When to use @Factory

[vk101]

In general, what's the difference between using @Factory and not? When should @Factory be used? What's the difference between the following two options (e.g. for populating a datamodel, or even for doing something else).

@DataModel
private List<Stuff> stuff;

@Factory
public void getStuff() {
 stuff = findListOfStuff();
}

@DataModel
public List<Stuff> getStuff() {
 return findListOfStuff();
}

[smokingapipe]

I think your option #1 is good when a conversation is starting. What if it needs to display this list several times i the conversation? You don't want to call findListOfStuff() every time it is displayed, because that might involve DB queries, etc.

Option #2 is ok if it's ok to regenerate the list every time.