PROPOSAL FOR A MONOTONIC MULTIPLE INHERITANCE LINEARIZATION

Previous studies concerning multiple inheritance convinced us that a b etter analysis of conflict resolution mechanisms was necessary. In [DH HM92], we stated properties that a sound mechanism has to respect. Amo ng them, a monotonicity principle plays a critical role, ensuring that the inheritance mechanism behaves ''naturally'' relative to the incre mental design of the inheritance hierarchy. We focus here on lineariza tions and present an intrinsically monotonic linearization, whereas cu rrently used linearizations are not. This paper describes the algorith m in detail, explains the design choices, and compares it to other lin earizations, with LOOPS and CLOS taken as references. In particular, t his new linearization extends CLOS and LOOPS linearizations, producing the same results when these linearizations are sound.