+++ /dev/null
-\input texinfo
-@c -*-texinfo-*-
-@c %**start of header
-@setfilename goops.info
-@settitle Goops Manual
-@set goops
-@setchapternewpage odd
-@paragraphindent 0
-@c %**end of header
-
-@set VERSION 0.3
-
-@dircategory The Algorithmic Language Scheme
-@direntry
-* GOOPS: (goops). The GOOPS reference manual.
-@end direntry
-
-@macro goops
-GOOPS
-@end macro
-
-@macro guile
-Guile
-@end macro
-
-@ifinfo
-This file documents GOOPS, an object oriented extension for Guile.
-
-Copyright (C) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006 Free Software Foundation
-
-Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
-this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
-are preserved on all copies.
-
-@end ifinfo
-
-@c This title page illustrates only one of the
-@c two methods of forming a title page.
-
-@titlepage
-@title Goops Manual
-@subtitle For use with GOOPS @value{VERSION}
-
-@c AUTHORS
-
-@c The GOOPS tutorial was written by Christian Lynbech and Mikael
-@c Djurfeldt, who also wrote GOOPS itself. The GOOPS reference manual
-@c and MOP documentation were written by Neil Jerram and reviewed by
-@c Mikael Djurfeldt.
-
-@author Christian Lynbech
-@author @email{chl@@tbit.dk}
-@author
-@author Mikael Djurfeldt
-@author @email{djurfeldt@@nada.kth.se}
-@author
-@author Neil Jerram
-@author @email{neil@@ossau.uklinux.net}
-
-@c The following two commands
-@c start the copyright page.
-@page
-@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
-Copyright @copyright{} 1999, 2006 Free Software Foundation
-
-Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
-this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
-are preserved on all copies.
-
-@end titlepage
-
-@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
-
-@menu
-* Introduction::
-* Getting Started::
-* Reference Manual::
-* MOP Specification::
-
-* Tutorial::
-
-* Concept Index::
-* Function and Variable Index::
-@end menu
-
-@iftex
-@chapter Preliminaries
-@end iftex
-
-@node Introduction, Getting Started, Top, Top
-@iftex
-@section Introduction
-@end iftex
-@ifnottex
-@chapter Introduction
-@end ifnottex
-
-@goops{} is the object oriented extension to @guile{}. Its
-implementation is derived from @w{STk-3.99.3} by Erick Gallesio and
-version 1.3 of Gregor Kiczales @cite{Tiny-Clos}. It is very close in
-spirit to CLOS, the Common Lisp Object System (@cite{CLtL2}) but is
-adapted for the Scheme language. While GOOPS is not compatible with any
-of these systems, GOOPS contains a compatibility module which allows for
-execution of STKlos programs.
-
-Briefly stated, the @goops{} extension gives the user a full object
-oriented system with multiple inheritance and generic functions with
-multi-method dispatch. Furthermore, the implementation relies on a true
-meta object protocol, in the spirit of the one defined for CLOS
-(@cite{Gregor Kiczales: A Metaobject Protocol}).
-
-@node Getting Started, Reference Manual, Introduction, Top
-@iftex
-@section Getting Started
-@end iftex
-@ifnottex
-@chapter Getting Started
-@end ifnottex
-
-@menu
-* Running GOOPS::
-
-Examples of some basic GOOPS functionality.
-
-* Methods::
-* User-defined types::
-* Asking for the type of an object::
-
-See further in the GOOPS tutorial available in this distribution in
-info (goops.info) and texinfo format.
-@end menu
-
-@node Running GOOPS, Methods, Getting Started, Getting Started
-@subsection Running GOOPS
-
-@enumerate
-@item
-Type
-
-@smalllisp
-guile-oops
-@end smalllisp
-
-You should now be at the Guile prompt ("guile> ").
-
-@item
-Type
-
-@smalllisp
-(use-modules (oop goops))
-@end smalllisp
-
-to load GOOPS. (If your system supports dynamic loading, you
-should be able to do this not only from `guile-oops' but from an
-arbitrary Guile interpreter.)
-@end enumerate
-
-We're now ready to try some basic GOOPS functionality.
-
-@node Methods, User-defined types, Running GOOPS, Getting Started
-@subsection Methods
-
-@smalllisp
-@group
-(define-method (+ (x <string>) (y <string>))
- (string-append x y))
-
-(+ 1 2) --> 3
-(+ "abc" "de") --> "abcde"
-@end group
-@end smalllisp
-
-@node User-defined types, Asking for the type of an object, Methods, Getting Started
-@subsection User-defined types
-
-@smalllisp
-(define-class <2D-vector> ()
- (x #:init-value 0 #:accessor x-component #:init-keyword #:x)
- (y #:init-value 0 #:accessor y-component #:init-keyword #:y))
-
-@group
-(use-modules (ice-9 format))
-
-(define-method (write (obj <2D-vector>) port)
- (display (format #f "<~S, ~S>" (x-component obj) (y-component obj))
- port))
-
-(define v (make <2D-vector> #:x 3 #:y 4))
-
-v --> <3, 4>
-@end group
-
-@group
-(define-method (+ (x <2D-vector>) (y <2D-vector>))
- (make <2D-vector>
- #:x (+ (x-component x) (x-component y))
- #:y (+ (y-component x) (y-component y))))
-
-(+ v v) --> <6, 8>
-@end group
-@end smalllisp
-
-@node Asking for the type of an object, , User-defined types, Getting Started
-@subsection Types
-
-@example
-(class-of v) --> #<<class> <2D-vector> 40241ac0>
-<2D-vector> --> #<<class> <2D-vector> 40241ac0>
-(class-of 1) --> #<<class> <integer> 401b2a98>
-<integer> --> #<<class> <integer> 401b2a98>
-
-(is-a? v <2D-vector>) --> #t
-@end example
-
-@node Reference Manual, MOP Specification, Getting Started, Top
-@chapter Reference Manual
-
-This chapter is the GOOPS reference manual. It aims to describe all the
-syntax, procedures, options and associated concepts that a typical
-application author would need to understand in order to use GOOPS
-effectively in their application. It also describes what is meant by
-the GOOPS ``metaobject protocol'' (aka ``MOP''), and indicates how
-authors can use the metaobject protocol to customize the behaviour of
-GOOPS itself.
-
-For a detailed specification of the GOOPS metaobject protocol, see
-@ref{MOP Specification}.
-
-@menu
-* Introductory Remarks::
-* Defining New Classes::
-* Creating Instances::
-* Accessing Slots::
-* Creating Generic Functions::
-* Adding Methods to Generic Functions::
-* Invoking Generic Functions::
-* Redefining a Class::
-* Changing the Class of an Instance::
-* Introspection::
-* Miscellaneous Functions::
-@end menu
-
-@node Introductory Remarks
-@section Introductory Remarks
-
-GOOPS is an object-oriented programming system based on a ``metaobject
-protocol'' derived from the ones used in CLOS (the Common Lisp Object
-System), tiny-clos (a small Scheme implementation of a subset of CLOS
-functionality) and STKlos.
-
-GOOPS can be used by application authors at a basic level without any
-need to understand what the metaobject protocol (aka ``MOP'') is and how
-it works. On the other hand, the MOP underlies even the customizations
-that application authors are likely to make use of very quickly --- such
-as defining an @code{initialize} method to customize the initialization
-of instances of an application-defined class --- and an understanding of
-the MOP makes it much easier to explain such customizations in a precise
-way. And in the long run, understanding the MOP is the key both to
-understanding GOOPS at a deeper level and to taking full advantage of
-GOOPS' power, by customizing the behaviour of GOOPS itself.
-
-Each of the following sections of the reference manual is arranged
-such that the most basic usage is introduced first, and then subsequent
-subsections discuss the related internal functions and metaobject
-protocols, finishing with a description of how to customize that area of
-functionality.
-
-These introductory remarks continue with a few words about metaobjects
-and the MOP. Readers who do not want to be bothered yet with the MOP
-and customization could safely skip this subsection on a first reading,
-and should correspondingly skip subsequent subsections that are
-concerned with internals and customization.
-
-In general, this reference manual assumes familiarity with standard
-object oriented concepts and terminology. However, some of the terms
-used in GOOPS are less well known, so the Terminology subsection
-provides definitions for these terms.
-
-@menu
-* Metaobjects and the Metaobject Protocol::
-* Terminology::
-@end menu
-
-@node Metaobjects and the Metaobject Protocol
-@subsection Metaobjects and the Metaobject Protocol
-
-The conceptual building blocks of GOOPS are classes, slot definitions,
-instances, generic functions and methods. A class is a grouping of
-inheritance relations and slot definitions. An instance is an object
-with slots that are allocated following the rules implied by its class's
-superclasses and slot definitions. A generic function is a collection
-of methods and rules for determining which of those methods to apply
-when the generic function is invoked. A method is a procedure and a set
-of specializers that specify the type of arguments to which the
-procedure is applicable.
-
-Of these entities, GOOPS represents classes, generic functions and
-methods as ``metaobjects''. In other words, the values in a GOOPS
-program that describe classes, generic functions and methods, are
-themselves instances (or ``objects'') of special GOOPS classes that
-encapsulate the behaviour, respectively, of classes, generic functions,
-and methods.
-
-(The other two entities are slot definitions and instances. Slot
-definitions are not strictly instances, but every slot definition is
-associated with a GOOPS class that specifies the behaviour of the slot
-as regards accessibility and protection from garbage collection.
-Instances are of course objects in the usual sense, and there is no
-benefit from thinking of them as metaobjects.)
-
-The ``metaobject protocol'' (aka ``MOP'') is the specification of the
-generic functions which determine the behaviour of these metaobjects and
-the circumstances in which these generic functions are invoked.
-
-For a concrete example of what this means, consider how GOOPS calculates
-the set of slots for a class that is being defined using
-@code{define-class}. The desired set of slots is the union of the new
-class's direct slots and the slots of all its superclasses. But
-@code{define-class} itself does not perform this calculation. Instead,
-there is a method of the @code{initialize} generic function that is
-specialized for instances of type @code{<class>}, and it is this method
-that performs the slot calculation.
