Re: Multiple Interface Inheritance (was Re: JGNAT and ObjectAda and...)

[Brian Rogoff <bpr@shell5.ba.best.com>]

On Wed, 20 Dec 2000, Tucker Taft wrote:
> It was not responding for a while, but it seems better now.
> I was able to find out that it is AI 251 (it badly needs an
> example, but otherwise is pretty complete).
> 
> Here is a direct link to the most recent version of this AI:
>    
>     http://www.ada-auth.org/cgi-bin-acats/cvsweb.cgi/AIs/AI-00251.DOC?rev=1.3

I've been pondering this a little and while it seems to capture the desired 
Java functionality I wonder if it is possible to aim higher and get some of 
the additional power of the old GNU C++ signature feature set, namely the 
ability to get the signature (abstract interface type in the AI terminology)
of an existing class (tagged type) and use this anonymous signature. Maybe
a 'Interface attribute or somesuch corresponding to the sigof of GNU C++.
As it never made it into a working GNU C++ that I used I can't say much
about its use in practice but Sather had some similar capabilities. 

This is just a half-baked thought and I certainly would rather see the
Java capabilities sooner rather than more complete functionality much
later. OTOH, if it is possible to go further than Java without delaying 
much the opportunity should be taken now. Perhaps Baumgartner & Russo (the 
designers of the signature extension) would be interested in doing an Ada
version?

You're right that this proposal should have a higher profile than it does 
now, no smiley needed. The design loss at ESA is terrible!

-- Brian