drogetypes

Drogetypes are a formal construct in data modeling and software design used to describe standardized templates for data elements within the Droge framework. They function as reusable blueprints that define attributes, validation rules, and behavior for objects of a given category.

The term Drogetype derives from combining "drogate" (a coined term in the Droge ecosystem) with "type," indicating a type-level template rather than a concrete instance. This naming emphasizes the role of drogetypes as templates that govern the structure and lifecycle of objects created from them.

Structure and classification: Each drogetype specifies a schema of attributes with types, default values, constraints, and lifecycle hooks. Drogetypes can be core, specialized, or composite. Inheritance allows derived drogetypes to extend base templates while preserving compatibility. They may also reference external schemas or validation rules to ensure interoperability across modules.

Creation and usage: Drogetypes are declared in manifest files and registered in a central registry. They enable consistent instantiation, serialization, and validation across software components. They support polymorphic behavior, allowing code to operate on a family of related types without depending on concrete implementations. Documentation usually accompanies each drogetype to describe its purpose, constraints, and example use cases.

Examples and history: Common examples include SimpleDrogetype (a basic attribute container), TransformDrogetype (applies data transformations), and AggregatorDrogetype (collects and reduces data). The concept emerged in the Droge community in the early 2020s as a means to standardize data contracts and promote reuse across projects.