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POHow to model Data Transfer Objects for different front ends?
 

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  1. POHow to model Data Transfer Objects for different front ends?
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    <p>I've run into reoccuring problem for which I haven't found any good examples or patterns. </p> <p>I have one core service that performs all heavy datasbase operations and that sends results to different front ends (html, silverlight/flash, web services etc). One of the service operation is "GetDocuments", which provides a list of documents based on different filter criterias. If I only had one front-end, I would like to package the result in a list of Document DTOs (Data transfer objects) that just contains the data. However, different front-ends needs different amounts of "metadata". The simples client just needs the document headline and a link reference. Other clients wants a short text snippet of the document, another one also wants a thumbnail and a third wants the name of the author. Its basically all up to the implementation of the GUI what needs to be displayed. </p> <p>Whats the best way to model this:</p> <ol> <li>As a lot of different DTOs (Document, DocumentWithThumbnail, DocumentWithTextSnippet) <ul> <li>tends to become a lot of classes</li> </ul></li> <li>As one DTO containing all the data, where the client choose what to display <ul> <li>Lots of unnecessary data sent</li> </ul></li> <li>As one DTO where certain fields are populated based on what the client requested <ul> <li>Tends to become a very large class that needs to be extended over time</li> </ul></li> <li>One DTO but with some kind of generic "Metadata" field containing requested metadata.</li> </ol> <p>Or are there other options?</p> <p>Since I want a high performance service, I need to think about both network load and caching strategies. </p> <p>Does anyone have any good patterns or practices that might help me?</p>
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    1. USBjorn
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    1. COhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/1440952/why-are-data-transfer-objects-an-anti-pattern
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    2. COIs the data going over a wire (i.e. accessed via a web service)? Or are you passing C# objects to the front ends?
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      1. USBrian Frantz
    3. COThe data i going over wire to some clients, as JSON to the web for example. @UpperStage - whether DTO in itself is a good choice doesn't really have any impact on the question. The question would be valid even if the objects where more complex. How to select which data to send.
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