elementdepends

Elementdepends is a conceptual framework for expressing and managing dependencies among named elements within a system. Each element is a node and each dependency a directed edge from the dependent element to the element it relies on. It supports explicit user declarations and inferred constraints.

Evaluation order is determined by graph analysis, typically topological sorting, so an element updates only after its prerequisites are available. The framework includes cycle detection to identify circular dependencies and prevent inconsistent states. It also supports change propagation to limit the scope of updates.

Elements can be required, optional, or conditional, with defaults or fallbacks. The model computes transitive dependencies for impact analysis and consistency checks, and it can attach versions or constraints to edges to express compatibility requirements.

Implementations vary and may take the form of a declarative language, an API, or a configuration syntax. Incremental maintenance is common to handle edits efficiently without recomputing the entire graph.

Applications include build systems, task runners, configuration management, user interface state management, data pipelines, and workflow automation. Elementdepends aims to ensure deterministic update order, reduce redundant work, and improve system correctness.

Limitations include handling dynamic graphs, performance challenges on very large graphs, and the need for careful design to avoid cycles. Practical deployments balance strict acyclicity with usability and robust tooling.

See also: dependency graph, topological sort, directed acyclic graph.