Prototype-Based Programming: Concepts, Languages and Applications [Paperback]

James Noble (Editor), Antero Taivalsaari (Editor), Ivan Moore (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 1999

In recent years, an alternative to the traditional class-based object-oriented language model has emerged. In this prototype-based paradigm, there are no classes. Rather, new kinds of objects are formed more directly by composing concrete, full-fledged objects, which are often referred to as prototypes. When compared to class-based languages, prototype-based languages are conceptually simpler, and have many other characteristics that make them appealing, especially for the development of evolving, exploratory and/or distributed software systems. The distinction between class-based and prototype-based systems reflects a long-lasting philosophical dispute concerning the representation of abstractions. Class-based languages, such as Smalltalk, C++ and Java, explicitly use classes to represent similarity among collections of objects. Prototype-based systems, such as Self, NewtonScript and Omega, do not rely so much on advance categorization, but rather try to make the concepts in the problem domain as tangible and intuitive as possible. A typical argument in favor of prototypes is that people seem to be much better at dealing with specific examples first, then generalizing from them, than they are at absorbing general abstract principles first and later applying them in particular cases. This book presents the history and development of prototype-based programming and describes a number of prototype-based programming languages and applications. Such range from programs for portable digital appliances, graphical user-interface management systems for desktop and workstations, and cutting edge research on software visualisation and program restructuring. The book will be suitable for advanced software development practitioners, graduate students, and researchers active in the field.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (May 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9814021253
• ISBN-13: 978-9814021258
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,794,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting avenue in language research, January 13, 2005

By 

Michael C. Feathers (Miami FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prototype-Based Programming: Concepts, Languages and Applications (Paperback)

I've been meaning to write this review for a while, because this book is sorely under-recognized and underappreciated.

Prototype-based programming languages were a hot research topic in the 1990s. The idea that one could create software objects directly at runtime, without classes, by piecing together data and behavior was very interesting to many, but somehow lost in the mad rush towards C++ and Java. JavaScript is one of the few prototype-based languages that survives in widespread use, yet it is really just a poor step-cousin to direct manipulation-based prototype languages like Self.

This book is a collection of papers (some of which are hard to find via other channels) that provide a good overview of the field. Philosophy, implementation techniques, and esoterica, it is all here. I suspect that we may find one day, as Integrated Development Environments become more powerful, that the idea of prototype-based development should be revisited. If you are a programming language researcher, designer or enthusiast, this book is a very good place to begin learning about prototype-based development.