Method for managing dynamic relations between objects in dynamic object- oriented languages

摘要

A method and system for creating named relations between classes in a dynamic object-oriented programming environment via mappers is disclosed. The mapping objects dynamically bind to the class interfaces of the classes being related. These connections between classes are defined within a visual environment. The relationships can be programmatically attached by name to object instances during program execution. Because these relationships are stored in a resource and are dynamically bound by name to the objects, they can be created and modified without requiring the source code of the objects being associated to be changed. This eliminates hard coded dependencies between objects that impede reuse of the objects in other contexts. The invention requires and takes full advantage of, meta-data, full dynamic binding and probing support in the objects being connected with the invention.