This question could be applicable to any programming language, really, but it sort of works out well because I'm using perl. :)

In OOP, how should interpackage coordination work? I have several objects that read off of data objects in another package. There is a primary object that controls the other objects. Here is my plan right now: 

Primary (one object to rule them all; global config, etc.)
- Parse (parses input)
- DataManager (stores data objects)
- DataObjects (stores data objects)
- UI (input/output)
- Search

UI -> Parse -> DataManager -> DataObjects
UI -> Search -> DataManager -> DataObjects -> DataManager -> 
   Search -> UI

Thats all fine and good and it makes sense laid out, My problem is connecting it all. If I send a big config hash to Primary, I have to pass a reference to the Primary object to _every_ new sub-package object that I make. There has got to be a better way!

Having to refer to a Primary's object ref, then to the ref to another package, then to whatever else I need in the package, etc. seems really clumsy. $name = $ui->{main}->{data}->{data_obj_ref}->name :shudder: I don't know what my exact question is, other than "what am I doing wrong here?" This can't be right, and I feel I'm sort of getting the short end of the deal; I'm (attempting) to go with OO but I'm going through more work accessing objects between packages than I am making it easier to maintain.

I would really appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks.

-billyak

In reply to Cross-Package/Object Communication by billyak

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