-
-@code{initialize} is a generic function which GOOPS calls whenever a new
-instance is created, immediately after allocating memory for a new
-instance, in order to initialize the new instance's slots. The sequence
-of steps is as follows.
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{define-class} uses @code{make} to make a new instance of the
-@code{<class>}, passing as initialization arguments the superclasses,
-slot definitions and class options that were specified in the
-@code{define-class} form.
-
-@item
-@code{make} allocates memory for the new instance, and then invokes the
-@code{initialize} generic function to initialize the new instance's
-slots.
-
-@item
-The @code{initialize} generic function applies the method that is
-specialized for instances of type @code{<class>}, and this method
-performs the slot calculation.
-@end itemize
-
-In other words, rather than being hardcoded in @code{define-class}, the
-behaviour of class definition is encapsulated by generic function
-methods that are specialized for the class @code{<class>}.
-
-It is possible to create a new class that inherits from @code{<class>},
-which is called a ``metaclass'', and to write a new @code{initialize}
-method that is specialized for instances of the new metaclass. Then, if
-the @code{define-class} form includes a @code{#:metaclass} class option
-whose value is the new metaclass, the class that is defined by the
-@code{define-class} form will be an instance of the new metaclass rather
-than of the default @code{<class>}, and will be defined in accordance
-with the new @code{initialize} method. Thus the default slot
-calculation, as well as any other aspect of the new class's relationship
-with its superclasses, can be modified or overridden.
-
-In a similar way, the behaviour of generic functions can be modified or
-overridden by creating a new class that inherits from the standard
-generic function class @code{<generic>}, writing appropriate methods
-that are specialized to the new class, and creating new generic
-functions that are instances of the new class.
-
-The same is true for method metaobjects. And the same basic mechanism
-allows the application class author to write an @code{initialize} method
-that is specialized to their application class, to initialize instances
-of that class.
-
-Such is the power of the MOP. Note that @code{initialize} is just one
-of a large number of generic functions that can be customized to modify
-the behaviour of application objects and classes and of GOOPS itself.
-Each subsequent section of the reference manual covers a particular area
-of GOOPS functionality, and describes the generic functions that are
-relevant for customization of that area.
-
-We conclude this subsection by emphasizing a point that may seem
-obvious, but contrasts with the corresponding situation in some other
-MOP implementations, such as CLOS. The point is simply that an
-identifier which represents a GOOPS class or generic function is a
-variable with a first-class value, the value being an instance of class
-@code{<class>} or @code{<generic>}. (In CLOS, on the other hand, a
-class identifier is a symbol that indexes the corresponding class
-metaobject in a separate namespace for classes.) This is, of course,
-simply an extension of the tendency in Scheme to avoid the unnecessary
-use of, on the one hand, syntactic forms that require unevaluated
-arguments and, on the other, separate identifier namespaces (e.g. for
-class names), but it is worth noting that GOOPS conforms fully to this
-Schemely principle.
-
-@node Terminology
-@subsection Terminology
-
-It is assumed that the reader is already familiar with standard object
-orientation concepts such as classes, objects/instances,
-inheritance/subclassing, generic functions and methods, encapsulation
-and polymorphism.
-
-This section explains some of the less well known concepts and
-terminology that GOOPS uses, which are assumed by the following sections
-of the reference manual.
-
-@menu
-* Metaclass::
-* Class Precedence List::
-* Accessor::
-@end menu
-
-@node Metaclass
-@subsubsection Metaclass
-
-A @dfn{metaclass} is the class of an object which represents a GOOPS
-class. Put more succinctly, a metaclass is a class's class.
-
-Most GOOPS classes have the metaclass @code{<class>} and, by default,
-any new class that is created using @code{define-class} has the
-metaclass @code{<class>}.
-
-But what does this really mean? To find out, let's look in more detail
-at what happens when a new class is created using @code{define-class}:
-
-@example
-(define-class <my-class> (<object>) . slots)
-@end example
-
-GOOPS actually expands the @code{define-class} form to something like
-this
-
-@example
-(define <my-class> (class (<object>) . slots))
-@end example
-
-and thence to
-
-@example
-(define <my-class>
- (make <class> #:supers (list <object>) #:slots slots))
-@end example
-
-In other words, the value of @code{<my-class>} is in fact an instance of
-the class @code{<class>} with slot values specifying the superclasses
-and slot definitions for the class @code{<my-class>}. (@code{#:supers}
-and @code{#:slots} are initialization keywords for the @code{dsupers}
-and @code{dslots} slots of the @code{<class>} class.)
-
-In order to take advantage of the full power of the GOOPS metaobject
-protocol (@pxref{MOP Specification}), it is sometimes desirable to
-create a new class with a metaclass other than the default
-@code{<class>}. This is done by writing:
-
-@example
-(define-class <my-class2> (<object>)
- slot @dots{}
- #:metaclass <my-metaclass>)
-@end example
-
-GOOPS expands this to something like:
-
-@example
-(define <my-class2>
- (make <my-metaclass> #:supers (list <object>) #:slots slots))
-@end example
-
-In this case, the value of @code{<my-class2>} is an instance of the more
-specialized class @code{<my-metaclass>}. Note that
-@code{<my-metaclass>} itself must previously have been defined as a
-subclass of @code{<class>}. For a full discussion of when and how it is
-useful to define new metaclasses, see @ref{MOP Specification}.
-
-Now let's make an instance of @code{<my-class2>}:
-
-@example
-(define my-object (make <my-class2> ...))
-@end example
-
-All of the following statements are correct expressions of the
-relationships between @code{my-object}, @code{<my-class2>},
-@code{<my-metaclass>} and @code{<class>}.
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{my-object} is an instance of the class @code{<my-class2>}.
-
-@item
-@code{<my-class2>} is an instance of the class @code{<my-metaclass>}.
-
-@item
-@code{<my-metaclass>} is an instance of the class @code{<class>}.
-
-@item
-The class of @code{my-object} is @code{<my-class2>}.
-
-@item
-The metaclass of @code{my-object} is @code{<my-metaclass>}.
-
-@item
-The class of @code{<my-class2>} is @code{<my-metaclass>}.
-
-@item
-The metaclass of @code{<my-class2>} is @code{<class>}.
-
-@item
-The class of @code{<my-metaclass>} is @code{<class>}.
-
-@item
-The metaclass of @code{<my-metaclass>} is @code{<class>}.
-
-@item
-@code{<my-class2>} is not a metaclass, since it is does not inherit from
-@code{<class>}.
-
-@item
-@code{<my-metaclass>} is a metaclass, since it inherits from
-@code{<class>}.
-@end itemize
-
-@node Class Precedence List
-@subsubsection Class Precedence List
-
-The @dfn{class precedence list} of a class is the list of all direct and
-indirect superclasses of that class, including the class itself.
-
-In the absence of multiple inheritance, the class precedence list is
-ordered straightforwardly, beginning with the class itself and ending
-with @code{<top>}.
-
-For example, given this inheritance hierarchy:
-
-@example
-(define-class <invertebrate> (<object>) @dots{})
-(define-class <echinoderm> (<invertebrate>) @dots{})
-(define-class <starfish> (<echinoderm>) @dots{})
-@end example
-
-the class precedence list of <starfish> would be
-
-@example
-(<starfish> <echinoderm> <invertebrate> <object> <top>)
-@end example
-
-With multiple inheritance, the algorithm is a little more complicated.
-A full description is provided by the GOOPS Tutorial: see @ref{Class
-precedence list}.
-
-``Class precedence list'' is often abbreviated, in documentation and
-Scheme variable names, to @dfn{cpl}.
-
-@node Accessor
-@subsubsection Accessor
-
-An @dfn{accessor} is a generic function with both reference and setter
-methods.
-
-@example
-(define-accessor perimeter)
-@end example
-
-Reference methods for an accessor are defined in the same way as generic
-function methods.
-
-@example
-(define-method (perimeter (s <square>))
- (* 4 (side-length s)))
-@end example
-
-Setter methods for an accessor are defined by specifying ``(setter
-<accessor-name>)'' as the first parameter of the @code{define-method}
-call.
-
-@example
-(define-method ((setter perimeter) (s <square>) (n <number>))
- (set! (side-length s) (/ n 4)))
-@end example
-
-Once an appropriate setter method has been defined in this way, it can
-be invoked using the generalized @code{set!} syntax, as in:
-
-@example
-(set! (perimeter s1) 18.3)
-@end example
-
-@node Defining New Classes
-@section Defining New Classes
-
-[ *fixme* Somewhere in this manual there needs to be an introductory
-discussion about GOOPS classes, generic functions and methods, covering
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-how classes encapsulate related items of data in @dfn{slots}
-
-@item
-why it is that, unlike in C++ and Java, a class does not encapsulate the
-methods that act upon the class (at least not in the C++/Java sense)
-
-@item
-how generic functions provide a more general solution that provides for
-dispatch on all argument types, and avoids idiosyncracies like C++'s
-friend classes
-
-@item
-how encapsulation in the sense of data- and code-hiding, or of
-distinguishing interface from implementation, is treated in Guile as an
-orthogonal concept to object orientation, and is the responsibility of
-the module system.
-@end itemize
-
-Some of this is covered in the Tutorial chapter, in @ref{Generic
-functions and methods} - perhaps the best solution would be to expand
-the discussion there. ]
-
-@menu
-* Basic Class Definition::
-* Class Options::
-* Slot Options::
-* Class Definition Internals::
-* Customizing Class Definition::
-* STKlos Compatibility::
-@end menu
-
-@node Basic Class Definition
-@subsection Basic Class Definition
-
-New classes are defined using the @code{define-class} syntax, with
-arguments that specify the classes that the new class should inherit
-from, the direct slots of the new class, and any required class options.
-
-@deffn syntax define-class name (super @dots{}) slot-definition @dots{} . options
-Define a class called @var{name} that inherits from @var{super}s, with
-direct slots defined by @var{slot-definition}s and class options
-@var{options}. The newly created class is bound to the variable name
-@var{name} in the current environment.
