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1   package org.itracker.model;
2   
3   import java.io.Serializable;
4   import java.util.Date;
5   
6   /**
7    * All database entities must implement this interface, which represents
8    * the minimum requirements to meet.
9    * <p/>
10   * <p>A database entity always has an <code>Integer</code> surrogate key
11   * (system ID). It must also be Serializable and Cloneable. </p>
12   * <p/>
13   * <p>A database entity class must also fulfill the following requirements,
14   * that cannot be expressed by a Java interface : </p>
15   * <ul>
16   * <li>be a Java bean ; </li>
17   * <li>be non-final. </li>
18   * </ul>
19   *
20   * @author johnny
21   * @see AbstractEntity
22   */
23  public interface Entity extends Serializable, Cloneable, Comparable<Entity> {
24  
25      /* PENDING : should createDate and lastModifiedDate properties 
26  * be part of this interface ?
27  * Should we add createdBy and lastModifiedBy ? */
28  
29      /**
30       * Returns the system ID.
31       *
32       * @return ID &gt; 0 for persistent entities,
33       *         <tt>null</tt> for transient ones
34       */
35      Integer getId();
36  
37      /**
38       * Sets this entity's system ID.
39       *
40       * @param id ID &gt; 0 for persistent entities,
41       *           <tt>null</tt> for transient ones
42       */
43      void setId(Integer id);
44  
45      void setLastModifiedDate(Date date);
46  
47      Date getLastModifiedDate();
48  
49      void setCreateDate(Date date);
50  
51      Date getCreateDate();
52  
53      boolean isNew();
54  }