The original design of the filter base class required several specialized
base classes to control what information was pulled from the input
`DataSet` and provided to the derived class. Since the filter base class was
redesigned, the derived classes all get a `DataSet` and pull their own
information from it. Thus, most specialized filter base classes became
unnecessary and removed.
The one substantial exception was the `FilterField`. This filter base class
managed input and output arrays. This was kept separate from the base
`Filter` because not all filters need the ability to select this
information.
That said, this separation has not been particularly helpful. There are
several other features of `Filter` that does not apply to all subclasses.
Furthermore, there are several derived filters that are using `FilterField`
merely to pick a single part, like selecting a coordinate system, and
ignoring the rest of the abilities.
Thus, it makes more sense to deprecate `FilterField` and have these classes
inherit directly from `Filter`.
During the VTK-m 1.8 and 1.9 development, the filter infrastructure was
overhauled. Part of this created a completely new set of base classes. To
avoid confusion with the original filter base classes and ease transition,
the new filter base classes were named `NewFilter*`. Eventually after all
filters were transitioned, the old filter base classes were deprecated.
With the release of VTK-m 2.0, the old filter base classes are removed. The
"new" filter base classes are no longer new. Thus, they have been renamed
simply `Filter` (and `FilterField`).
The `MultiBlock` class has been renamed to `PartitionedDataSet`, and its API
has been refactored to refer to "partitions", rather than "blocks".
Additionally, the `AddBlocks` method has been changed to `AppendPartitions` to
more accurately reflect the operation performed. The associated
`AssignerMultiBlock` class has also been renamed to
`AssignerPartitionedDataSet`.
This change is motivated towards unifying VTK-m's data model with VTK. VTK has
started to move away from `vtkMultiBlockDataSet`, which is a hierarchical tree
of nested datasets, to `vtkPartitionedDataSet`, which is always a flat vector
of datasets used to assist geometry distribution in multi-process environments.
This simplifies traversal during processing and clarifies the intent of the
container: The component datasets are partitions for distribution, not
organizational groupings (e.g. materials).
Ref #405
Now that the dispatcher does its own TryExecute, filters do not need to
do that. This change requires all worklets called by filters to be able
to execute without knowing the device a priori.