-
-Each @var{slot-definition} is either a symbol that names the slot or a
-list,
-
-@example
-(@var{slot-name-symbol} . @var{slot-options})
-@end example
-
-where @var{slot-name-symbol} is a symbol and @var{slot-options} is a
-list with an even number of elements. The even-numbered elements of
-@var{slot-options} (counting from zero) are slot option keywords; the
-odd-numbered elements are the corresponding values for those keywords.
-
-@var{options} is a similarly structured list containing class option
-keywords and corresponding values.
-@end deffn
-
-The standard GOOPS class and slot options are described in the following
-subsections: see @ref{Class Options} and @ref{Slot Options}.
-
-Example 1. Define a class that combines two pre-existing classes by
-inheritance but adds no new slots.
-
-@example
-(define-class <combined> (<tree> <bicycle>))
-@end example
-
-Example 2. Define a @code{regular-polygon} class with slots for side
-length and number of sides that have default values and can be accessed
-via the generic functions @code{side-length} and @code{num-sides}.
-
-@example
-(define-class <regular-polygon> ()
- (sl #:init-value 1 #:accessor side-length)
- (ns #:init-value 5 #:accessor num-sides))
-@end example
-
-Example 3. Define a class whose behavior (and that of its instances) is
-customized via an application-defined metaclass.
-
-@example
-(define-class <tcpip-fsm> ()
- (s #:init-value #f #:accessor state)
- ...
- #:metaclass <finite-state-class>)
-@end example
-
-@node Class Options
-@subsection Class Options
-
-@deffn {class option} #:metaclass metaclass
-The @code{#:metaclass} class option specifies the metaclass of the class
-being defined. @var{metaclass} must be a class that inherits from
-@code{<class>}. For an introduction to the use of metaclasses, see
-@ref{Metaobjects and the Metaobject Protocol} and @ref{Metaclass}.
-
-If the @code{#:metaclass} option is absent, GOOPS reuses or constructs a
-metaclass for the new class by calling @code{ensure-metaclass}
-(@pxref{Class Definition Internals,, ensure-metaclass}).
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {class option} #:name name
-The @code{#:name} class option specifies the new class's name. This
-name is used to identify the class whenever related objects - the class
-itself, its instances and its subclasses - are printed.
-
-If the @code{#:name} option is absent, GOOPS uses the first argument to
-@code{define-class} as the class name.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {class option} #:environment environment
-*fixme* Not sure about this one, but I think that the
-@code{#:environment} option specifies the environment in which the
-class's getters and setters are computed and evaluated.
-
-If the @code{#:environment} option is not specified, the class's
-environment defaults to the top-level environment in which the
-@code{define-class} form appears.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Slot Options
-@subsection Slot Options
-
-@deffn {slot option} #:allocation allocation
-The @code{#:allocation} option tells GOOPS how to allocate storage for
-the slot. Possible values for @var{allocation} are
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item @code{#:instance}
-
-Indicates that GOOPS should create separate storage for this slot in
-each new instance of the containing class (and its subclasses).
-
-@item @code{#:class}
-
-Indicates that GOOPS should create storage for this slot that is shared
-by all instances of the containing class (and its subclasses). In other
-words, a slot in class @var{C} with allocation @code{#:class} is shared
-by all @var{instance}s for which @code{(is-a? @var{instance} @var{c})}.
-
-@item @code{#:each-subclass}
-
-Indicates that GOOPS should create storage for this slot that is shared
-by all @emph{direct} instances of the containing class, and that
-whenever a subclass of the containing class is defined, GOOPS should
-create a new storage for the slot that is shared by all @emph{direct}
-instances of the subclass. In other words, a slot with allocation
-@code{#:each-subclass} is shared by all instances with the same
-@code{class-of}.
-
-@item @code{#:virtual}
-
-Indicates that GOOPS should not allocate storage for this slot. The
-slot definition must also include the @code{#:slot-ref} and
-@code{#:slot-set!} options to specify how to reference and set the value
-for this slot.
-@end itemize
-
-The default value is @code{#:instance}.
-
-Slot allocation options are processed when defining a new class by the
-generic function @code{compute-get-n-set}, which is specialized by the
-class's metaclass. Hence new types of slot allocation can be
-implemented by defining a new metaclass and a method for
-@code{compute-get-n-set} that is specialized for the new metaclass. For
-an example of how to do this, see @ref{Customizing Class Definition}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {slot option} #:slot-ref getter
-@deffnx {slot option} #:slot-set! setter
-The @code{#:slot-ref} and @code{#:slot-set!} options must be specified
-if the slot allocation is @code{#:virtual}, and are ignored otherwise.
-
-@var{getter} should be a closure taking a single @var{instance} parameter
-that returns the current slot value. @var{setter} should be a closure
-taking two parameters - @var{instance} and @var{new-val} - that sets the
-slot value to @var{new-val}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {slot option} #:getter getter
-@deffnx {slot option} #:setter setter
-@deffnx {slot option} #:accessor accessor
-These options, if present, tell GOOPS to create generic function and
-method definitions that can be used to get and set the slot value more
-conveniently than by using @code{slot-ref} and @code{slot-set!}.
-
-@var{getter} specifies a generic function to which GOOPS will add a
-method for getting the slot value. @var{setter} specifies a generic
-function to which GOOPS will add a method for setting the slot value.
-@var{accessor} specifies an accessor to which GOOPS will add methods for
-both getting and setting the slot value.
-
-So if a class includes a slot definition like this:
-
-@example
-(c #:getter get-count #:setter set-count #:accessor count)
-@end example
-
-GOOPS defines generic function methods such that the slot value can be
-referenced using either the getter or the accessor -
-
-@example
-(let ((current-count (get-count obj))) @dots{})
-(let ((current-count (count obj))) @dots{})
-@end example
-
-- and set using either the setter or the accessor -
-
-@example
-(set-count obj (+ 1 current-count))
-(set! (count obj) (+ 1 current-count))
-@end example
-
-Note that
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-with an accessor, the slot value is set using the generalized
-@code{set!} syntax
-
-@item
-in practice, it is unusual for a slot to use all three of these options:
-read-only, write-only and read-write slots would typically use only
-@code{#:getter}, @code{#:setter} and @code{#:accessor} options
-respectively.
-@end itemize
-
-If the specified names are already bound in the top-level environment to
-values that cannot be upgraded to generic functions, those values are
-overwritten during evaluation of the @code{define-class} that contains
-the slot definition. For details, see @ref{Generic Function Internals,,
-ensure-generic}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {slot option} #:init-value init-value
-@deffnx {slot option} #:init-form init-form
-@deffnx {slot option} #:init-thunk init-thunk
-@deffnx {slot option} #:init-keyword init-keyword
-These options provide various ways to specify how to initialize the
-slot's value at instance creation time. @var{init-value} is a fixed
-value (shared across all new instances of the class).
-@var{init-thunk} is a procedure of no arguments that is called
-when a new instance is created and should return the desired initial
-slot value. @var{init-form} is an unevaluated expression that gets
-evaluated when a new instance is created and should return the desired
-initial slot value. @var{init-keyword} is a keyword that can be used
-to pass an initial slot value to @code{make} when creating a new
-instance.
-
-Note that, since an @code{init-value} value is shared across all
-instances of a class, you should only use it when the initial value is
-an immutable value, like a constant. If you want to initialize a slot
-with a fresh, independently mutable value, you should use
-@code{init-thunk} or @code{init-form} instead. Consider the following
-example.
-
-@example
-(define-class <chbouib> ()
- (hashtab #:init-value (make-hash-table)))
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-Here only one hash table is created and all instances of
-@code{<chbouib>} have their @code{hashtab} slot refer to it. In order
-to have each instance of @code{<chbouib>} refer to a new hash table, you
-should instead write:
-
-@example
-(define-class <chbouib> ()
- (hashtab #:init-thunk make-hash-table))
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-or:
-
-@example
-(define-class <chbouib> ()
- (hashtab #:init-form (make-hash-table)))
-@end example
-
-If more than one of these options is specified for the same slot, the
-order of precedence, highest first is
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{#:init-keyword}, if @var{init-keyword} is present in the options
-passed to @code{make}
-
-@item
-@code{#:init-thunk}, @code{#:init-form} or @code{#:init-value}.
-@end itemize
-
-If the slot definition contains more than one initialization option of
-the same precedence, the later ones are ignored. If a slot is not
-initialized at all, its value is unbound.
-
-In general, slots that are shared between more than one instance are
-only initialized at new instance creation time if the slot value is
-unbound at that time. However, if the new instance creation specifies
-a valid init keyword and value for a shared slot, the slot is
-re-initialized regardless of its previous value.
-
-Note, however, that the power of GOOPS' metaobject protocol means that
-everything written here may be customized or overridden for particular
-classes! The slot initializations described here are performed by the least
-specialized method of the generic function @code{initialize}, whose
-signature is
-
-@example
-(define-method (initialize (object <object>) initargs) ...)
-@end example
-
-The initialization of instances of any given class can be customized by
-defining a @code{initialize} method that is specialized for that class,
-and the author of the specialized method may decide to call
-@code{next-method} - which will result in a call to the next less
-specialized @code{initialize} method - at any point within the
-specialized code, or maybe not at all. In general, therefore, the
-initialization mechanisms described here may be modified or overridden by
-more specialized code, or may not be supported at all for particular
-classes.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Class Definition Internals
-@subsection Class Definition Internals
-
-Implementation notes: @code{define-class} expands to an expression which
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-checks that it is being evaluated only at top level
-
-@item
-defines any accessors that are implied by the @var{slot-definition}s
-
-@item
-uses @code{class} to create the new class (@pxref{Class Definition
-Internals,, class})
-
-@item
-checks for a previous class definition for @var{name} and, if found,
-handles the redefinition by invoking @code{class-redefinition}
-(@pxref{Redefining a Class}).
