Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Computer and Information Science
Date of Award
12-2012
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Phillip E. Pfeiffer IV
Committee Members
Martin L. Barrett, Christopher D. Wallace
Abstract
Connotational subtyping is an approach to typing that allows an object's type to change dynamically, following changes to the object's internal state. This allows for a more precise representation of a problem domain with logical objects that have variable behavior. Two approaches to supporting connotational subtyping in the Ruby programming language were implemented: a language-level implementation using pure Ruby and a modification to the Ruby 1.8.7 interpreter. While neither implementation was wholly successful the language level implementation created complications with reflective language features like self and super and, while Ruby 1.8.7 has been obsoleted by Ruby 1.9 (YARV), the results suggest that Chambers-style, predicate-based runtime type inference could be incorporated into Ruby with only some reduced interpreter performance.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Dillon, Ian S., "Connotational Subtyping and Runtime Class Mutability in Ruby" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1497. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1497
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.