Understanding Service Instance References in Vidos

Service instance references enable services to connect with and utilize other services in a secure, flexible manner. These references provide the foundation for service composition, allowing you to build complex, interrelated systems while maintaining clear boundaries and dependencies.

Types of Service Instance References

Vidos supports different types of service instance references to address various operational patterns:

Instance References

Instance references point to specific service instances with explicit identifiers:

• Reference a unique instance by its resource ID
• Include a service role reference for authentication
• Provide precise control over which instance is used
• Enable connection to specific, custom-configured instances
• Support fine-grained service composition

Example of an instance reference:

{
    "type": "instance",
    "resourceId": "custom-verifier-instance",
    "serviceRole": {
        "owner": "account",
        "resourceId": "verifier-role"
    }
}

Managed References

Managed references delegate instance selection to Vidos, simplifying configuration for standard scenarios.

Example of a managed reference:

{
    "type": "managed"
}

Reference types give you flexibility in how services are composed, from explicit control to managed simplicity.