THE BASIC OBJECT SYSTEM - SUPPORTING A SPECTRUM FROM PROTOTYPES TO HARDENED CODE

BOS is a prototype-based, object-oriented toolkit aimed at better supp orting evolutionary software development. BOS attempts to support a sp ectrum of activities in one environment-ranging from rapid prototyping to code hardening. Features enabling rapid prototyping include a prot otype-based object model, an interpreted language, run-time argument c onstraints, position and keyword arguments, and a user interface toolk it. BOS also provides features for code hardening such as multi-method s, multiple inheritance. external code wrapping mechanisms, and interf aces to other packages such as database management systems. BOS thus e nables the end-to-end programming of software in an integrated and uni fied environment. BOS has been used to develop several full-size appli cations which have been evaluated and delivered externally.