Behavioral Subtyping Using Invariants and Constraints

Behavioral Subtyping Using Invariants and Constraints (1999)

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by Barbara H. Liskov , Jeannette M. Wing

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BibTeX

@TECHREPORT{Liskov99behavioralsubtyping,
    author = {Barbara H. Liskov and Jeannette M. Wing},
    title = {Behavioral Subtyping Using Invariants and Constraints},
    institution = {},
    year = {1999}
}

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Abstract

We present a way of defining the subtype relation that ensures that subtype objects preserve behavioral properties of their supertypes. The subtype relation is based on the specifications of the sub- and supertypes. Our approach handles mutable types and allows subtypes to have more methods than their supertypes. Dealing with mutable types and subtypes that extend their supertypes has surprising consequences on how to specify and reason about objects. In our approach, we discard the standard data type induction rule, we prohibit the use of an analogous "history" rule, and we make up for both losses by adding explicit predicates -- invariants and constraints -- to our type specifications. We also discuss the ramifications of our approach of subtyping the design of type families.

Keyphrases

behavioral subtyping using invariant subtype relation mutable type explicit predicate invariant subtype object analogous history rule surprising consequence type family standard data type induction rule behavioral property type specification