Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Semantic Framework For Understanding The Behavior Of Modules And Classes In Programming Languages, Mahesh Dodani, Benjamin Kok Siew Gan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Recent trends in programming language design and implementation are aimed at integrating the two most important constructs to combat complexity: modules and classes. Both constructs provide encapsulation, a cornerstone of reliable programming. These constructs differ in their approach to building hierarchies: modules define visibility of components while classes define visibility of functionality. How can modules and classes be effectively integrated within a simple programming language? This question captures the essence of developing semantics of these constructs to ensure that they interact in a meaningful way. This paper develops a formal denotational semantic framework for understanding the interaction between classes and …