In our examination of object-oriented application frameworks and class libraries, we asked the experts to show us the best way to use their tools--we wrote the spec, they wrote the code. Like us, you'll be surprised at some of the results.
Plugs, an object class used in conjunction with conventional classes, work like their electrical counterparts, and give you the ability to interconnect and assemble software components for program construction without resorting to the usual pointers and functions.
As object-oriented technologies extend our ability to encapsulate functionality within prefabricated components, superdistribution of electronic objects and pay-per-use software start to make sense.
Dylan, a new object-oriented dynamic language from Apple Computer, provides automatic storage management, runtime type checking, and dynamic linking, much like Lisp and Smalltalk.
DPMI is a programming interface that allows application-level code to run in protected mode. This article looks at DPMI from an object-oriented perspective, using C++ class library as the basis for exploration.
The timed-callback scheme Christian presents here queues functions you want invoked after a given number of system clock ticks. This system, which Christian used as the basis for an embedded moisture controller, uses a bounded priority queue that's quite efficient.
NetWare NLMs take full advantage of the multitasking, multithreaded architecture of the operating system. Michael presents a distributed file manager made up of two modules: ENGINE.NLM, an NLM running on a NetWare 3.x server, and CLIENT.EXE, a DOS-based front end running on the client.
Feature-for-feature, Modula-3 is on a par with Ada and C++, but avoids complexity by simplifying individual features like inheritance and generics. Furthermore, Modula-3 is less of a moving target because it already has features only now being added to those other languages.
Identifying code that must work faster is one of the keys to writing successful software, and profilers are the right tools for the job. Keith shows you how to put profilers to their best use, and gives you the code to build your own profiler in the process.
"Subscription Software" is yet another software distribution scheme. Michael analyzes this approach and reports on his recent trip to the MacWorld Expo conference in Boston.
Al wraps up his D-Flat project by discussing the File Open and Save As dialog boxes, the application window's status bar, and text compression of the D-Flat help database. He then ponders what's right and wrong with C++.
According to Jeff, the "Parts is Parts" fallacy holds that the kind of tools and libraries you use don't have any bearing on your design strategy. Jeff believed this too--until he came face-to-face with an application framework.
Following up on last month's introduction to texture mapping, Michael discusses orientation independence and mapping textures across multiple polygons. He then shows you how to do it fast.
If you've ever wanted to understand how your favorite compiler works, or if you ever needed to write some form of language processor, Compiler Design in C by former DDJ columnist Allen Holub is the book for you.
Copyright © 1992, Dr. Dobb's Journal