Object-oriented programming: concepts and languages

The authors provide detailed definitions of major components used in object-oriented programming environments and how they are applied to software projects. Components defined include encapsulation, the foundation for this entire approach; inheritance, the most innovative part of object-oriented programming; and class, sometimes referred to as software-IC, which emphasizes the similarity with hardware silicon chip. Differences in dynamic binding and loosely coupled collections are described. Several examples are provided which make it possible to distinguish the type of binding that the consumer or supplier will use. Additionally, the benefits and shortcomings of early and late binding are presented. it is believed that Smalltalk-80 continues to be the strongest representative of object-oriented programming; the benefits associated with this integrated language, such as in program environment and garbage collection, are presented. Three characteristic shortcomings have been observed: run-time cost of the dynamic binding mechanism; complexity of object-oriented language over conventional procedural languages; and more information is required from class libraries regarding the individual requirements of specific components