Re: c.d.theory glossary -- definition of "class"

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"mAsterdam" <mAsterdam_at_vrijdag.org> wrote in message news:40d8bf62$0$563$e4fe514c_at_news.xs4all.nl...
> Dawn M. Wolthuis wrote:
> > mAsterdam wrote:
> >>Glossary 0.0.4:
> <snip>
> >>[Class]
> >>A class is what provides a name and a place for
> >>the abstract behavior of a set of objects
> >>said to belong to the class. (Larry Wall, Apocalypse 12)
> >>
> >>note:
> >>Other definitons welcome, this goes for the rest as well,
> >>of course.
> >>
> >>Some use 'class' as having exposed data.
> >>Please be explicit about this if you do so.

[Object] - The embodiment in software of an automaton. The software brick.

- an identity                     (sometime independent of location) -
instead of an address
- a variable state              (sometime independent of location) - instead
of a (memory) location
- methods  (behavior)      (sometime independent of location) - instead of

[Class] - Divide et Impera !
The size, shape and matter of the bricks. The physics, the chemistry, ..., the philosophy, the society.
Dictate the rules that objects (in the class) must obey.

> > I would like to make it clear that it is metadata.

> Why?

> > I don't just mean that the source code for the class is
> > metadata -- the class is metadata.

> metadata: data about data.
> A class is about behavior. Is it about data?
> An object, instance of the class, may have
> some data, but to get that data we'll have
> to ask it (by means of what the class told
> us about how to ask objects of this class questions)
> to give us that (and maybe other) data.

Well, code is data - remember ? :-)
A class is about computer software components. :-)

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