[Bioperl-l] Bio::FeatureHolderI interface confusion

[Chris Mungall]

Ok, here's a constructive suggestion

(1) add mutability operations to the SeqFeatureI interface, as Hilmar
suggests.

(2) do something about this rather confusing inheritance structure

SeqFeatureI   FeatureHolderI
    ^           ^      ^
    +--------+  |      +-----------+
             |  |                  |
             SF::Generic          SeqI

If I'd drawn this out earlier it might have helped clarify things in my
mind, or at least shine some light on my lack of clarity.

This seems like a weird structure to me. Either FeatureHolderI is
something that applies to features or it isn't. If it applies, then
shouldn't SeqFeatureI inherit from it? If not then it seems like a
superfluous interface that could be folded into SeqI


Hilmar's point about criticism vs contribution is well taken. It's very
easy to moan from the sidelines and not come up with an actual solution.
However, whilst I'm all for collaborative coding, I'm not really in favour
of committee based design. Besides, my own cranky ideas about design are
so polar opposite to what is in bioperl right now I feel that my
contributions would be detrimental here. I actually think I'm more
constructive moaning from the sidelines. Except when major chaos and
confusion ensues and propagates, like now.