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Looking for a mechanism (hard to explain)

leiavoia · 2004-08-17T19:32:23

What i'm looking for is a mechanism, sort of like a Pluggable Factory, only not using the Prototype pattern and not a Factory either ;-) I have a Resource Manager. What i would like to be able to do is say: ResourceManager->LoadResourcesFor( "NameOfSomeClass" ); But i want it dynamically configured. The manager needs to maintain a list of classes with which it can negotiate the exchange of resources. BUT i want those classes automatically registered when the program begins. - I do not want to hand-code a list of classes that the manager can talk to, either in hard code or in a data file. I want the program to just run and have all classes that need resources just self-register. Ideally i should just be able to write a new resource-dependent class, recompile, and be ready to rock. - I should not have to edit or recompile the actual Resource Management code, nor any loaded data the manager may use. The question is now: How? What can i technically do to make a class talk to the manager when the app is executed and basically say "Hi. My name is [insert class name]. I might need some resources later. Here is where you can reach me." The basic idea is like a Pluggable Factory but i'm not trying to create anything, just pass some class-specific data to the manager when the app is started. But i do not know what sort of construct would do that. If you can help me, thank you! EDIT: I'll shoot this down before it even comes up. Q: "Why not just have a class talk to the manager the first time it is used?" A: I want resources pre-loaded for speed before i need them the first time ;-)