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Composition Filters Implementations

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Since 1989, there have been many different implementations of composition filters (in the early days called interface predicates, part of the language Sina); see also http://trese.cs.utwente.nl/oldhtml/prototypes.

The various implementations differ from each other in several respects:

1. The adopted base language That is, the language that expresses the implementation part.
2. The level of integration with the base language For example, whether the syntax of the interface part is adapted to the syntax of the base language.
3. Translation time Ranging from a pure interpreter to a byte code interpreter to a compiler.

Historical Overview of Implementations

The implementations have been proof-of-concept research prototypes, each highlighting one or more specific properties. We now present various implementations, focusing on their distinguishing characteristics. The aim of this presentation is to give an impression of the wide range of possible implementation strategies.

• Sina The Sina language was the first implementation of composition filters, which were at that time referred to as interface predicates. The Sina compiler translated the Sina language into a byte code representation that was interpreted by a dedicated virtual machine. The latter was built on top of Smalltalk.
• Sina/st Sina/st was another implementation of the Sina language on top of Smalltalk, but this version supported the full composition filters mechanism. The implementation was based on an interpreted, reflective, run-time, first-class model of filters and messages.
• CFIST CFIST aimed at the integration of Smalltalk programming and composition filters, both at the language level and at the tool level. A key concept of this prototype was that it kept the Smalltalk class definitions completely separate and independent of the composition filters part.
• C++/CF The C++/CF language investigated the integration of composition filters with C++. It was based on the explicit reification of message invocations (implemented through macros).
• ComposeJ ComposeJ^? is an inlining compiler for an integrated Java/CF language (see also below).
• ConcernJ ConcernJ^? is the implementation of composition filters including the superimposition mechanism as a front-end to ComposeJ^?. It resolves the crosscutting and generates corresponding filter specifications for ComposeJ^?.
• JCFF An alternative, more pragmatic, approach has been taken in JCFF (Java Composition Filters Framework), where composition filters are implemented in Java as a library. This has the advantage of allowing software engineers to remain completely in a familiar programming language, with no additional syntax, language, or compiler required.
• Compose*.NET Recently, we have initiated the design and development of Compose*.NET, which adds the capability of adding composition filters to .NET assemblies. The latter are a universal, object-oriented representation of programs in any (one of many) programming language. This gives us the ability to add composition filters to any programming language that has been implemented by .NET. This website is largely devoted to ComposeStar. Look at TryComposeStar^? for more information.

Available for download: ComposeJ

The only implementation currently available for downloading is ComposeJ, largely developed by Hans Wichman as part of this M.Sc. work. Note that this is a proof-of-concept implementation aimed at inlining of composition filters; its functionality is limited, and it has no support for superimposition at all.

the latest version of the software is available here:

• ComposeJ1.3.4_FullDistr.zip: This is a full distributing including source code (3MB)
• ComposeJ1.3.4_demo.zip: This is a version without source code (300KB)

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-- LodewijkBergmans - 27 Nov 2003