cpb@linus.UUCP (Curtis P. Brown) (05/26/89)
Lecture Announcement: Class modules: A vehicle for object-oriented design and structural knowledge representation Professor Karl Lieberherr College of Computer Science Northeastern University Date: June 2, 1989 Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 NOON Place: 1E420 Abstract -------- We propose a novel conceptual modeling notation which combines classes (from class-based object-oriented languages), modules (from modular programming languages) and macro grammars (from context-free macro grammar theory) into a class module notation for designing object-oriented applications. We discuss the main points and the implications of our conceptual modeling notation and present examples which are implemented in C++ and/or Flavors. You get the following advantages when you use the class module notation described in this talk and the implementation in the Demeter(TM) system which we have built: 1. Software which is easier to maintain and reuse. 2. Easier design of your classes through language analogy. 3. Free software tailored to your application (e.g., a planning tool and an object-pattern unifier and generalizer) 4. Self describing objects with minimal overhead on your side, etc. The free software which is provided by the Demeter system is several factors (more than 10 (ten)) larger (in terms of lines or characters) than the input in the class module notation: A useful productivity improvement. The Demeter system has grown from the GEM system which was developed, and won a software award, at GTE Laboratories.