A property-based method for selecting among multiple implementations of modules

Abstract

A method for automatic selection among multiple implementations in a modular language is presented. The method assumes, in keeping with the principle of information hiding, that only the specification part of a module is available to a user of a module. In each implementation a list of properties is included which describes the specifics of that implementation. The user of a module gives a "wish list" where she specifies what kind of implementation she wants for her particular application and the system will match the user's list of requirements against the available implementations and choose the most appropriate one. To aid users and module implementers a set of key-words that may be used to describe an implementation is included in the specification part of the module. An algorithm for selection of the most appropriate implementation is proposed together with an example.