Introduction to Object Orientation

Abstract

There is little that is new in object-oriented software development. Its main ideas have been known for over two decades since the development of the programming languages Simula and Smalltalk. It is now a well-established technology, and its advantages are well understood. If only we could learn to use it well, we should be able to build high quality software systems which

• are modularised and decentralised;

• are factored around data rather than processes;

• are built using existing well-tested components;

• promote the development of new components;

• are easy to understand and maintain;

• are better able to withstand change;

• allow a relatively seamless transition from analysis through to design and implementation.