Automating Delegation in Class-Based Languages

Some designers of class-based object oriented languages choose not to support multiple inheritance. As a result, programmers often resort to ad hoc workarounds. The most common of these workarounds is delegation. Even delegation is tedious and error prone, however: We believe that language designers who choose against multiple inheritance should consider automating delegation in order to alleviate theseproblems. In thispaper;wepresentJamie, a language extensionfor Java thatautomatesdelegation. Wealso discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both delegation and automating it in a class-based programming language. Many of our observationsare based on our experienceswith implementing and using Jamie.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: TOOLS
• Authors: John Viega, Paul Reynolds, Reimer Behrends
• Keywords: Hoc Workarounds, Multiple Inheritance, Object Oriented Languages, Programming Languages, TOOLS 2000