-@end itemize
-
-@deffn syntax class name (super @dots{}) slot-definition @dots{} . options
-Return a newly created class that inherits from @var{super}s, with
-direct slots defined by @var{slot-definition}s and class options
-@var{options}. For the format of @var{slot-definition}s and
-@var{options}, see @ref{Basic Class Definition,, define-class}.
-@end deffn
-
-Implementation notes: @code{class} expands to an expression which
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-processes the class and slot definition options to check that they are
-well-formed, to convert the @code{#:init-form} option to an
-@code{#:init-thunk} option, to supply a default environment parameter
-(the current top-level environment) and to evaluate all the bits that
-need to be evaluated
-
-@item
-calls @code{make-class} to create the class with the processed and
-evaluated parameters.
-@end itemize
-
-@deffn procedure make-class supers slots . options
-Return a newly created class that inherits from @var{supers}, with
-direct slots defined by @var{slots} and class options @var{options}.
-For the format of @var{slots} and @var{options}, see @ref{Basic Class
-Definition,, define-class}, except note that for @code{make-class},
-@var{slots} and @var{options} are separate list parameters: @var{slots}
-here is a list of slot definitions.
-@end deffn
-
-Implementation notes: @code{make-class}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-adds @code{<object>} to the @var{supers} list if @var{supers} is empty
-or if none of the classes in @var{supers} have @code{<object>} in their
-class precedence list
-
-@item
-defaults the @code{#:environment}, @code{#:name} and @code{#:metaclass}
-options, if they are not specified by @var{options}, to the current
-top-level environment, the unbound value, and @code{(ensure-metaclass
-@var{supers})} respectively (@pxref{Class Definition Internals,,
-ensure-metaclass})
-
-@item
-checks for duplicate classes in @var{supers} and duplicate slot names in
-@var{slots}, and signals an error if there are any duplicates
-
-@item
-calls @code{make}, passing the metaclass as the first parameter and all
-other parameters as option keywords with values.
-@end itemize
-
-@deffn procedure ensure-metaclass supers env
-Return a metaclass suitable for a class that inherits from the list of
-classes in @var{supers}. The returned metaclass is the union by
-inheritance of the metaclasses of the classes in @var{supers}.
-
-In the simplest case, where all the @var{supers} are straightforward
-classes with metaclass @code{<class>}, the returned metaclass is just
-@code{<class>}.
-
-For a more complex example, suppose that @var{supers} contained one
-class with metaclass @code{<operator-class>} and one with metaclass
-@code{<foreign-object-class>}. Then the returned metaclass would be a
-class that inherits from both @code{<operator-class>} and
-@code{<foreign-object-class>}.
-
-If @var{supers} is the empty list, @code{ensure-metaclass} returns the
-default GOOPS metaclass @code{<class>}.
-
-GOOPS keeps a list of the metaclasses created by
-@code{ensure-metaclass}, so that each required type of metaclass only
-has to be created once.
-
-The @code{env} parameter is ignored.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure ensure-metaclass-with-supers meta-supers
-@code{ensure-metaclass-with-supers} is an internal procedure used by
-@code{ensure-metaclass} (@pxref{Class Definition Internals,,
-ensure-metaclass}). It returns a metaclass that is the union by
-inheritance of the metaclasses in @var{meta-supers}.
-@end deffn
-
-The internals of @code{make}, which is ultimately used to create the new
-class object, are described in @ref{Customizing Instance Creation},
-which covers the creation and initialization of instances in general.
-
-@node Customizing Class Definition
-@subsection Customizing Class Definition
-
-During the initialization of a new class, GOOPS calls a number of generic
-functions with the newly allocated class instance as the first
-argument. Specifically, GOOPS calls the generic function
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-(initialize @var{class} @dots{})
-@end itemize
-
-where @var{class} is the newly allocated class instance, and the default
-@code{initialize} method for arguments of type @code{<class>} calls the
-generic functions
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-(compute-cpl @var{class})
-
-@item
-(compute-slots @var{class})
-
-@item
-(compute-get-n-set @var{class} @var{slot-def}), for each of the slot
-definitions returned by @code{compute-slots}
-
-@item
-(compute-getter-method @var{class} @var{slot-def}), for each of the
-slot definitions returned by @code{compute-slots} that includes a
-@code{#:getter} or @code{#:accessor} slot option
-
-@item
-(compute-setter-method @var{class} @var{slot-def}), for each of the
-slot definitions returned by @code{compute-slots} that includes a
-@code{#:setter} or @code{#:accessor} slot option.
-@end itemize
-
-If the metaclass of the new class is something more specialized than the
-default @code{<class>}, then the type of @var{class} in the calls above
-is more specialized than @code{<class>}, and hence it becomes possible
-to define generic function methods, specialized for the new class's
-metaclass, that can modify or override the default behaviour of
-@code{initialize}, @code{compute-cpl} or @code{compute-get-n-set}.
-
-@code{compute-cpl} computes the class precedence list (``CPL'') for the
-new class (@pxref{Class precedence list}), and returns it as a list of
-class objects. The CPL is important because it defines a superclass
-ordering that is used, when a generic function is invoked upon an
-instance of the class, to decide which of the available generic function
-methods is the most specific. Hence @code{compute-cpl} could be
-customized in order to modify the CPL ordering algorithm for all classes
-with a special metaclass.
-
-The default CPL algorithm is encapsulated by the @code{compute-std-cpl}
-procedure, which is in turn called by the default @code{compute-cpl}
-method.
-
-@deffn procedure compute-std-cpl class
-Compute and return the class precedence list for @var{class} according
-to the algorithm described in @ref{Class precedence list}.
-@end deffn
-
-@code{compute-slots} computes and returns a list of all slot definitions
-for the new class. By default, this list includes the direct slot
-definitions from the @code{define-class} form, plus the slot definitions
-that are inherited from the new class's superclasses. The default
-@code{compute-slots} method uses the CPL computed by @code{compute-cpl}
-to calculate this union of slot definitions, with the rule that slots
-inherited from superclasses are shadowed by direct slots with the same
-name. One possible reason for customizing @code{compute-slots} would be
-to implement an alternative resolution strategy for slot name conflicts.
-
-@code{compute-get-n-set} computes the low-level closures that will be
-used to get and set the value of a particular slot, and returns them in
-a list with two elements.
-
-The closures returned depend on how storage for that slot is allocated.
-The standard @code{compute-get-n-set} method, specialized for classes of
-type @code{<class>}, handles the standard GOOPS values for the
-@code{#:allocation} slot option (@pxref{Slot Options,, allocation}). By
-defining a new @code{compute-get-n-set} method for a more specialized
-metaclass, it is possible to support new types of slot allocation.
-
-Suppose you wanted to create a large number of instances of some class
-with a slot that should be shared between some but not all instances of
-that class - say every 10 instances should share the same slot storage.
-The following example shows how to implement and use a new type of slot
-allocation to do this.
-
-@example
-(define-class <batched-allocation-metaclass> (<class>))
-
-(let ((batch-allocation-count 0)
- (batch-get-n-set #f))
- (define-method (compute-get-n-set (class <batched-allocation-metaclass>) s)
- (case (slot-definition-allocation s)
- ((#:batched)
- ;; If we've already used the same slot storage for 10 instances,
- ;; reset variables.
- (if (= batch-allocation-count 10)
- (begin
- (set! batch-allocation-count 0)
- (set! batch-get-n-set #f)))
- ;; If we don't have a current pair of get and set closures,
- ;; create one. make-closure-variable returns a pair of closures
- ;; around a single Scheme variable - see goops.scm for details.
- (or batch-get-n-set
- (set! batch-get-n-set (make-closure-variable)))
- ;; Increment the batch allocation count.
- (set! batch-allocation-count (+ batch-allocation-count 1))
- batch-get-n-set)
-
- ;; Call next-method to handle standard allocation types.
- (else (next-method)))))
-
-(define-class <class-using-batched-slot> ()
- ...
- (c #:allocation #:batched)
- ...
- #:metaclass <batched-allocation-metaclass>)
-@end example
-
-The usage of @code{compute-getter-method} and @code{compute-setter-method}
-is described in @ref{MOP Specification}.
-
-@code{compute-cpl} and @code{compute-get-n-set} are called by the
-standard @code{initialize} method for classes whose metaclass is
-@code{<class>}. But @code{initialize} itself can also be modified, by
-defining an @code{initialize} method specialized to the new class's
-metaclass. Such a method could complete override the standard
-behaviour, by not calling @code{(next-method)} at all, but more
-typically it would perform additional class initialization steps before
-and/or after calling @code{(next-method)} for the standard behaviour.
-
-@node STKlos Compatibility
-@subsection STKlos Compatibility
-
-If the STKlos compatibility module is loaded, @code{define-class} is
-overwritten by a STKlos-specific definition; the standard GOOPS
-definition of @code{define-class} remains available in
-@code{standard-define-class}.
-
-@deffn syntax standard-define-class name (super @dots{}) slot-definition @dots{} . options
-@code{standard-define-class} is equivalent to the standard GOOPS
-@code{define-class}.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Creating Instances
-@section Creating Instances
-
-@menu
-* Basic Instance Creation::
-* Customizing Instance Creation::
-@end menu
-
-@node Basic Instance Creation
-@subsection Basic Instance Creation
-
-To create a new instance of any GOOPS class, use the generic function
-@code{make} or @code{make-instance}, passing the required class and any
-appropriate instance initialization arguments as keyword and value
-pairs. Note that @code{make} and @code{make-instances} are aliases for
-each other - their behaviour is identical.
-
-@deffn generic make
-@deffnx method make (class <class>) . initargs
-Create and return a new instance of class @var{class}, initialized using
-@var{initargs}.
-
-In theory, @var{initargs} can have any structure that is understood by
-whatever methods get applied when the @code{initialize} generic function
-is applied to the newly allocated instance.
-
-In practice, specialized @code{initialize} methods would normally call
-@code{(next-method)}, and so eventually the standard GOOPS
-@code{initialize} methods are applied. These methods expect
-@var{initargs} to be a list with an even number of elements, where
-even-numbered elements (counting from zero) are keywords and
-odd-numbered elements are the corresponding values.
