Json aliases feature

[manland]

This pull-request wants to simplify the definitions of aliases.

Here at ITK we use intensively aliases, with time our aliases.properties grownth exponentially. Lots of patterns are similare but with little changes.

So we have implemented a json parser, and we have added variable feature.

Specifications :

• the yoga_aliases directory in ressources directory contains the definitions in multiple files ending by json
• a file can have multiple aliases and/or multiple variables
• a file contains a single json object
• the property of this object must have its name starts by $ for aliase and @ for variable
• the value of each property is an array
• each array can contain string for local value, or object for child value

Examples (from tests) :

from

$child=test,child(value)

to

{
  "$child": [
    "test",
    {
      "child": ["value"]
    }
  ]
}

Or from

$children=test,child(value,value2),child2(value3,child3(*))

to

{
  "$children": [
    "test",
    {
      "child" : [
        "value", 
        "value2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "child2": [
        "value3", 
        {
          "child3": ["*"]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

And with variables :

{
  "@variable": [
    "test", 
    "test2"
  ],
  "$variable": [
    "testvar",
    {
      "childvar": [
        "child",
        "@variable"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Could be represented as :

$variable=testvar,childvar(child,test,test2)

More complex variables can be used.

The JSON files must be in yoga_aliases directory in the ressources directory.

It can contain all files you want, the name of file is not used, but it needs to finish by .json.

We use a file, for a view in our application, and each file contains all requests aliases for this view.

A variable can be defined in one file and used in an other one. And a file can contain only aliases or only variables, it's as you want.

To resume :

• src/main/ressources/yoga_aliases
  • view1.json
    • alias1
      • childName
    • use variable2
    • alias2
      • use variable1
  • mainVariables.json
    • definition of variable1
  • view2.json
    • definition of variable2

[eric-taix]

+1 Great addition

[kentongray]

very interesting, hoping to see some life in this project!

[julien-lafont]

+1, very interesting feature!