Abstract
In this paper a coherent framework of subtyping is developed that achieves strong typing in (persistent) object models without compromising flexibility and expressiveness. The typing framework is based on the concept of substitutability-meaning that from the type consistency perspective objects exhibiting a particular functional characteristic are substitutable for objects of another kind without compromising type safety. We deduce substitutability from the functional specification of object types, called the type signature. Utilizing our framework we show that inheritance-based subtyping on tuple-structured types cannot generally be extended to set-structured or any other collection types, e.g., lists, without sacrificing static verifiability of type consistency.
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© 1991 Springer-Verlag Wien
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Kemper, A., Moerkotte, G. (1991). A Framework for Strong Typing and Type Inference in (Persistent) Object Models. In: Karagiannis, D. (eds) Database and Expert Systems Applications. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-7555-2_43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-7555-2_43
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-82301-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-7555-2
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