Mixin-based inheritance
G Bracha, W Cook - ACM Sigplan Notices, 1990 - dl.acm.org
G Bracha, W Cook
ACM Sigplan Notices, 1990•dl.acm.orgThe diverse inheritance mechanisms provided by Smalltalk, Beta, and CLOS are interpreted
as different uses of a single underlying construct. Smalltalk and Beta differ primarily in the
direction of class hierarchy growth. These inheritance mechanisms are subsumed in a new
inheritance model based on composition of mixins, or abstract subclasses. This form of
inheritance can also encode a CLOS multiple-inheritance hierarchy, although changes to
the encoded hierarchy that would violate encapsulation are difficult. Practical application of …
as different uses of a single underlying construct. Smalltalk and Beta differ primarily in the
direction of class hierarchy growth. These inheritance mechanisms are subsumed in a new
inheritance model based on composition of mixins, or abstract subclasses. This form of
inheritance can also encode a CLOS multiple-inheritance hierarchy, although changes to
the encoded hierarchy that would violate encapsulation are difficult. Practical application of …
The diverse inheritance mechanisms provided by Smalltalk, Beta, and CLOS are interpreted as different uses of a single underlying construct. Smalltalk and Beta differ primarily in the direction of class hierarchy growth. These inheritance mechanisms are subsumed in a new inheritance model based on composition of mixins, or abstract subclasses. This form of inheritance can also encode a CLOS multiple-inheritance hierarchy, although changes to the encoded hierarchy that would violate encapsulation are difficult. Practical application of mixin-based inheritance is illustrated in a sketch of an extension to Modula-3.