package org.codehaus.classloader;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.Enumeration;

/**
 * Implementation of this interface loads class in its own realm or sub-providers.
 *
 * <p>
 * @author Ben Yu
 * Aug 3, 2006 5:14:07 AM
 */
public interface ClassProvider {
  
  /**
   * Provide a class.
   * @param name the class name.
   * @return the class.
   * @throws ClassNotFoundException if class is not found.
   */
  Class provideClass(String name) throws ClassNotFoundException;

  /**
   * Provide a resource.
   * @param name the resource name.
   * @return the resouce url.
   */
  URL provideResource(String name);

  /**
   * Provide resource Enumeration.
   * @param name the resource name.
   * @return the resource url Enumeration.
   * @throws IOException if anything wrong.
   */
  Enumeration provideResources(String name) throws IOException;

  /**
   * Provide a package.
   * @param name the package name.
   * @return the package.
   */
  //Package providePackage(String name);

  /**
   * Provide all packages.
   * @return the packages.
   */
  //Package[] providePackages();

  /**
   * Provide a library.
   * @param libname the library name.
   * @return the library.
   */
  String provideLibrary(String libname);

}