001/*
002 * Java Genetic Algorithm Library (jenetics-9.0.0).
003 * Copyright (c) 2007-2026 Franz Wilhelmstötter
004 *
005 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
006 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
007 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
008 *
009 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
010 *
011 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
012 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
013 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
014 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
015 * limitations under the License.
016 *
017 * Author:
018 *    Franz Wilhelmstötter (franz.wilhelmstoetter@gmail.com)
019 */
020package io.jenetics.util;
021
022import java.util.stream.Stream;
023
024/**
025 * Generic, functional factory interface.
026 *
027 * @param <T> the object type this factory creates.
028 *
029 * @author <a href="mailto:franz.wilhelmstoetter@gmail.com">Franz Wilhelmstötter</a>
030 * @since 1.0
031 * @version 3.0
032 */
033@FunctionalInterface
034public interface Factory<T> {
035
036        /**
037         * Create a new instance of type T.
038         *
039         * @return a new instance of type T
040         */
041        T newInstance();
042
043        /**
044         * Return a new stream of object instances, created by this factory.
045         *
046         * @since 3.0
047         *
048         * @return a stream of objects, created by this factory
049         */
050        default Stream<T> instances() {
051                return Stream.generate(this::newInstance);
052        }
053
054}