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Diffstat (limited to 'system/doc/design_principles/applications.xml')
| -rw-r--r-- | system/doc/design_principles/applications.xml | 160 |
1 files changed, 132 insertions, 28 deletions
diff --git a/system/doc/design_principles/applications.xml b/system/doc/design_principles/applications.xml index 0a1b65ea8e..c673fde07e 100644 --- a/system/doc/design_principles/applications.xml +++ b/system/doc/design_principles/applications.xml @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at - + http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software @@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License. - + </legalnotice> <title>Applications</title> @@ -172,31 +172,136 @@ ch_app:stop([])</code> </section> <section> - <marker id="app_dir"></marker> - <title>Directory Structure</title> - <p>When packaging code using <c>systools</c>, the code for each - application is placed in a separate directory, - <c>lib/Application-Vsn</c>, where <c>Vsn</c> is the version number.</p> - <p>This can be useful to know, even if <c>systools</c> is not used, - since Erlang/OTP is packaged according to the OTP principles - and thus comes with this directory structure. The code server - (see the <c>code(3)</c> manual page in Kernel) automatically - uses code from - the directory with the highest version number, if more than one - version of an application is present.</p> - <p>The application directory structure can also be used in the - development environment. The version number can then - be omitted from the name.</p> - <p>The application directory has the following sub-directories:</p> - <list type="bulleted"> - <item><c>src</c> - Contains the Erlang source code.</item> - <item><c>ebin</c> - Contains the Erlang object code, the - <c>beam</c> files. The <c>.app</c> file is also placed here.</item> - <item><c>priv</c> - Used for application specific files. For - example, C executables are placed here. The function - <c>code:priv_dir/1</c> is to be used to access this directory.</item> - <item><c>include</c> - Used for include files.</item> - </list> + <marker id="app_dir"></marker> + <title>Directory Structure</title> + <p>When packaging code using <c>systools</c>, the code for each + application is placed in a separate directory, + <c>lib/Application-Vsn</c>, where <c>Vsn</c> is the version number.</p> + <p>This can be useful to know, even if <c>systools</c> is not used, + since Erlang/OTP is packaged according to the OTP principles + and thus comes with a specific directory structure. The code server + (see the <seealso marker="kernel:code"><c>code(3)</c></seealso> manual + page in Kernel) automatically uses code from + the directory with the highest version number, if more than one + version of an application is present.</p> + <section> + <title>Directory Structure guidelines for a Development Environment</title> + <p>Any directory structure for development will suffice as long as the released directory structure + adhere to the <seealso marker="#app_dir_released">description below</seealso>, + but it is encouraged that the same directory structure + also be used in a development environment. The version number should be omitted from the + application directory name since this is an artifact of the release step. + </p> + <p> Some sub-directories are <em>required</em>. Some sub-directories are <em>optional</em>, meaning that it should + only be used if the application itself requires it. Finally, some sub-directories are <em>recommended</em>, + meaning it is encouraged that it is used and used as described here. For example, both documentation + and tests are encouraged to exist in an application for it to be deemed a proper OTP application.</p> +<code type="none"> + ─ ${application} + ├── doc + │ ├── internal + │ ├── examples + │ └── src + ├── include + ├── priv + ├── src + │ └── ${application}.app.src + └── test +</code> + <list type="bulleted"> + <item><c>src</c> - Required. Contains the Erlang source code, the source of the <c>.app</c> file + and internal include files used by the application itself. Additional sub-directories within + <c>src</c> can be used as namespaces to organize source files. These directories should never + be deeper than one level.</item> + <item><c>priv</c> - Optional. Used for application specific files. </item> + <item><c>include</c> - Optional. Used for public include files that must be reachable from + other applications.</item> + <item><c>doc</c> - Recommended. Any source documentation should be placed in sub-directories here.</item> + <item><c>doc/internal</c> - Recommended. Any documentation that describes implementation details about + this application, not intended for publication, should be placed here.</item> + <item><c>doc/examples</c> - Recommended. Source code for examples on how to use this application should + be placed here. It is encouraged that examples are sourced to the public documentation from + this directory.