-
-GOOPS processes initialization argument keywords automatically for slots
-whose definition includes the @code{#:init-keyword} option (@pxref{Slot
-Options,, init-keyword}). Other keyword value pairs can only be
-processed by an @code{initialize} method that is specialized for the new
-instance's class. Any unprocessed keyword value pairs are ignored.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic make-instance
-@deffnx method make-instance (class <class>) . initargs
-@code{make-instance} is an alias for @code{make}.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Customizing Instance Creation
-@subsection Customizing Instance Creation
-
-@code{make} itself is a generic function. Hence the @code{make}
-invocation itself can be customized in the case where the new instance's
-metaclass is more specialized than the default @code{<class>}, by
-defining a @code{make} method that is specialized to that metaclass.
-
-Normally, however, the method for classes with metaclass @code{<class>}
-will be applied. This method calls two generic functions:
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-(allocate-instance @var{class} . @var{initargs})
-
-@item
-(initialize @var{instance} . @var{initargs})
-@end itemize
-
-@code{allocate-instance} allocates storage for and returns the new
-instance, uninitialized. You might customize @code{allocate-instance},
-for example, if you wanted to provide a GOOPS wrapper around some other
-object programming system.
-
-To do this, you would create a specialized metaclass, which would act as
-the metaclass for all classes and instances from the other system. Then
-define an @code{allocate-instance} method, specialized to that
-metaclass, which calls a Guile primitive C function, which in turn
-allocates the new instance using the interface of the other object
-system.
-
-In this case, for a complete system, you would also need to customize a
-number of other generic functions like @code{make} and
-@code{initialize}, so that GOOPS knows how to make classes from the
-other system, access instance slots, and so on.
-
-@code{initialize} initializes the instance that is returned by
-@code{allocate-instance}. The standard GOOPS methods perform
-initializations appropriate to the instance class.
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-At the least specialized level, the method for instances of type
-@code{<object>} performs internal GOOPS instance initialization, and
-initializes the instance's slots according to the slot definitions and
-any slot initialization keywords that appear in @var{initargs}.
-
-@item
-The method for instances of type @code{<class>} calls
-@code{(next-method)}, then performs the class initializations described
-in @ref{Customizing Class Definition}.
-
-@item
-and so on for generic functions, method, operator classes @dots{}
-@end itemize
-
-Similarly, you can customize the initialization of instances of any
-application-defined class by defining an @code{initialize} method
-specialized to that class.
-
-Imagine a class whose instances' slots need to be initialized at
-instance creation time by querying a database. Although it might be
-possible to achieve this a combination of @code{#:init-thunk} keywords
-and closures in the slot definitions, it is neater to write an
-@code{initialize} method for the class that queries the database once
-and initializes all the dependent slot values according to the results.
-
-@node Accessing Slots
-@section Accessing Slots
-
-The definition of a slot contains at the very least a slot name, and may
-also contain various slot options, including getter, setter and/or
-accessor functions for the slot.
-
-It is always possible to access slots by name, using the various
-``slot-ref'' and ``slot-set!'' procedures described in the following
-subsections. For example,
-
-@example
-(define-class <my-class> () ;; Define a class with slots
- (count #:init-value 0) ;; named "count" and "cache".
- (cache #:init-value '())
- @dots{})
-
-(define inst (make <my-class>)) ;; Make an instance of this class.
-
-(slot-set! inst 'count 5) ;; Set the value of the "count"
- ;; slot to 5.
-
-(slot-set! inst 'cache ;; Modify the value of the
- (cons (cons "^it" "It") ;; "cache" slot.
- (slot-ref inst 'cache)))
-@end example
-
-If a slot definition includes a getter, setter or accessor function,
-these can be used instead of @code{slot-ref} and @code{slot-set!} to
-access the slot.
-
-@example
-(define-class <adv-class> () ;; Define a new class whose slots
- (count #:setter set-count) ;; use a getter, a setter and
- (cache #:accessor cache) ;; an accessor.
- (csize #:getter cache-size)
- @dots{})
-
-(define inst (make <adv-class>)) ;; Make an instance of this class.
-
-(set-count inst 5) ;; Set the value of the "count"
- ;; slot to 5.
-
-(set! (cache inst) ;; Modify the value of the
- (cons (cons "^it" "It") ;; "cache" slot.
- (cache inst)))
-
-(let ((size (cache-size inst))) ;; Get the value of the "csize"
- @dots{}) ;; slot.
-@end example
-
-Whichever of these methods is used to access slots, GOOPS always calls
-the low-level @dfn{getter} and @dfn{setter} closures for the slot to get
-and set its value. These closures make sure that the slot behaves
-according to the @code{#:allocation} type that was specified in the slot
-definition (@pxref{Slot Options,, allocation}). (For more about these
-closures, see @ref{Customizing Class Definition,, compute-get-n-set}.)
-
-@menu
-* Instance Slots::
-* Class Slots::
-* Handling Slot Access Errors::
-@end menu
-
-@node Instance Slots
-@subsection Instance Slots
-
-Any slot, regardless of its allocation, can be queried, referenced and
-set using the following four primitive procedures.
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-exists? obj slot-name
-Return @code{#t} if @var{obj} has a slot with name @var{slot-name},
-otherwise @code{#f}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-bound? obj slot-name
-Return @code{#t} if the slot named @var{slot-name} in @var{obj} has a
-value, otherwise @code{#f}.
-
-@code{slot-bound?} calls the generic function @code{slot-missing} if
-@var{obj} does not have a slot called @var{slot-name} (@pxref{Handling
-Slot Access Errors, slot-missing}).
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-ref obj slot-name
-Return the value of the slot named @var{slot-name} in @var{obj}.
-
-@code{slot-ref} calls the generic function @code{slot-missing} if
-@var{obj} does not have a slot called @var{slot-name} (@pxref{Handling
-Slot Access Errors, slot-missing}).
-
-@code{slot-ref} calls the generic function @code{slot-unbound} if the
-named slot in @var{obj} does not have a value (@pxref{Handling Slot
-Access Errors, slot-unbound}).
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-set! obj slot-name value
-Set the value of the slot named @var{slot-name} in @var{obj} to @var{value}.
-
-@code{slot-set!} calls the generic function @code{slot-missing} if
-@var{obj} does not have a slot called @var{slot-name} (@pxref{Handling
-Slot Access Errors, slot-missing}).
-@end deffn
-
-GOOPS stores information about slots in class metaobjects. Internally,
-all of these procedures work by looking up the slot definition for the
-slot named @var{slot-name} in the class metaobject for @code{(class-of
-@var{obj})}, and then using the slot definition's ``getter'' and
-``setter'' closures to get and set the slot value.
-
-The next four procedures differ from the previous ones in that they take
-the class metaobject as an explicit argument, rather than assuming
-@code{(class-of @var{obj})}. Therefore they allow you to apply the
-``getter'' and ``setter'' closures of a slot definition in one class to
-an instance of a different class.
-
-[ *fixme* I have no idea why this is useful! Perhaps when a slot in
-@code{(class-of @var{obj})} shadows a slot with the same name in one of
-its superclasses? There should be an enlightening example here. ]
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-exists-using-class? class obj slot-name
-Return @code{#t} if the class metaobject @var{class} has a slot
-definition for a slot with name @var{slot-name}, otherwise @code{#f}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-bound-using-class? class obj slot-name
-Return @code{#t} if applying @code{slot-ref-using-class} to the same
-arguments would call the generic function @code{slot-unbound}, otherwise
-@code{#f}.
-
-@code{slot-bound-using-class?} calls the generic function
-@code{slot-missing} if @var{class} does not have a slot definition for a
-slot called @var{slot-name} (@pxref{Handling Slot Access Errors,
-slot-missing}).
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-ref-using-class class obj slot-name
-Apply the ``getter'' closure for the slot named @var{slot-name} in
-@var{class} to @var{obj}, and return its result.
-
-@code{slot-ref-using-class} calls the generic function
-@code{slot-missing} if @var{class} does not have a slot definition for a
-slot called @var{slot-name} (@pxref{Handling Slot Access Errors,
-slot-missing}).
-
-@code{slot-ref-using-class} calls the generic function
-@code{slot-unbound} if the application of the ``getter'' closure to
-@var{obj} returns an unbound value (@pxref{Handling Slot Access Errors,
-slot-unbound}).
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} slot-set-using-class! class obj slot-name value
-Apply the ``setter'' closure for the slot named @var{slot-name} in
-@var{class} to @var{obj} and @var{value}.
-
-@code{slot-set-using-class!} calls the generic function
-@code{slot-missing} if @var{class} does not have a slot definition for a
-slot called @var{slot-name} (@pxref{Handling Slot Access Errors,
-slot-missing}).
-@end deffn
-
-@node Class Slots
-@subsection Class Slots
-
-Slots whose allocation is per-class rather than per-instance can be
-referenced and set without needing to specify any particular instance.
-
-@deffn procedure class-slot-ref class slot-name
-Return the value of the slot named @var{slot-name} in class @var{class}.
-The named slot must have @code{#:class} or @code{#:each-subclass}
-allocation (@pxref{Slot Options,, allocation}).
-
-If there is no such slot with @code{#:class} or @code{#:each-subclass}
-allocation, @code{class-slot-ref} calls the @code{slot-missing} generic
-function with arguments @var{class} and @var{slot-name}. Otherwise, if
-the slot value is unbound, @code{class-slot-ref} calls the
-@code{slot-missing} generic function, with the same arguments.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure class-slot-set! class slot-name value
-Set the value of the slot named @var{slot-name} in class @var{class} to
-@var{value}. The named slot must have @code{#:class} or
-@code{#:each-subclass} allocation (@pxref{Slot Options,, allocation}).
-
-If there is no such slot with @code{#:class} or @code{#:each-subclass}
-allocation, @code{class-slot-ref} calls the @code{slot-missing} generic
-function with arguments @var{class} and @var{slot-name}.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Handling Slot Access Errors
-@subsection Handling Slot Access Errors
-
-GOOPS calls one of the following generic functions when a ``slot-ref''
-or ``slot-set!'' call specifies a non-existent slot name, or tries to
-reference a slot whose value is unbound.
