New workspace format

[forman]

Current format

Current workspace format comprises a directory with a sub-directory .cate-workspace:

<workspace-name>/
    .cate-workspace/
        workflow.json
        <resource-name>.nc        # persisted workflow step outputs
    <...>      # any user input files used by the workspace/workflow

There are several issues related to the fact that a workspace must be directory

• new workspace directories must be empty, (new, save as) but Electron directory chooser cannot create directories when given a name (#419)
• need to create directories even if the workspace comprises just the workflow JSON file.

New format

The new format does not need any directory. It is flat. Just store a workspace file with cws extension (= Cate Workspace) and a workflow file with cwf extension (= Cate Workflow):

<workspace-name>.cws
<workspace-name>.cwf
<workspace-name>-<resource-name>.nc        # persisted workflow step outputs
<...>     # any user input files used by the workspace/workflow

Later we can also provide ZIP support, i.e. have a workspace in ZIP-folder, e.g. with cwsz extension.

EDIT:

To simplify things, we could also make the workflow JSON part of the workspace JSON in <workspace-name>.cws so that from the commandline, we can also execute workspace files, i.e. cate run <workspace-name>.cws.

Specifications

Cate 1.0

[HelenClifton]

@kbernat for info