MetadataGenerator

```
public interface MetadataGenerator
```
A metadata generator that participates in the installation/deployment of artifacts.

Method Summary

All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
Modifier and Type	Method	Description
`java.util.Collection<? extends Metadata>`	`finish(java.util.Collection<? extends Artifact> artifacts)`	Allows for metadata generation based on the transformed artifacts.
`java.util.Collection<? extends Metadata>`	`prepare(java.util.Collection<? extends Artifact> artifacts)`	Prepares the generator to transform artifacts.
`Artifact`	`transformArtifact(Artifact artifact)`	Enables the metadata generator to transform the specified artifact.

- Method Detail
  - prepare
```
java.util.Collection<? extends Metadata> prepare(java.util.Collection<? extends Artifact> artifacts)
```
    Prepares the generator to transform artifacts.
    
    Parameters:
    
    artifacts - The artifacts to install/deploy, must not be null.
    
    Returns:
    
    The metadata to process (e.g. merge with existing metadata) before artifact transformations, never null.
  - transformArtifact
```
Artifact transformArtifact(Artifact artifact)
```
    Enables the metadata generator to transform the specified artifact.
    
    Parameters:
    
    artifact - The artifact to transform, must not be null.
    
    Returns:
    
    The transformed artifact (or just the input artifact), never null.
  - finish
```
java.util.Collection<? extends Metadata> finish(java.util.Collection<? extends Artifact> artifacts)
```
    Allows for metadata generation based on the transformed artifacts.
    
    Parameters:
    
    artifacts - The (transformed) artifacts to install/deploy, must not be null.
    
    Returns:
    
    The additional metadata to process after artifact transformations, never null.