A New Smalltalk Kernel Allowing Both Explicit and Implicit Metaclass Programming
NeoClassTalk, a new class/metaclass kernel for Smalltalk that is based on explicit metaclasses.
In this system, end-users still deal with implicit metaclasses, but the full expressiveness of explicit metaclasses is provided to language designers. Dealing with explicit metaclass programming, NeoClassTalk proposes a new framework allowing dynamic composition of class properties such as MessageTracing?, pre/post conditions, and Singleton instances.
References:
An explicit metaclass kernel in Smalltalk, named NeoClassTalk [2] (a new version of Classtalk [1]). The complete implementation of this system is described in [3].
[1] JeanPierreBriot? and PierreCointe?. Programming with Explicit Metaclasses in Smalltalk-80.
In OOPSLA'89 Proceedings, pages 419-431. ACM Sigplan Notices, October 1989.[2] FredRivard?. A New Smalltalk Kernel Allowing Both Explicit and Implicit Metaclass Programming.
In OOPSLA'96 Wokshop : "Extending the Smalltalk Language", San Jose, California, October 1996.[3] FredRivard?. Evolution du comportement des objets dans les langages `a classes r'eflexifs. PhD thesis, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, France, June 1997.