FeatureDefinitionAbility

FeatureDefinitionAbility is a construct used in software architectures that separate feature specifications from their runtime behavior. It represents the runtime expressible capability tied to a FeatureDefinition, acting as the bridge between what a feature is supposed to do and how it can be executed within the system. In many designs, a FeatureDefinition describes the intent, parameters, and constraints of a feature, while FeatureDefinitionAbility implements the operational logic that enables that feature at runtime.

Typically, a FeatureDefinitionAbility includes references to a FeatureDefinition, optional activation data, and metadata such as prerequisites, resource requirements, cooldowns, duration, and success criteria. It may also expose methods or events for activation, deactivation, and state queries, allowing other system components to interact with the ability without depending on feature internals. The design favors decoupling, so abilities can be swapped or extended without altering the underlying feature definitions.

Behavioral aspects commonly encapsulated by a FeatureDefinitionAbility include activation checks, handling of prerequisites, resource consumption, cooldown management, and interaction with an action or event system. It often integrates with an AbilityManager or similar orchestrator to coordinate multiple abilities and ensure consistent lifecycle management across the system.

Usage patterns typically involve defining a central FeatureDefinition for each feature and creating one or more FeatureDefinitionAbilities to realize different variants or contexts. This approach supports localization, parameterization, and extensibility, enabling diverse implementations while preserving a clear linkage to the feature’s specification.

See also: FeatureDefinition, Ability, AbilityManager, FeatureSystem.