-
-@deffn generic slot-missing
-@deffnx method slot-missing (class <class>) slot-name
-@deffnx method slot-missing (class <class>) (object <object>) slot-name
-@deffnx method slot-missing (class <class>) (object <object>) slot-name value
-When an application attempts to reference or set a class or instance
-slot by name, and the slot name is invalid for the specified @var{class}
-or @var{object}, GOOPS calls the @code{slot-missing} generic function.
-
-The default methods all call @code{goops-error} with an appropriate
-message.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic slot-unbound
-@deffnx method slot-unbound (object <object>)
-@deffnx method slot-unbound (class <class>) slot-name
-@deffnx method slot-unbound (class <class>) (object <object>) slot-name
-When an application attempts to reference a class or instance slot, and
-the slot's value is unbound, GOOPS calls the @code{slot-unbound} generic
-function.
-
-The default methods all call @code{goops-error} with an appropriate
-message.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Creating Generic Functions
-@section Creating Generic Functions
-
-A generic function is a collection of methods, with rules for
-determining which of the methods should be applied for any given
-invocation of the generic function.
-
-GOOPS represents generic functions as metaobjects of the class
-@code{<generic>} (or one of its subclasses).
-
-@menu
-* Basic Generic Function Creation::
-* Generic Function Internals::
-* Extending Guiles Primitives::
-@end menu
-
-@node Basic Generic Function Creation
-@subsection Basic Generic Function Creation
-
-The following forms may be used to bind a variable to a generic
-function. Depending on that variable's pre-existing value, the generic
-function may be created empty - with no methods - or it may contain
-methods that are inferred from the pre-existing value.
-
-It is not, in general, necessary to use @code{define-generic} or
-@code{define-accessor} before defining methods for the generic function
-using @code{define-method}, since @code{define-method} will
-automatically interpolate a @code{define-generic} call, or upgrade an
-existing generic to an accessor, if that is implied by the
-@code{define-method} call. Note in particular that,
-if the specified variable already has a @emph{generic function} value,
-@code{define-generic} and @code{define-accessor} will @emph{discard} it!
-Obviously it is application-dependent whether this is desirable or not.
-
-If, for example, you wanted to extend @code{+} for a class representing
-a new numerical type, you probably want to inherit any existing methods
-for @code{+} and so should not use @code{define-generic}. If, on the
-other hand, you do not want to risk inheriting methods whose behaviour
-might surprise you, you can use @code{define-generic} or
-@code{define-accessor} to wipe the slate clean.
-
-@deffn syntax define-generic symbol
-Create a generic function with name @var{symbol} and bind it to the
-variable @var{symbol}.
-
-If the variable @var{symbol} was previously bound to a Scheme procedure
-(or procedure-with-setter), the old procedure (and setter) is
-incorporated into the new generic function as its default procedure (and
-setter). Any other previous value that was bound to @var{symbol},
-including an existing generic function, is overwritten by the new
-generic function.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn syntax define-accessor symbol
-Create an accessor with name @var{symbol} and bind it to the variable
-@var{symbol}.
-
-If the variable @var{symbol} was previously bound to a Scheme procedure
-(or procedure-with-setter), the old procedure (and setter) is
-incorporated into the new accessor as its default procedure (and
-setter). Any other previous value that was bound to @var{symbol},
-including an existing generic function or accessor, is overwritten by
-the new definition.
-@end deffn
-
-It is sometimes tempting to use GOOPS accessors with short names. For
-example, it is tempting to use the name @code{x} for the x-coordinate
-in vector packages.
-
-Assume that we work with a graphical package which needs to use two
-independent vector packages for 2D and 3D vectors respectively. If
-both packages export @code{x} we will encounter a name collision.
-
-This can be resolved automagically with the duplicates handler
-@code{merge-generics} which gives the module system license to merge
-all generic functions sharing a common name:
-
-@smalllisp
-(define-module (math 2D-vectors)
- :use-module (oop goops)
- :export (x y ...))
-
-(define-module (math 3D-vectors)
- :use-module (oop goops)
- :export (x y z ...))
-
-(define-module (my-module)
- :use-module (math 2D-vectors)
- :use-module (math 3D-vectors)
- :duplicates merge-generics)
-@end smalllisp
-
-The generic function @code{x} in @code{(my-module)} will now share
-methods with @code{x} in both imported modules.
-
-There will, in fact, now be three distinct generic functions named
-@code{x}: @code{x} in @code{(2D-vectors)}, @code{x} in
-@code{(3D-vectors)}, and @code{x} in @code{(my-module)}. The last
-function will be an @code{<extended-generic>}, extending the previous
-two functions.
-
-Let's call the imported generic functions the "ancestor functions".
-The generic function @code{x} in @code{(my-module)} is, in turn, a
-"descendant function" of the imported functions, extending its
-ancestors.
-
-For any generic function G, the applicable methods are selected from
-the union of the methods of the descendant functions, the methods of G
-itself and the methods of the ancestor functions.
-
-This, ancestor functions share methods with their descendants and vice
-versa. This implies that @code{x} in @code{(math 2D-vectors)} will
-share the methods of @code{x} in @code{(my-module)} and vice versa,
-while @code{x} in @code{(math 2D-vectors)} doesn't share the methods
-of @code{x} in @code{(math 3D-vectors)}, thus preserving modularity.
-
-Sharing is dynamic, so that adding new methods to a descendant implies
-adding it to the ancestor.
-
-If duplicates checking is desired in the above example, the following
-form of the @code{:duplicates} option can be used instead:
-
-@smalllisp
- :duplicates (merge-generics check)
-@end smalllisp
-
-@node Generic Function Internals
-@subsection Generic Function Internals
-
-@code{define-generic} calls @code{ensure-generic} to upgrade a
-pre-existing procedure value, or @code{make} with metaclass
-@code{<generic>} to create a new generic function.
-
-@code{define-accessor} calls @code{ensure-accessor} to upgrade a
-pre-existing procedure value, or @code{make-accessor} to create a new
-accessor.
-
-@deffn procedure ensure-generic old-definition [name]
-Return a generic function with name @var{name}, if possible by using or
-upgrading @var{old-definition}. If unspecified, @var{name} defaults to
-@code{#f}.
-
-If @var{old-definition} is already a generic function, it is returned
-unchanged.
-
-If @var{old-definition} is a Scheme procedure or procedure-with-setter,
-@code{ensure-generic} returns a new generic function that uses
-@var{old-definition} for its default procedure and setter.
-
-Otherwise @code{ensure-generic} returns a new generic function with no
-defaults and no methods.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure make-generic [name]
-Return a new generic function with name @code{(car @var{name})}. If
-unspecified, @var{name} defaults to @code{#f}.
-@end deffn
-
-@code{ensure-generic} calls @code{make} with metaclasses
-@code{<generic>} and @code{<generic-with-setter>}, depending on the
-previous value of the variable that it is trying to upgrade.
-
-@code{make-generic} is a simple wrapper for @code{make} with metaclass
-@code{<generic>}.
-
-@deffn procedure ensure-accessor proc [name]
-Return an accessor with name @var{name}, if possible by using or
-upgrading @var{proc}. If unspecified, @var{name} defaults to @code{#f}.
-
-If @var{proc} is already an accessor, it is returned unchanged.
-
-If @var{proc} is a Scheme procedure, procedure-with-setter or generic
-function, @code{ensure-accessor} returns an accessor that reuses the
-reusable elements of @var{proc}.
-
-Otherwise @code{ensure-accessor} returns a new accessor with no defaults
-and no methods.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure make-accessor [name]
-Return a new accessor with name @code{(car @var{name})}. If
-unspecified, @var{name} defaults to @code{#f}.
-@end deffn
-
-@code{ensure-accessor} calls @code{make} with
-metaclass @code{<generic-with-setter>}, as well as calls to
-@code{ensure-generic}, @code{make-accessor} and (tail recursively)
-@code{ensure-accessor}.
-
-@code{make-accessor} calls @code{make} twice, first
-with metaclass @code{<generic>} to create a generic function for the
-setter, then with metaclass @code{<generic-with-setter>} to create the
-accessor, passing the setter generic function as the value of the
-@code{#:setter} keyword.
-
-@node Extending Guiles Primitives
-@subsection Extending Guile's Primitives
-
-When GOOPS is loaded, many of Guile's primitive procedures can be
-extended by giving them a generic function definition that operates
-in conjunction with their normal C-coded implementation. For
-primitives that are extended in this way, the result from the user-
-or application-level point of view is that the extended primitive
-behaves exactly like a generic function with the C-coded implementation
-as its default method.
-
-The @code{generic-capability?} predicate should be used to determine
-whether a particular primitive is extensible in this way.
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} generic-capability? primitive
-Return @code{#t} if @var{primitive} can be extended by giving it a
-generic function definition, otherwise @code{#f}.
-@end deffn
-
-Even when a primitive procedure is extensible like this, its generic
-function definition is not created until it is needed by a call to
-@code{define-method}, or until the application explicitly requests it
-by calling @code{enable-primitive-generic!}.
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} enable-primitive-generic! primitive
-Force the creation of a generic function definition for
-@var{primitive}.
-@end deffn
-
-Once the generic function definition for a primitive has been created,
-it can be retrieved using @code{primitive-generic-generic}.
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} primitive-generic-generic primitive
-Return the generic function definition of @var{primitive}.
-
-@code{primitive-generic-generic} raises an error if @var{primitive}
-is not a primitive with generic capability, or if its generic capability
-has not yet been enabled, whether implicitly (by @code{define-method})
-or explicitly (by @code{enable-primitive-generic!}).
-@end deffn
-
-Note that the distinction between, on the one hand, primitives with
-additional generic function definitions and, on the other hand, generic
-functions with a default method, may disappear when GOOPS is fully
-integrated into the core of Guile. Consequently, the
-procedures described in this section may disappear as well.
