react on events from the other side.
All these properties are facilitated by the interface functions.
When using the desktop-paradigm, the interface properties can be seen as follows:
- the objects are all the objects on and around the desktop, such as documents, selected items, messages, workorders, the resources in use, the user her/himself;
- the events are all the results of an action taken by the user (i.e. outside the model), such as making a choise, finishing the task, open a document;
- the actions are taken by the desktop as a result of inner model events, such as signalling an incoming mail message.
In another document, many examples of interfaces conforming the desktop paradigm will be given.
The following interface functions are needed to perform the desktop paradigm:
- showing objects passed through the backbone (objects » objects);
- passing shown objects through the backbone (objects » objects);
- signalling the passage of objects (objects » events);
- passing actions through the backbone (actions » actions);
- performing local service calls (in general this is opening and closing the interface or parts of its 'physical' structure).
The backbone only serves as an enabler, and therefore only passes offered messages (containing objects or action names).
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