Re: Clean Object Class Design -- What is it?

On Sun, 3 Jun 2001, Bob Badour wrote:

> It has been suggested in another thread that a clean object class design
> obviates the need for normalization.
>
> In relational data modelling, I understand how normalization turns a fuzzy
> and general conceptual model into a robust logical model. The steps for
> achieving normalization are well documented, if not entirely deterministic.
> The algorithms for recognizing normalized designs are deterministic as well.
>
> What constitutes a "clean" object class design? How does one achieve the
> goal of "cleanliness"? How does one recognize a "clean" design vs an
> "unclean" design? Are the steps for achieving a "clean" design documented
> anywhere? Can we deterministically determine whether a given design is
> "clean" ?
>
> How?
>
>
>
>

Bob,

I know of metrics aimed at class design. People like Brian Henderson-Sellers to name one (see his book "Object-Oriented Metrics: Measures of Complexity", for example). Others include Ian Graham (he actually started an OO Metrics Club when he was with Swiss Bank some years ago - I went to the first meeting :) ). Their focus though is just on OO and not OODBs in particular. There are lots of other books and sources too, e.g.:

"Object-Oriented Metrics: an Annotated Bibliography": http://dec.bournemouth.ac.uk/ESERG/bibliography.html

There are some skilled OODB developers that I have met over the years, who understand some of the issues in designing classes and have developed rules-of-thumb, based upon their experiences. However, I haven't personally come across any techniques/methods, but would be interested as well if anyone has references. Off the top of my head, this might be worth a quick look at too:

"Object-Oriented Database Design: What is the Difference with Relational Database Design":
http://wwwiti.cs.uni-magdeburg.de/~schmitt/Publications/SaaConSch95.html

akmal

[ ---- OOPSLA 2001 Workshop on "Objects, <XML> and Databases" ---- ] [ http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/users/marash/oopsla2001ws/ ] Received on Sat Jul 21 2001 - 18:29:34 CDT