Re: Interesting but sensitive topic to discuss (HELP: - OOP and CASE tools)

[Jan Steinman <No@Junk.Mail.Please>]

In article <32875B03.3729@iconcomp.com>, bill@iconcomp.com wrote:

> Alan Lovejoy wrote:
> > 
> > I think you've hit the nail on the head.  I do distinguish between
"design" and "coding".
> > 
> > To me, the "design" of a program is a language-independent
abstraction.  Implementation
> > inheritance is a coding issue....
> 
> I'd like to hear more about how you think design can be done
> independent of language, and what such a "design" would look
> like...

The biggest disasters I've seen were designed with the philosophy that the
implementation vehicle was unimportant. (In fact, the January issue of The
Smalltalk Report is rumored to have a column on this very topic... :-)
Conversely, the most successful projects I've seen were ones where the
designers were well-versed in the implementation language.

I think it is necessary for the designer to understand -- if not excel in
-- the implementation vehicle. "Real" architects study civil engineering
as well as architecture, or else they might design a skyscraper made of
wood and paper.

> I think it is impossible to progress very far from a domain 
> model into design without considering target language...

Here here!

> > * When should delegation be used instead of inheritance?

Hmmm... how do you accomplish *that* in a language independent manner?
Turn it over to a C++ coder, they might consider multiple inheritance,
turn it over to a Smalltalker, they're going to think of general
delegation.

Programming is still a combination of art, craft, and science. Most
methodologies I've encountered try to force programming entirely into the
"science" realm. I think that is a mistake.

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