package com.croftsoft.core.role.actor;

    /***********************************************************************
    * A semantic interface for bootstrapping the exchange of semantic
    * interfaces between objects.
    *
    * <p>
    * The semantic definition for this interface is available at:<br/>
    * <a href="http://CroftSoft.com/library/tutorials/roles/">
    * http://CroftSoft.com/library/tutorials/roles/</a>
    * </p>
    * 
    * <p>
    * The copyright has been released by the author to the Public Domain.
    * </p>
    * 
    * @version
    *   2007-05-09
    * @since
    *   1998-04-26
    * @author
    *   <a href="http://www.CroftSoft.com/">David Wallace Croft</a>
    ***********************************************************************/

    public interface  Actor
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    {

    /***********************************************************************
    * Returns an array of String representing the names of semantic
    * interfaces, or "roles", supported by this object.
    *
    * <p>
    * The array may represent just a limited subset from all of the
    * interfaces that are actually implemented by this object.  Which
    * interfaces are returned are chosen as deemed appropriate by this
    * object for the current context and may change with each call to
    * this method.
    * </p>
    * 
    * <p>
    * The ordering of the roles in the array may be determined dynamically
    * by the object and should be assumed to be listed in the order of 
    * preference, from the viewpoint of this object, for polymorphic
    * casting of this object by another.  The ordering may change with
    * each call to this method.
    * </p>
    * 
    * <p>
    * May return null.
    * </p>
    ***********************************************************************/
    public String [ ]  getRoles ( );
     
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    }