[Biopython-dev] interface/SQL development policies

[James Casbon]

Hi, 

Say I have a module X, which depends heavily on flat file databases.  I wish 
to decompose into two classes XFile and XDatabase, where XFile uses the files 
and XDatabase use and SQL backend.  This raises a number of questions:

* the two classes imply a common interface X, what is the best way of handling 
this in python?  An abstract base class?  

* How are regression tests managed for SQL based classes (ie how do you 
provide a dummy database, given there might not be an sql server on a 
particular client)?

These questions might be best answered with an example, so if there are any 
examples covering this kind of stuff already in biopython, please point them 
out.

Thanks,
James

-- 
James Casbon

PhD Student
Centre for Infectious Disease
Institute of Cell and Molecular Science
Barts and The London

http://compbio.mds.qmw.ac.uk