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From: philo@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Phil Odor)
Subject: Re: Choice of OOP for Scheme
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Date: Thu, 26 Jan 1995 18:47:49 GMT
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In article <3g5vau$3b1@agate.berkeley.edu>, bh@anarres.CS.Berkeley.EDU
(Brian Harvey) wrote:

> The original request was for a message-passing system, and apparently
> (I haven't used it, just judging from this message) Meroon uses a
> generic function approach.  Not to rehash old flame wars or anything,
> but I do think the metaphor that you use makes a difference, not to the
> computer but to the user.
> 
> Most of the systems suggested in other replies, such as STclos, are
> also generic function based.  I'm not saying that that's bad, just
> that it's different from what was requested!

Actually, although I want to find a good system to use, the original
message wasn't really intended as a trawl for current systems. (Although
I'd be interested to see the one Brian Harvey described, if it is in the
public domain - I like simple things!)

What I was really hoping for was to be able to *understand* such design
aspects as why folk have chosen generic functions as a route to OOP over
what I think of as more traditional message passers, and what implications
their decisions have on what can be done with the systems. Or perhaps it
would be better to say 'how you have to think using those systems'. That
way at least I'll be able to make better informed judgements.

So if you can avoid the flame-war heat, but still give out some light, I'd
be obliged to hear about the issues..

Thanks

-- 
Phil Odor, CALL Centre, University of Edinburgh
4 Buccleuch Place             Tel +44 31 650 4282
Edinburgh                     Fax +44 31 668 3285
Scotland EH8 9LW            email philo@cogsci.ed.ac.uk
