Re: viewpoints and multiple inheritance.
Multiple inheritance sounds great from a "conceptual" perspective.
Unfortunately, it runs into problems as soon as its used for hardened
semantics. The C++ standards committee discovered that multiple inheritance
was a bad idea. Here's a simple illustration of the problem:
BC <- Base class
Class_1 <- inherit/subclass/overload from BC
Class_2 <- inherit/subclass/overload from BC
Class 3 <- multiply-inherit from Class_1 and Class_2
Class_3 has all the "methods" (i.e., operations on an object of a specific
type) from BC, Class_1, and Class_2. The type of Class_3 is compatible
(individually) with BC, Class_1, and Class_2. For example, any "method"
invoked on objects of type Class_1 can also be invoked on objects of type
Class_3 (because Class_3 was derived from Class_1).
The problem arises when a "base class" is a "virtual base class" (I'm
speaking in object-oriented terminology of a particular language, but I'm
trying to keep the discussion very generic). A "virtual base class" has no
real methods, but only realizes its methods once it is derived (inherited).
A polygon is a good illustration of a "virtual base class". In this
illustration, a polygon might have methods "calculate_area" and
"render_image" because every polygon has these features. However, the
"calculate_area" method can only be invoked once it is "derived" (via
inheritance). If BC is a polygon, Class_1 is a triangle, and Class_2 is a
square, and Class_3 is multiply inherited from Class_1 and Class_2, then
what is the meaning of "calculate_area"? All four classes have different
meanings of "calculate_area": BC (yet to be specified), Class_1 (triangle),
Class_2 (square), Class_3 (conflicting definitions).
The notion of multiple inheritance (1) only works well on a small scale, and
(2) only with base concepts (or classes) from taxonomies that are orthogonal
(independent). In other words, our desire for "multiple inheritance" makes
us dependent on defining orthogonal taxonomies ... which itself is a
difficult/impossible task. I suggest that we avoid multiple inheritance
because the semantics (its meaning, as defined by interoperability
standards) are very difficult to define.
-FF
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Frank Farance, Farance Inc. T: +1 212 486 4700 F: +1 212 759 1605
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