</item> + <item><c>doc/src</c> - Recommended. All source files for documentation, such as Markdown, AsciiDoc or + XML-files, should be placed here.</item> + <item><c>test</c> - Recommended. All files regarding tests, such as test suites and test specifications, + should be placed here. </item> + </list> + + <p>Other directories in the development environment may be needed. If source code from languages other + than Erlang is used, for instance C-code for NIFs, that code should be placed in a separate directory. + By convention it is recommended to prefix such directories with the language name, for example + <c>c_src</c> for C, <c>java_src</c> for Java or <c>go_src</c> for Go. Directories with <c>_src</c> + suffix indicates that it is a part of the application and the compilation step. The final build artifacts + should target the <c>priv/lib</c> or <c>priv/bin</c> directories.</p> + <p>The <c>priv</c> directory holds assets that the application needs during runtime. Executables should + reside in <c>priv/bin</c> and dynamically-linked libraries should reside in <c>priv/lib</c>. Other assets + are free to reside within the <c>priv</c> directory but it is recommended it does so in a structured manner.</p> + <p>Source files from other languages that generate Erlang code, such as ASN.1 or Mibs, should be placed + in directories, at the top level or in <c>src</c>, with the same name as the source language, for example + <c>asn1</c> and <c>mibs</c>. Build artifacts should be placed in their respective language directory, + such as <c>src</c> for Erlang code or <c>java_src</c> for Java code.</p> + <p>The <c>.app</c> file for release may reside in the <c>ebin</c>-directory in a development environment + but it is encouraged that this is an artifact of the build step. By convention a <c>.app.src</c> file + is used, which resides in the <c>src</c> directory. This file is nearly identical as the + <c>.app</c> file but certain fields may be replaced during the build step, such as the application version.</p> + <p>Directory names should not be capitalized.</p> + <p>It is encouraged to omit empty directories.</p> + + </section> + + <section> + <marker id="app_dir_released"></marker> + <title>Directory Structure for a Released System</title> + <p>A released application must follow a certain structure. + </p> +<code type="none"> + ─ ${application}-${version} + ├── bin + ├── doc + │ ├── html + │ ├── man[1-9] + │ ├── pdf + │ ├── internal + │ └── examples + ├── ebin + │ └── ${application}.app + ├── include + ├── priv + │ ├── lib + │ └── bin + └── src +</code> + <list type="bulleted"> + <item><c>src</c> - Optional. Contains the Erlang source code and internal include files + used by the application itself. This directory is no longer required in a released application.</item> + <item><c>ebin</c> - Required. Contains the Erlang object code, the <c>beam</c> files. + The <c>.app</c> file must also be placed here.</item> + <item><c>priv</c> - Optional. Used for application specific files. <c>code:priv_dir/1</c> + is to be used to access this directory.</item> + <item><c>priv/lib</c> - Recommended. Any shared-object files that are used by the application, + such as NIFs or linked-in-drivers, should be placed here.</item> + <item><c>priv/bin</c> - Recommended. Any executable that is used by the application, + such as port-programs, should be placed here.</item> + <item><c>include</c> - Optional. Used for public include files that must be reachable from + other applications.</item> + <item><c>bin</c> - Optional. Any executable that is a product of the application, + such as escripts or shell-scripts, should be placed here.</item> + <item><c>doc</c> - Optional. Any released documentation should be placed in + sub-directories here.</item> + <item><c>doc/man1</c> - Recommended. Man pages for Application executables.</item> + <item><c>doc/man3</c> - Recommended. Man pages for module APIs.</item> + <item><c>doc/man6</c> - Recommended. Man pages for Application overview.</item> + <item><c>doc/html</c> - Optional. HTML pages for the entire Application.</item> + <item><c>doc/pdf</c> - Optional. PDF documentation for the entire Application.</item> + </list> + + <p>The <c>src</c> directory could be useful to release for debugging purposes but is not required. + The <c>include</c> directory should only be released if the applications has public include files.</p> + <p>The only documentation that is recommended to be released in this way are the man pages. HTML and PDF + will normally be distributed in some other manner.</p> + <p>It is encouraged to omit empty directories.</p> + </section> </section> <section> @@ -381,4 +486,3 @@ application:start(Application, Type)</code> <c>shutdown</c>, not <c>normal</c>.</p> </section> </chapter> - |