[UserStory] UI change to allow filters in arbitrary directory

[jody]

User Story

Essential components

• Stakeholder type is identified
• Outcome is described
• Rationale is explicit
• Acceptance criteria are verifiable and from the perspective of the stakeholder

Story

As a user of ImageLab
I want the interface to allow me to choose the directory to search for filters
so that I can import filters from a directory outside the project

Acceptance Criteria

• The user interface affords the ability to select a directory within which to search for filters
• The product searches and loads filters from the selected directory
• No directory selection action is required of the user. If no specific action is invoked, the current behavior is the default (uses "filters" directory).

Supporting Information

[pedroflima]

@jody can I get this issue assigned to me?

[jody]

This is indicated as an Epic. The expected work on this issue is breaking it into subordinate issues and linking them with this as the parent issue. Note that the "Acceptance criteria" box isn't checked because it should really be the collection of sub-issues.

[pedroflima]

@jody After attempting to resolve this issue, it seems that the mere selection of directories will be insufficient. The filter files are uncompiled Java files that get built along with the application (and in its packages). I believe additional work to allow for runtime compilation should be necessary (see https://dzone.com/articles/how-to-compile-a-class-at-runtime-with-java-8-and).
As you stated, additional issues under this epic are likely necessary.

[jody]

I appreciate the work you've done investigating this issue!

Given that ImageLab is intended support students in a first programming course, using external compilation may be best. This definitely warrants significant User Experience design attention.