Featherweight wrap Java

ABSTRACT

We present an extension for a Java like language with a mechanism for dynamically extending object behaviors. Our approach consists in moving the addition of new features from class (static) level to object (dynamic) level: the basic features of entities (representing their structure) are separated from the additional ones (wrapper classes whose instances represent run-time added behaviors). At run-time, these entities can be dynamically composed by instantiating wrapper objects which are attached to basic entities. We formalize our extension by adding the new constructs to Featherweight Java; the core language so extended (Featherweight Wrap Java) is type safe.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features

General Terms:
Languages, Theory

Keywords:
delegation, featherweight Java, language extensions, wrappers