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Using Types and Inheritance in Object-Oriented Languages

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ECOOP’ 87 European Conference on Object-Oriented Programming (ECOOP 1987)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 276))

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Abstract

If the object-oriented style of programming hopes to live up to its potential as an improved methodology for software programming, a clear understanding of how to use types and inheritance is essential. Our experiences with using object-oriented languages and teaching object-oriented techniques to other programmers have shown that effective use of types and inheritance may be problematic. There are no concrete guidelines to assist programmers, and the existing aphorisms often create interpretation problems for novice object-oriented programmers. In this paper we look at how types, subtyping, and inheritance are used in object-oriented languages. We discuss the different ways that types and type hierarchies can be used to structure programs. We illustrate appropriate use of these concepts through examples and develop guidelines to assist programmers in using the object-oriented methodology effectively.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Object-Based Systems Group, Digital Equipment Corporation, HLO 2-3/M08, 77 Reed Road, Hudson, Massachusetts, 01749, USA

    Daniel C. Halbert & Patrick D. O’Brien

Authors
  1. Daniel C. Halbert
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  2. Patrick D. O’Brien
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Informatique, LIB, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6, avenue V. le Gorgeu, F-29287, Brest Cédex, France

    Jean Bézivin

  2. 54, avenue des Gressets, F-92700, La Celle Saint-Cloud, France

    Jean-Marie Hullot

  3. Rank Xerox France, DRBI, 12, place de l’Iris, F-92071, La Défense, Cedex 38, France

    Pierre Cointe

  4. The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 545, Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Henry Lieberman

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© 1987 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Halbert, D.C., O’Brien, P.D. (1987). Using Types and Inheritance in Object-Oriented Languages. In: Bézivin, J., Hullot, JM., Cointe, P., Lieberman, H. (eds) ECOOP’ 87 European Conference on Object-Oriented Programming. ECOOP 1987. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 276. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-47891-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-47891-4_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-18353-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47891-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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