Developers/Providers/Glossary


 * Provider
 * A provider is a class type like manager and item, responsible for special tasks.


 * Decorator
 * A decorator is a class type used to add functionality on top of existing classes as described in the design pattern decorator. Decorators can be optionally added to a provider in order to have more possibilities of configuring its behaviour.


 * Plugin
 * A plugin registers itself at the basket and executes certain actions on defined events in the basket. Plugins are implemented with providers which can be further configured with decorators. We call these providers plugin providers and these decorators plugin provider decorators.


 * Service
 * A service manages either the payment process or the delivery process. For each service type different implementations exist either for manual handling of the process or for different external fulfilment partners managing it for you. Services are implemented with providers which can be further configured with decorators. We call these providers service providers and these decorators service provider decorators.


 * Plugin item
 * Plugin items represent a full configured and ready to use plugin. This means a plugin item holds all information about the plugin provider and the plugin provider decorators to be used as well as the configuration data needed by this plugin provider (username, password, web service end point, ...).


 * Plugin manager
 * Plugin managers are the managers managing plugin items, like all other managers do (creating, searching, deleting, ... items).


 * Service item
 * Service items represent a full configured and ready to use service. This means a service item holds all information about the provider and the service provider decorators to be used as well as the configuration data needed by this service provider (username, password, web service end point, ...).


 * Service manager
 * Service managers are the managers managing service items, like all other managers does (creating, searching, deleting, ... items).


 * Fulfilment partner
 * Refers to a logistic company, that would store your products in a warehouse and send ordered articles to your customers according to the instructions received by the Arcavias shop system.


 * Payment partner
 * Refers to a company providing payment services like paying via credit card, direct debit or PayPal for the Arcavias shop system.