Values and Objects in Programming Languages

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MacLennan_VOPL_1981.pdf (115.84 KB)
Authors
MacLennan, B.J.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1981
Date
April 1981
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The terms value-oriented and object-oriented are used to describe both programming languages and programming styles. This paper attempts to elucidate the differences between values and objects and argues that their proper discrimination can be a valuable aid to conquering program complexity. The first section shows that values amount to timeless abstractions for which the concepts of updating, sharing and instantiation have no meaning. The second section shows that objects exist in time and, hence, can be created, destroyed, copied, shared and updated. The third section argues that proper discrimination of these concepts in programming languages will clarify problems such as the role of state in functional programming. The paper concludes by discussing the use of the value/object distinction as a tool for program organization.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA101322
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/61491
Series/Report No
Department
Computer Science (CS)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Foundation Research Program of the Naval Postgraduate School
Chief of Naval Research
Funder
Format
6 p.
Citation
MacLennan, Bruce J. Values and Objects in Programming Languages. No. NPS52-81-006. NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA, 1981.
Distribution Statement
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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