// Versioned - interface for versioned objects
//
// Copyright (C) 1996 by Jef Poskanzer <jef@mail.acme.com>.  All rights reserved.
//
// Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
// modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
// are met:
// 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
//    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
// 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
//    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
//    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
//
// THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
// ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
// IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
// ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
// FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
// DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
// OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
// HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
// LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
// OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
// SUCH DAMAGE.
//
// Visit the ACME Labs Java page for up-to-date versions of this and other
// fine Java utilities: http://www.acme.com/java/

package Acme;

import java.io.*;

/// Interface for versioned objects.
// <P>
// This interface should be used by classes that need to differentiate
// versions of themselves.  For instance, a class that is able to
// serialize itself and write a representation to a disk file needs
// to keep track of versions, so that it doesn't try to deserialize
// an old version.  For this reason, the Serializable interface inherits
// from this one.
// <P>
// <A HREF="/resources/classes/Acme/Versioned.java">Fetch the software.</A><BR>
// <A HREF="/resources/classes/Acme.tar.gz">Fetch the entire Acme package.</A>
// <P>
// @see Serializable

public interface Versioned
    {

    /// Return the version of this class.
    public String getVersion();

    }