Dynamic state changing

Problem wording :

Design a VOD platform. The platform provides its customers with movies in three categories: Child, Normal and New. A movie is in the "New" category for a few weeks, then moves on to one of the other categories. The price of the movies depends on the category. The system may evolve so that the Horror category will be added.

Optimal solution :

Static diagram :

Thanks to the inheritance links, we are able to distinct the movies to its states. In these case, the addition of a new state does not imply code modification.

Alternative solution 1 :

Static diagram :

The category is a subclass of VOD imposing instances destruction to change of category. The question of the validity of this solution is open in regard of the proposed exercise. However, we have considered this solution valid in using a prototype creational pattern with a category as parameter.

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Alternative solution 2 :

Static diagram :

The VOD class manages its state thanks to an enumeration. In doing so, the solution imposes a ``switch'' statement, and so, the category changing is possible. The problem of this solution concerns the extensibility. Indeed, if a new category is added, the VOD class must be modified to manage the new type.

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