OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING - WHAT FOR

Object-oriented programming can improve the structure of a program as well as its extensibility and re-usability. However, it can also cause problems: one has to master large class libraries; the control flow of a program is cluttered among many small operations; and accessing all data via procedures reduces efficiency. Therefore, objectoriented programming cannot always be recommended. It is well suited for interactive applications and for programs which maintain heterogeneous data structures where additional variants of the data may be added later. It should not be used for closed algorithms which work on simple data or for time-critical applications. This paper deals with the following questions: When should classes be used? What are the typical application areas of object-oriented programming? Examples are included which demonstrate problems that can be solved elegantly with classes. The language Object Oberon is introduced. © 1991.