Dynamic Objects and Meta-level Programming of an EXPRESS Language Environment

Published

May 1, 1996

Author(s)

Peter O. Denno

Abstract

This paper describes design and programming techniques employed in the development of a language environment for the EXPRESS information modeling language. A fundamental concern in the development of language environments for object flavored languages is the degree to which the object model of the implementation language matches that of the language being modeled. If there is significant mismatch, the programmer is forced to reconcile the differences with little aid from the implementation's language's object model, i.e. eschewing the implementation's native object model and programming with elementary tools the object oriented behaviors of the target language environment. This paper describes how object model mismatch was eliminated and a responsive, incremental EXPRESS language environment is being developed using the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) metaobject protocol and dynamic object techniques.

Proceedings Title

Dynamic Objects Workshop: Object World

Conference Location

Bologna, MA

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

Common Lisp, EXPRESS, Language Environment, Object Model, Object-Oriented

Citation

Denno, P. (1996), Dynamic Objects and Meta-level Programming of an EXPRESS Language Environment, Dynamic Objects Workshop: Object World, Bologna, MA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=821100 (Accessed October 27, 2025)