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Generalized Layer Activation Mechanism for Context-Oriented Programming

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Transactions on Modularity and Composition I

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((TRMC,volume 9800))

Abstract

Context-oriented programming (COP) languages modularize context-dependent behaviors in multiple classes into layers. These languages have layer activation mechanisms so that the behaviors in layers take effect on a particular unit of computation during a particular period of time. Existing COP languages have different layer activation mechanisms, and each of them has its own advantages. However, since these mechanisms interfere with each other in terms of extent (time duration) and scope (a set of units of computations) of activation, combining them into a single language is not trivial. We propose a generalized layer activation mechanism based on contexts and subscribers to implement the different activation mechanisms in existing COP languages in a single language called ServalCJ. We formalize the operational semantics of ServalCJ as a small calculus and prove priority preservation, i.e., ensuring that layer prioritization, which resolves the interference between layers, is preserved during computation. To prove this property, we give a formal definition of layer priority that is general so that we can discuss the priorities of layers in other COP calculi and implementations. We implement a ServalCJ compiler, and demonstrate its effectiveness through several example applications.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    We use the term “context” to indicate the temporal context.

  2. 2.

    As illustrated in Sect. 3.2, we believe that this ordering is preferable in many cases. However, we also acknowledge that it is preferable for programmers to configure the ordering policy in particular cases. This configuration mechanism is discussed in Sect. 7.

  3. 3.

    The simulator source code is available at https://github.com/ServalCJ/mazesimulator.git.

  4. 4.

    This case study was inspired by the real maze-solving Pololu 3pi Robot (http://www.pololu.com/product/975). The simulator’s behavior follows the sample program provided by the 3pi Robot distribution.

  5. 5.

    Among them, only the last algorithm can solve mazes with loops.

  6. 6.

    The same discussion is also applicable to the program editor example.

  7. 7.

    While we consider the definitions that are independent from the activation mechanisms, we still assume that layers and constructs of the host language are based on ContextFJ-like calculi, e.g., we assume the existence of mbody and substitution-based reduction for proceed.

  8. 8.

    To speak of the layer priority, we focus on which partial method executes first rather than the ordering of the activated layers.

  9. 9.

    All \(\varLambda _i\) are empty before v is created.

  10. 10.

    The source code of the compiler is available at https://github.com/ServalCJ/pl.git. Per-thread activation is currently not implemented.

  11. 11.

    Precisely, only instances that have globally activated layers are added to the list to reduce the performance degradation.

  12. 12.

    By “overhead,” we mean the overhead against the mechanism where the global activation time is constant with respect to the number of instances.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan

    Tetsuo Kamina

  2. Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ohokayama, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan

    Tomoyuki Aotani & Hidehiko Masuhara

Authors
  1. Tetsuo Kamina
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  2. Tomoyuki Aotani
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  3. Hidehiko Masuhara
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Correspondence to Tetsuo Kamina .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Shigeru Chiba

  2. École des Mines de Nantes, Nantes, France

    Mario Südholt

  3. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

    Patrick Eugster

  4. SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Lukasz Ziarek

  5. University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA

    Gary T. Leavens

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Kamina, T., Aotani, T., Masuhara, H. (2016). Generalized Layer Activation Mechanism for Context-Oriented Programming. In: Chiba, S., Südholt, M., Eugster, P., Ziarek, L., Leavens, G. (eds) Transactions on Modularity and Composition I. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9800. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46969-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46969-0_4

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