Multiple Inheritance, a Structuring Mechanism for Data, Processes and Procedures

Abstract

A motivation is given for the use of multiple inheritance as a general mechanism for data, processes and procedures, and an object oriented programming language that incorporates such an inheritance mechanism is outlined. Objects in this language combine the notions of abstract data structures and processes. Classes and procedures are organized in multiple inheritance hierarchies. The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of a coroutine-like strategy for combining multiple action parts of objects. Coincidence of named properties from different classes are treated by combining all versions of the property. The inheritance mechanism on procedures offers an elegant way of combining a number of inherited operations with the same name.