I'm using C++ (with the Qt library) to make a simple domain modeled application. I am writing my own O/R mapping classes. As this application will grow in the future I'm trying to keep a clean codebase with clearly separated layers.
The problem I am having is when and where to load aggregate roots that are referenced in an object in another module. (I am using Eric Evans' use of the word "module" here, from the DDD book.)
I currently have a simple object called Client
that sits in the ClientModule
module. In the PermitModule
I have a Permit
object. (the reality is more complex but for brevity I'll stick to those two objects, since they are the aggregate roots) The Permit
object has a reference to a Client
as applicant
. This is my domain model.
From the bottom up, I have an Infrastructure Layer that contains O/R mapping classes and concrete implementations of Repository
objects. So I would have a ClientMapper
, ClientRepositoryDb
, PermitMapper
, and PermitRepositoryDb
classes here.
Next is the Domain Layer that contains the domain model (Client
and Permit
classes) plus the repository interfaces ClientRepository
and PermitRepository
.
Above that I have an Application Layer and then a Presentation Layer but those don't matter in this example.
My question is should the relationship between Permit
and Client
be loaded in the PermitMapper
class or in the PermitRepository
class. Or is there some other way of doing it?
This goes not only for loading objects but also for saving them and removing them.