-
-@node Adding Methods to Generic Functions
-@section Adding Methods to Generic Functions
-
-@menu
-* Basic Method Definition::
-* Method Definition Internals::
-@end menu
-
-@node Basic Method Definition
-@subsection Basic Method Definition
-
-To add a method to a generic function, use the @code{define-method} form.
-
-@deffn syntax define-method (generic parameter @dots{}) . body
-Define a method for the generic function or accessor @var{generic} with
-parameters @var{parameter}s and body @var{body}.
-
-@var{generic} is a generic function. If @var{generic} is a variable
-which is not yet bound to a generic function object, the expansion of
-@code{define-method} will include a call to @code{define-generic}. If
-@var{generic} is @code{(setter @var{generic-with-setter})}, where
-@var{generic-with-setter} is a variable which is not yet bound to a
-generic-with-setter object, the expansion will include a call to
-@code{define-accessor}.
-
-Each @var{parameter} must be either a symbol or a two-element list
-@code{(@var{symbol} @var{class})}. The symbols refer to variables in
-the @var{body} that will be bound to the parameters supplied by the
-caller when calling this method. The @var{class}es, if present,
-specify the possible combinations of parameters to which this method
-can be applied.
-
-@var{body} is the body of the method definition.
-@end deffn
-
-@code{define-method} expressions look a little like normal Scheme
-procedure definitions of the form
-
-@example
-(define (name formals @dots{}) . body)
-@end example
-
-The most important difference is that each formal parameter, apart from the
-possible ``rest'' argument, can be qualified by a class name:
-@code{@var{formal}} becomes @code{(@var{formal} @var{class})}. The
-meaning of this qualification is that the method being defined
-will only be applicable in a particular generic function invocation if
-the corresponding argument is an instance of @code{@var{class}} (or one of
-its subclasses). If more than one of the formal parameters is qualified
-in this way, then the method will only be applicable if each of the
-corresponding arguments is an instance of its respective qualifying class.
-
-Note that unqualified formal parameters act as though they are qualified
-by the class @code{<top>}, which GOOPS uses to mean the superclass of
-all valid Scheme types, including both primitive types and GOOPS classes.
-
-For example, if a generic function method is defined with
-@var{parameter}s @code{((s1 <square>) (n <number>))}, that method is
-only applicable to invocations of its generic function that have two
-parameters where the first parameter is an instance of the
-@code{<square>} class and the second parameter is a number.
-
-If a generic function is invoked with a combination of parameters for which
-there is no applicable method, GOOPS raises an error. For more about
-invocation error handling, and generic function invocation in general,
-see @ref{Invoking Generic Functions}.
-
-@node Method Definition Internals
-@subsection Method Definition Internals
-
-@code{define-method}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-checks the form of the first parameter, and applies the following steps
-to the accessor's setter if it has the @code{(setter @dots{})} form
-
-@item
-interpolates a call to @code{define-generic} or @code{define-accessor}
-if a generic function is not already defined with the supplied name
-
-@item
-calls @code{method} with the @var{parameter}s and @var{body}, to make a
-new method instance
-
-@item
-calls @code{add-method!} to add this method to the relevant generic
-function.
-@end itemize
-
-@deffn syntax method (parameter @dots{}) . body
-Make a method whose specializers are defined by the classes in
-@var{parameter}s and whose procedure definition is constructed from the
-@var{parameter} symbols and @var{body} forms.
-
-The @var{parameter} and @var{body} parameters should be as for
-@code{define-method} (@pxref{Basic Method Definition,, define-method}).
-@end deffn
-
-@code{method}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-extracts formals and specializing classes from the @var{parameter}s,
-defaulting the class for unspecialized parameters to @code{<top>}
-
-@item
-creates a closure using the formals and the @var{body} forms
-
-@item
-calls @code{make} with metaclass @code{<method>} and the specializers
-and closure using the @code{#:specializers} and @code{#:procedure}
-keywords.
-@end itemize
-
-@deffn procedure make-method specializers procedure
-Make a method using @var{specializers} and @var{procedure}.
-
-@var{specializers} should be a list of classes that specifies the
-parameter combinations to which this method will be applicable.
-
-@var{procedure} should be the closure that will applied to the generic
-function parameters when this method is invoked.
-@end deffn
-
-@code{make-method} is a simple wrapper around @code{make} with metaclass
-@code{<method>}.
-
-@deffn generic add-method! target method
-Generic function for adding method @var{method} to @var{target}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn method add-method! (generic <generic>) (method <method>)
-Add method @var{method} to the generic function @var{generic}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn method add-method! (proc <procedure>) (method <method>)
-If @var{proc} is a procedure with generic capability (@pxref{Extending
-Guiles Primitives,, generic-capability?}), upgrade it to a
-primitive generic and add @var{method} to its generic function
-definition.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn method add-method! (pg <primitive-generic>) (method <method>)
-Add method @var{method} to the generic function definition of @var{pg}.
-
-Implementation: @code{(add-method! (primitive-generic-generic pg) method)}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn method add-method! (whatever <top>) (method <method>)
-Raise an error indicating that @var{whatever} is not a valid generic
-function.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Invoking Generic Functions
-@section Invoking Generic Functions
-
-When a variable with a generic function definition appears as the first
-element of a list that is being evaluated, the Guile evaluator tries
-to apply the generic function to the arguments obtained by evaluating
-the remaining elements of the list. [ *fixme* How do I put this in a
-more Schemely and less Lispy way? ]
-
-Usually a generic function contains several method definitions, with
-varying degrees of formal parameter specialization (@pxref{Basic
-Method Definition,, define-method}). So it is necessary to sort these
-methods by specificity with respect to the supplied arguments, and then
-apply the most specific method definition. Less specific methods
-may be applied subsequently if a method that is being applied calls
-@code{next-method}.
-
-@menu
-* Determining Which Methods to Apply::
-* Handling Invocation Errors::
-@end menu
-
-@node Determining Which Methods to Apply
-@subsection Determining Which Methods to Apply
-
-[ *fixme* Sorry - this is the area of GOOPS that I understand least of
-all, so I'm afraid I have to pass on this section. Would some other
-kind person consider filling it in? ]
-
-@deffn generic apply-generic
-@deffnx method apply-generic (gf <generic>) args
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic compute-applicable-methods
-@deffnx method compute-applicable-methods (gf <generic>) args
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic sort-applicable-methods
-@deffnx method sort-applicable-methods (gf <generic>) methods args
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic method-more-specific?
-@deffnx method method-more-specific? (m1 <method>) (m2 <method>) args
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic apply-method
-@deffnx method apply-method (gf <generic>) methods build-next args
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic apply-methods
-@deffnx method apply-methods (gf <generic>) (l <list>) args
-@end deffn
-
-@node Handling Invocation Errors
-@subsection Handling Invocation Errors
-
-@deffn generic no-method
-@deffnx method no-method (gf <generic>) args
-When an application invokes a generic function, and no methods at all
-have been defined for that generic function, GOOPS calls the
-@code{no-method} generic function. The default method calls
-@code{goops-error} with an appropriate message.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic no-applicable-method
-@deffnx method no-applicable-method (gf <generic>) args
-When an application applies a generic function to a set of arguments,
-and no methods have been defined for those argument types, GOOPS calls
-the @code{no-applicable-method} generic function. The default method
-calls @code{goops-error} with an appropriate message.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic no-next-method
-@deffnx method no-next-method (gf <generic>) args
-When a generic function method calls @code{(next-method)} to invoke the
-next less specialized method for that generic function, and no less
-specialized methods have been defined for the current generic function
-arguments, GOOPS calls the @code{no-next-method} generic function. The
-default method calls @code{goops-error} with an appropriate message.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Redefining a Class
-@section Redefining a Class
-
-Suppose that a class @code{<my-class>} is defined using @code{define-class}
-(@pxref{Basic Class Definition,, define-class}), with slots that have
-accessor functions, and that an application has created several instances
-of @code{<my-class>} using @code{make} (@pxref{Basic Instance Creation,,
-make}). What then happens if @code{<my-class>} is redefined by calling
-@code{define-class} again?
-
-@menu
-* Default Class Redefinition Behaviour::
-* Customizing Class Redefinition::
-@end menu
-
-@node Default Class Redefinition Behaviour
-@subsection Default Class Redefinition Behaviour
-
-GOOPS' default answer to this question is as follows.
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-All existing direct instances of @code{<my-class>} are converted to be
-instances of the new class. This is achieved by preserving the values
-of slots that exist in both the old and new definitions, and initializing the
-values of new slots in the usual way (@pxref{Basic Instance Creation,,
-make}).
-
-@item
-All existing subclasses of @code{<my-class>} are redefined, as though
-the @code{define-class} expressions that defined them were re-evaluated
-following the redefinition of @code{<my-class>}, and the class
-redefinition process described here is applied recursively to the
-redefined subclasses.
-
-@item
-Once all of its instances and subclasses have been updated, the class
-metaobject previously bound to the variable @code{<my-class>} is no
-longer needed and so can be allowed to be garbage collected.
-@end itemize
-
-To keep things tidy, GOOPS also needs to do a little housekeeping on
-methods that are associated with the redefined class.
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-Slot accessor methods for slots in the old definition should be removed
-from their generic functions. They will be replaced by accessor methods
-for the slots of the new class definition.
-
-@item
-Any generic function method that uses the old @code{<my-class>} metaobject
-as one of its formal parameter specializers must be updated to refer to
-the new @code{<my-class>} metaobject. (Whenever a new generic function
-method is defined, @code{define-method} adds the method to a list stored
-in the class metaobject for each class used as a formal parameter
-specializer, so it is easy to identify all the methods that must be
-updated when a class is redefined.)
-@end itemize
-
-If this class redefinition strategy strikes you as rather counter-intuitive,
-bear in mind that it is derived from similar behaviour in other object
-systems such as CLOS, and that experience in those systems has shown it to be
-very useful in practice.
