Platform Dev Guide - Coding Patterns

This section outlines code and database patterns used throughout the Ed-Fi ODS / API.

ASP.NET MVC

The Ed-Fi ODS / API is built on Microsoft ASP.NET MVC Web API. As a mature and robust platform for building a Web API, this framework is familiar to tens of thousands of software developers and fully supported by one of the most recognized software companies in the world. The Ed-Fi ODS / API takes advantage of well-known extensions to this framework such as route mapping, authorization filters, and dependency injection extension points to provide its advanced features. 

Inversion of Control via Autofac

Inversion of Control and Dependency Injection (DI) are a technique and set of practices for creating testable, modular software systems. Autofac, a mature and stable, best-of-breed dependency inversion container was selected as the DI Container for the Ed-Fi ODS / API.

In a nutshell, the set of software components representing desired functionality are registered and linked together in the DI Container. When the top-level application components are retrieved, the components run agnostically using whatever components were included in the configuration. This approach to software development tends to decouple components, makes testing easier, and allows for easier modification and customization.

Ed-Fi REST API Design & Implementation Guidelines

The Ed-Fi Data Standard includes guidelines for the design and implementation of APIs. Those guidelines describe the properties to which an API specification and related implementation must adhere to in order to be considered aligned to Ed-Fi technology standards. The Ed-Fi ODS / API v5.1.0 follows those guidelines. The guidelines are described in the API Design & Implementation Guidelines documentation.

Ed-Fi Data Model Extension Patterns

The Ed-Fi Data Standard has a set of conventions collectively known as the Ed-Fi Extensions Framework. This framework defines the patterns to use in concrete technology components like the ODS and the XSD where extensions to the Ed-Fi Data Model are required by implementers. MetaEd IDE simplifies authoring extensions following patterns defined in Ed-Fi Extensions Framework and produces core technical artifacts such as the Ed-Fi Standard Interchange Schema (XSD files), the Ed-Fi ODS (SQL Scripts). Extending the ODS / API Data Model section in this documentation provides information on integrating data model extensions with ODS / API.