Java Multi-Method Framework

— In Java, method implementations are chosen at runtime by late-binding with respect to the runtime class of just the receiver argument. However, in order to simplify many programming designs, late-binding with respect to the dynamic type of all arguments is sometimes desirable. This behavior, usually provided by multi-methods, is known as multi-polymorphism. This paper presents a new multi-method implementation based on the standard Java reflection mechanism. Provided as a package, it does not require any language extension nor any virtual machine modification. The design issues of this reflective implementation are presented together with a new and simple multi-method dispatch algorithm that efficiently supports class loading at runtime. This implementation provides a practicable and fully portable multi-method solution.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: TOOLS
• Authors: Rémi Forax, Étienne Duris, Gilles Roussel
• Keywords: Portable Multi-method Solution, Programming Languages, Runtime Class, Simple Multi-method Dispatch, TOOLS 2000