Protocol Version Control Module Abstract
High-level Purpose and Responsibility
The protocol version control module manages versioning and compatibility checking for experimental protocols and system configurations. It ensures reproducibility across software updates, handles protocol migration, and maintains backward compatibility while enabling systematic evolution of experimental procedures.
Key Data Structures and Relationships
- ProtocolVersion: Semantic versioning for experimental protocols with compatibility metadata
- VersionHistory: Chronological record of protocol changes and evolution
- CompatibilityMatrix: Cross-version compatibility assessment for protocols and data formats
- MigrationPath: Systematic procedures for updating protocols and data between versions
- ProtocolDiff: Detailed change tracking between protocol versions
- VersionValidator: Compatibility checking and validation system for protocol combinations
Main Data Flows and Transformations
- Version Assignment: Protocol creation → Semantic version tagging → Version registry update
- Compatibility Checking: Protocol combination requests → Compatibility validation → Approval or migration guidance
- Protocol Migration: Version updates → Data transformation → Updated protocol compliance
- Change Tracking: Protocol modifications → Diff generation → Version history maintenance
- Backward Compatibility: Legacy data access → Version-specific handling → Current system integration
External Dependencies and Interfaces
- Experiments Module: Protocol versioning for experimental designs and procedures
- Learning Module: Algorithm versioning and compatibility checking for learning strategies
- Statistics Module: Statistical method versioning and result interpretation consistency
- Data Module: Data format versioning and migration support for persistent storage
State Management Patterns
- Immutable Version Records: Protocol versions remain unchanged after publication
- Incremental Version Evolution: Systematic progression through semantic version numbers
- Multi-Version Support: Simultaneous support for multiple protocol versions
- Version-Aware Operations: System behavior adapted to specific protocol versions
Core Algorithms or Business Logic Abstractions
- Semantic Versioning Logic: Automated version number assignment based on change significance
- Compatibility Assessment: Algorithms for determining cross-version compatibility
- Automated Migration: Data and protocol transformation procedures for version updates
- Change Impact Analysis: Assessment of modification effects on experimental validity
- Version Conflict Resolution: Systematic approaches to handling version incompatibilities
- Protocol Validation: Verification that protocol changes maintain scientific validity