In Martin Fowler’s terminology, a coding framework refers to a reusable set of libraries or classes that provide a structure and common functionality for building software applications. Frameworks are designed to simplify the development process by providing pre-built components and enforcing a certain architecture or design pattern.

Key Characteristics of a Coding Framework

• Reusable Components: Frameworks provide reusable components that can be used across different projects, reducing the need to write boilerplate code.
• Inversion of Control (IoC): Frameworks often implement the Inversion of Control principle, where the framework controls the flow of the application and calls the developer’s code at specific points. This is also known as the “Hollywood Principle” (“Don’t call us, we’ll call you”).
• Standardized Architecture: Frameworks enforce a standardized architecture, which helps in maintaining consistency across different parts of the application and makes it easier for developers to collaborate.
• Extensibility: Frameworks are designed to be extensible, allowing developers to add custom functionality without modifying the core framework code.
• Productivity: By providing a structured environment and reusable components, frameworks can significantly increase developer productivity and reduce development time.

Examples of Coding Frameworks

Ruby on Rails (Ruby): A web application framework that follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern. It provides a set of conventions and tools for building web applications quickly and efficiently.

class ArticlesController < ApplicationController
  def index
    @articles = Article.all
  end

  def show
    @article = Article.find(params[:id])
  end

  def new
    @article = Article.new
  end

  def create
    @article = Article.new(article_params)
    if @article.save
      redirect_to @article
    else
      render 'new'
    end
  end

  private

  def article_params
    params.require(:article).permit(:title, :text)
  end
end

• Spring (Java): A comprehensive framework for building enterprise applications. It provides support for dependency injection, transaction management, web applications, and more.

@Controller
public class ArticleController {
    @Autowired
    private ArticleService articleService;

    @GetMapping("/articles")
    public String index(Model model) {
        model.addAttribute("articles", articleService.findAll());
        return "articles/index";
    }

    @GetMapping("/articles/{id}")
    public String show(@PathVariable Long id, Model model) {
        model.addAttribute("article", articleService.findById(id));
        return "articles/show";
    }

    @GetMapping("/articles/new")
    public String newArticle(Model model) {
        model.addAttribute("article", new Article());
        return "articles/new";
    }

    @PostMapping("/articles")
    public String create(@ModelAttribute Article article) {
        articleService.save(article);
        return "redirect:/articles";
    }
}

• Django (Python): A high-level web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It follows the MVC pattern and includes an ORM, authentication, and an admin interface.

from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404, redirect
from .models import Article
from .forms import ArticleForm

def article_list(request):
    articles = Article.objects.all()
    return render(request, 'articles/article_list.html', {'articles': articles})

def article_detail(request, pk):
    article = get_object_or_404(Article, pk=pk)
    return render(request, 'articles/article_detail.html', {'article': article})

def article_new(request):
    if request.method == "POST":
        form = ArticleForm(request.POST)
        if form.is_valid():
            article = form.save(commit=False)
            article.save()
            return redirect('article_detail', pk=article.pk)
    else:
        form = ArticleForm()
    return render(request, 'articles/article_edit.html', {'form': form})

Summary

A coding framework provides a structured environment and reusable components to simplify the development process. It enforces a standardized architecture, implements Inversion of Control, and increases productivity by reducing the need for boilerplate code. Examples include Ruby on Rails, Spring, and Django, each of which provides tools and conventions for building applications efficiently.