Subclassing Anomaly Evolving Object-Oriented Compiler Class Overriding
Issue Date:
2003
Publisher:
Institute of Information Theories and Applications FOI ITHEA
Abstract:
Subclassing in collections of related classes may require re-implementation of otherwise valid
classes just because they utilize outdated parent classes, a phenomenon that is referred to as the subclassing
anomaly. The subclassing anomaly is a serious problem since it can void the benefits of code reuse
altogether. This paper offers an analysis of the subclassing anomaly in an evolving object-oriented compiler.
The paper also outlines a solution for the subclassing anomaly that is based on alternative code reuse
mechanism, named class overriding.