Mixin programming in Java with reflection and dynamic invocation

ABSTRACT

The concept of mixin programming has emerged as an important implementation technique in the context ol software reuse and software productivity. In mixin based programming classes are defined which support particular roles or capabilities, which may require to be attached to a number of other classes. Mixin classes can be composed dynamically so that composite objects with differing combinations of roles and capabilities may be created without redundancy. Implementing the mixin concept in C++ is straightforward, using the parameterized inheritance capabilities provided by C++ templates. In standard Java it is not possible to use this approach because Java does not currently provide templates. But the Java language has other powerfull facilities, of which one is reflection. In this paper we outline an approach to mixin programming in Java, which is subject to ongoing development and which is based on exploiting Java's reflection capabilities.

REFERENCES

• 1: David A. Moon, Object-oriented programming with flavors, Conference proceedings on Object-oriented programming systems, languages and applications, p.1-8, September 29-October 02, 1986, Portland, Oregon, United States
• 2: Michael VanHilst , David Notkin, Using role components in implement collaboration-based designs, Proceedings of the 11th ACM SIGPLAN conference on Object-oriented programming, systems, languages, and applications, p.359-369, October 06-10, 1996, San Jose, California, United States
• 3: Yannis Smaragdakis , Don S. Batory, Mixin-Based Programming in C++, Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Generative and Component-Based Software Engineering-Revised Papers, p.163-177, October 09-12, 2000
• 4: Yannis Smaragdakis , Don S. Batory, Implementing Layered Designs with Mixin Layers, Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Object-Oriented Programming, p.550-570, July 20-24, 1998
• 5: Don Batory , Rich Cardone , Yannis Smaragdakis, Object-oriented framework and product lines, Proceedings of the first conference on Software product lines : experience and research directions: experience and research directions, p.227-247, November 2000, Denver, Colorado, United States
• 6: Yannis Smaragdakis , Don S. Batory, Mixin-Based Programming in C++, Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Generative and Component-Based Software Engineering-Revised Papers, p.163-177, October 09-12, 2000
• 7: T. John Brown , Ivor Spence , Peter Kilpatrick , Danny Crookes, Adaptable Components for Software Product Line Engineering, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Software Product Lines, p.154-175, August 19-22, 2002
• 8: Tremblett P., Java Reflection: Not just for tool developers. Published in Dr. Dobbs Journal, January 1998.
• 9: Davide Ancona , Giovanni Lagorio , Elena Zucca, Jam - A Smooth Extension of Java with Mixins, Proceedings of the 14th European Conference on Object-Oriented Programming, p.154-178, June 12-16, 2000

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications
          Subjects: Object-oriented languages

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: Java; C++

General Terms:
Algorithms, Documentation, Theory

Keywords:
dynamic invocation, mixin, reflection, role base programming