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yap-6.3/Logtalk/examples/diamonds/NOTES
pmoura 8b74eb8b2b Logtalk 2.23.1 files.
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Logtalk - Object oriented extension to Prolog
Release 2.23.1
Copyright (c) 1998-2005 Paulo Moura. All Rights Reserved.
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To load this example and for sample queries, please see the SCRIPT
file.
This example illustrates some variants of the "diamond problem"
(multi-inheritance conflicts and ambiguities) and its respective
solutions on Logtalk.
This classical problem can be simply described by constructing a
"diamond" of objects and inheritance links as follows:
A -- contains default definition for a predicate m/0
/ \
B C -- contains redefinitions of the predicate m/0
\ /
D -- inherits both redefinitions of the predicate m/0
As such, the object D inherits two conflicting definitions for the
predicate m/0, one from object B and one from object C. If we send
the message m/0 to object D, is ambiguous which inherited definition
should be used to answer it. Depending on the nature of the objects
A, B, C, and D, the correct answer can be the redefinition of m/0 in
object B, the redefinition m/0 in object C, or both redefinitions.
A programming language supporting multi-inheritance should provide
programming mechanisms allowing easy implementation of each possible
solution.
Note that, in the context of Logtalk, the diamond problem may occur with
prototype hierarchies, class hierarchies, protocol hierarchies, or when
using category composition.
This example deals with three variants of the diamond problem, illustrated
using prototype hierarchies:
diamond1
illustrates the inherited definition which is visible due to the
Logtalk predicate lookup algorithm
diamond2
presents a solution for making the overridden inherited definition
the visible one
diamond3
presents a solution which allows both inherited definitions to be
used in D