CLOS: integrating object-oriented and functional programming

Details

Event Communications of the ACM - Special issues on Lisp

Authors

Bobrow, Daniel G.
Technical Publications
September 1st 1991
Lisp has a long history as a functional language, where action is invoked by calling a procedure, and where procedural abstraction and encapsulation provide convenient modularity boundaries. A number of attempts have been made to graft object-oriented programming into this framework without losing the essential character of Lispto include the benefits of data abstraction, extensible type classification, incremental operator definition, and code reuse through an inheritance hierarchy. The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS), a result of the ANSI standardization process for Common Lisp, represents a marriage of these two traditions. This article explores the landscape in which the major object-oriented facilities exist, showing how the CLOS solution is effective within the two contexts.

Citation

Gabriel, R. P.; White, J. L.; Bobrow, D. G. CLOS: integrating object-oriented and functional programming. Communications of the ACM. 1991 September; 34 (9): 23-38.

Additional information

Focus Areas

Our work is centered around a series of Focus Areas that we believe are the future of science and technology.

FIND OUT MORE
Licensing & Commercialization Opportunities

We’re continually developing new technologies, many of which are available for Commercialization.

FIND OUT MORE
News

PARC scientists and staffers are active members and contributors to the science and technology communities.

FIND OUT MORE