/// <reference types="node" />
import 'reflect-metadata';
/**
 * A builder class used to create a pointer.
 */
export declare class PointerBuilder<T> {
    private uri;
    private classType;
    /**
     * @param uri the URI pointing to the external data source.
     * @returns the builder instance.
     */
    withUri(uri: string | URL): this;
    /**
     * @param classType the class type of the data model
     * that is associated with the pointer.
     * @returns the builder instance.
     */
    withClassType(classType: any): this;
    /**
     * @returns a new pointer instance.
     */
    build(): Pointer<T>;
}
/**
 * A pointer is a class that represents a reference
 * to an external data model. It is used to de-serialize
 * data models that are stored in external data sources.
 * Pointers are used for large data types that are not
 * suitable for being exchanged over size limited mediums
 * such as a queue or a message bus.
 * The semantics of a pointer revolves around the storage
 * of a URI that points to the external data source, as well
 * as the type of the data model that is associated with
 * the pointer.
 */
export declare class Pointer<T> {
    /**
     * The URI pointing to the external data source.
     */
    private uri;
    /**
     * The data source which provides the concrete
     * implementation to fetch the data located at
     * the URI.
     */
    private dataSource;
    /**
     * A class reference to the data model that
     * is associated with the pointer.
     */
    private classType;
    /**
     * A reference to the resolved data. This provides
     * a caching mechanism to avoid fetching the data
     * multiple times.
     */
    private value;
    /**
     * Creates a new pointer instance.
     * @param uri the URI pointing to the external
     * data source.
     * @param classType the class reference to the
     * data model that is associated with the pointer.
     */
    constructor(uri: URL, classType: any);
    /**
     * Resolves the pointer by loading the data associated
     * with the pointer URI in memory, and de-serializes
     * the data into the data model that is associated
     * with the pointer.
     * @returns the data model instance.
     * @throws an error if the pointer could not be resolved.
     */
    resolve(): Promise<T>;
    /**
     * @returns the URI pointing to the external data source.
     */
    getUri(): URL;
    /**
     * @returns whether the pointer has been resolved.
     */
    isResolved(): boolean;
    /**
     * @returns the JSON representation of the class.
     */
    toJSON(): string;
}