2026-05-12T04:03:02Z https://ipsj.ixsq.nii.ac.jp/oai

oai:ipsj.ixsq.nii.ac.jp:00177698 2025-01-20T05:24:07Z 934:935:8954:9017

A Layer-based Approach to Hierarchical Dynamically-scoped Open Classes A Layer-based Approach to Hierarchical Dynamically-scoped Open Classes Matthias, Springer Hidehiko, Masuhara Robert, Hirschfeld Matthias, Springer Hidehiko, Masuhara Robert, Hirschfeld [通常論文] open classes, extension classes, Context-oriented Programming, mixins, Ruby Open classes are frequently used in programming languages such as Ruby and Smalltalk to add or change methods of a class that is defined in the same component or in a different one. They are typically used for bug fixing, multi-dimensional separation of concerns, or to modularly add new operations to an existing class. However, they suffer from modularity issues if globally visible: Other components using the same classes are then affected by their modifications. This work presents Extension Classes, a hierarchical approach for dynamically scoping such modifications in Ruby, built on top of ideas from Context-oriented Programming (COP). Our mechanism organizes modifications in classes and allows programmers to define their scope according to a class nesting hierarchy and based on whether programmers regard an affected class as a black box or not. Moreover, Extension Classes support modularizing modifications as mixins, such that they can be reused in other components. ------------------------------ This is a preprint of an article intended for publication Journal of Information Processing(JIP). This preprint should not be cited. This article should be cited as: Journal of Information Processing Vol.25(2017) (online) ------------------------------ Open classes are frequently used in programming languages such as Ruby and Smalltalk to add or change methods of a class that is defined in the same component or in a different one. They are typically used for bug fixing, multi-dimensional separation of concerns, or to modularly add new operations to an existing class. However, they suffer from modularity issues if globally visible: Other components using the same classes are then affected by their modifications. This work presents Extension Classes, a hierarchical approach for dynamically scoping such modifications in Ruby, built on top of ideas from Context-oriented Programming (COP). Our mechanism organizes modifications in classes and allows programmers to define their scope according to a class nesting hierarchy and based on whether programmers regard an affected class as a black box or not. Moreover, Extension Classes support modularizing modifications as mixins, such that they can be reused in other components. ------------------------------ This is a preprint of an article intended for publication Journal of Information Processing(JIP). This preprint should not be cited. This article should be cited as: Journal of Information Processing Vol.25(2017) (online) ------------------------------ journal article 情報処理学会 2017-02-27 application/pdf 情報処理学会論文誌プログラミング（PRO） 2 10 1882-7802 AA11464814 https://ipsj.ixsq.nii.ac.jp/record/177698/files/IPSJ-TPRO1002002.pdf eng