-
-Also bear in mind that, like most of GOOPS' default behaviour, it can
-be customized@dots{}
-
-@node Customizing Class Redefinition
-@subsection Customizing Class Redefinition
-
-When @code{define-class} notices that a class is being redefined,
-it constructs the new class metaobject as usual, and then invokes the
-@code{class-redefinition} generic function with the old and new classes
-as arguments. Therefore, if the old or new classes have metaclasses
-other than the default @code{<class>}, class redefinition behaviour can
-be customized by defining a @code{class-redefinition} method that is
-specialized for the relevant metaclasses.
-
-@deffn generic class-redefinition
-Handle the class redefinition from @var{old-class} to @var{new-class},
-and return the new class metaobject that should be bound to the
-variable specified by @code{define-class}'s first argument.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn method class-redefinition (old-class <class>) (new-class <class>)
-Implements GOOPS' default class redefinition behaviour, as described in
-@ref{Default Class Redefinition Behaviour}. Returns the metaobject
-for the new class definition.
-@end deffn
-
-An alternative class redefinition strategy could be to leave all
-existing instances as instances of the old class, but accepting that the
-old class is now ``nameless'', since its name has been taken over by the
-new definition. In this strategy, any existing subclasses could also
-be left as they are, on the understanding that they inherit from a nameless
-superclass.
-
-This strategy is easily implemented in GOOPS, by defining a new metaclass,
-that will be used as the metaclass for all classes to which the strategy
-should apply, and then defining a @code{class-redefinition} method that
-is specialized for this metaclass:
-
-@example
-(define-class <can-be-nameless> (<class>))
-
-(define-method (class-redefinition (old <can-be-nameless>) (new <class>))
- new)
-@end example
-
-When customization can be as easy as this, aren't you glad that GOOPS
-implements the far more difficult strategy as its default!
-
-Finally, note that, if @code{class-redefinition} itself is not customized,
-the default @code{class-redefinition} method invokes three further
-generic functions that could be individually customized:
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-(remove-class-accessors! @var{old-class})
-
-@item
-(update-direct-method! @var{method} @var{old-class} @var{new-class})
-
-@item
-(update-direct-subclass! @var{subclass} @var{old-class} @var{new-class})
-@end itemize
-
-and the default methods for these generic functions invoke further
-generic functions, and so on@dots{} The detailed protocol for all of these
-is described in @ref{MOP Specification}.
-
-@node Changing the Class of an Instance
-@section Changing the Class of an Instance
-
-You can change the class of an existing instance by invoking the
-generic function @code{change-class} with two arguments: the instance
-and the new class.
-
-@deffn generic change-class
-@end deffn
-
-The default method for @code{change-class} decides how to implement the
-change of class by looking at the slot definitions for the instance's
-existing class and for the new class. If the new class has slots with
-the same name as slots in the existing class, the values for those slots
-are preserved. Slots that are present only in the existing class are
-discarded. Slots that are present only in the new class are initialized
-using the corresponding slot definition's init function (@pxref{Classes,,
-slot-init-function}).
-
-@deffn {method} change-class (obj <object>) (new <class>)
-Modify instance @var{obj} to make it an instance of class @var{new}.
-
-The value of each of @var{obj}'s slots is preserved only if a similarly named
-slot exists in @var{new}; any other slot values are discarded.
-
-The slots in @var{new} that do not correspond to any of @var{obj}'s
-pre-existing slots are initialized according to @var{new}'s slot definitions'
-init functions.
-@end deffn
-
-Customized change of class behaviour can be implemented by defining
-@code{change-class} methods that are specialized either by the class
-of the instances to be modified or by the metaclass of the new class.
-
-When a class is redefined (@pxref{Redefining a Class}), and the default
-class redefinition behaviour is not overridden, GOOPS (eventually)
-invokes the @code{change-class} generic function for each existing
-instance of the redefined class.
-
-@node Introspection
-@section Introspection
-
-@dfn{Introspection}, also known as @dfn{reflection}, is the name given
-to the ability to obtain information dynamically about GOOPS metaobjects.
-It is perhaps best illustrated by considering an object oriented language
-that does not provide any introspection, namely C++.
-
-Nothing in C++ allows a running program to obtain answers to the following
-types of question:
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-What are the data members of this object or class?
-
-@item
-What classes does this class inherit from?
-
-@item
-Is this method call virtual or non-virtual?
-
-@item
-If I invoke @code{Employee::adjustHoliday()}, what class contains the
-@code{adjustHoliday()} method that will be applied?
-@end itemize
-
-In C++, answers to such questions can only be determined by looking at
-the source code, if you have access to it. GOOPS, on the other hand,
-includes procedures that allow answers to these questions --- or their
-GOOPS equivalents --- to be obtained dynamically, at run time.
-
-@menu
-* Classes::
-* Slots::
-* Instances::
-* Generic Functions::
-* Generic Function Methods::
-@end menu
-
-@node Classes
-@subsection Classes
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-name class
-Return the name of class @var{class}.
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{name} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-direct-supers class
-Return a list containing the direct superclasses of @var{class}.
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's
-@code{direct-supers} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-direct-slots class
-Return a list containing the slot definitions of the direct slots of
-@var{class}.
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{direct-slots}
-slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-direct-subclasses class
-Return a list containing the direct subclasses of @var{class}.
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's
-@code{direct-subclasses} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-direct-methods class
-Return a list of all the generic function methods that use @var{class}
-as a formal parameter specializer.
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{direct-methods}
-slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-precedence-list class
-Return the class precedence list for class @var{class} (@pxref{Class
-precedence list}).
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{cpl} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-slots class
-Return a list containing the slot definitions for all @var{class}'s slots,
-including any slots that are inherited from superclasses.
-This is the value of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{slots} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-environment class
-Return the value of @var{class}'s @code{environment} slot.
-[ *fixme* I don't know what this value is used for. ]
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure class-subclasses class
-Return a list of all subclasses of @var{class}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure class-methods class
-Return a list of all methods that use @var{class} or a subclass of
-@var{class} as one of its formal parameter specializers.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Slots
-@subsection Slots
-
-@deffn procedure class-slot-definition class slot-name
-Return the slot definition for the slot named @var{slot-name} in class
-@var{class}. @var{slot-name} should be a symbol.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-name slot-def
-Extract and return the slot name from @var{slot-def}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-options slot-def
-Extract and return the slot options from @var{slot-def}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-allocation slot-def
-Extract and return the slot allocation option from @var{slot-def}. This
-is the value of the @code{#:allocation} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-allocation}), or @code{#:instance} if the @code{#:allocation} keyword is
-absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-getter slot-def
-Extract and return the slot getter option from @var{slot-def}. This is
-the value of the @code{#:getter} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-getter}), or @code{#f} if the @code{#:getter} keyword is absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-setter slot-def
-Extract and return the slot setter option from @var{slot-def}. This is
-the value of the @code{#:setter} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-setter}), or @code{#f} if the @code{#:setter} keyword is absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-accessor slot-def
-Extract and return the slot accessor option from @var{slot-def}. This
-is the value of the @code{#:accessor} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-accessor}), or @code{#f} if the @code{#:accessor} keyword is absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-init-value slot-def
-Extract and return the slot init-value option from @var{slot-def}. This
-is the value of the @code{#:init-value} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-init-value}), or the unbound value if the @code{#:init-value} keyword is
-absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-init-form slot-def
-Extract and return the slot init-form option from @var{slot-def}. This
-is the value of the @code{#:init-form} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-init-form}), or the unbound value if the @code{#:init-form} keyword is
-absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-init-thunk slot-def
-Extract and return the slot init-thunk option from @var{slot-def}. This
-is the value of the @code{#:init-thunk} keyword (@pxref{Slot Options,,
-init-thunk}), or @code{#f} if the @code{#:init-thunk} keyword is absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-definition-init-keyword slot-def
-Extract and return the slot init-keyword option from @var{slot-def}.
-This is the value of the @code{#:init-keyword} keyword (@pxref{Slot
-Options,, init-keyword}), or @code{#f} if the @code{#:init-keyword}
-keyword is absent.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure slot-init-function class slot-name
-Return the initialization function for the slot named @var{slot-name} in
-class @var{class}. @var{slot-name} should be a symbol.
-
-The returned initialization function incorporates the effects of the
-standard @code{#:init-thunk}, @code{#:init-form} and @code{#:init-value}
-slot options. These initializations can be overridden by the
-@code{#:init-keyword} slot option or by a specialized @code{initialize}
-method, so, in general, the function returned by
-@code{slot-init-function} may be irrelevant. For a fuller discussion,
-see @ref{Slot Options,, init-value}.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Instances
-@subsection Instances
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} class-of value
-Return the GOOPS class of any Scheme @var{value}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} instance? object
-Return @code{#t} if @var{object} is any GOOPS instance, otherwise
-@code{#f}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn procedure is-a? object class
-Return @code{#t} if @var{object} is an instance of @var{class} or one of
-its subclasses.
-@end deffn
-
-Implementation notes: @code{is-a?} uses @code{class-of} and
-@code{class-precedence-list} to obtain the class precedence list for
-@var{object}.
-
-@node Generic Functions
-@subsection Generic Functions
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} generic-function-name gf
-Return the name of generic function @var{gf}.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} generic-function-methods gf
-Return a list of the methods of generic function @var{gf}.
-This is the value of the @var{gf} metaobject's @code{methods} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Generic Function Methods
-@subsection Generic Function Methods
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} method-generic-function method
-Return the generic function that @var{method} belongs to.
-This is the value of the @var{method} metaobject's
-@code{generic-function} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} method-specializers method
-Return a list of @var{method}'s formal parameter specializers .
-This is the value of the @var{method} metaobject's
-@code{specializers} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn {primitive procedure} method-procedure method
-Return the procedure that implements @var{method}.
-This is the value of the @var{method} metaobject's
-@code{procedure} slot.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic method-source
-@deffnx method method-source (m <method>)
-Return an expression that prints to show the definition of method
-@var{m}.
-
-@example
-(define-generic cube)
-
-(define-method (cube (n <number>))
- (* n n n))
-
-(map method-source (generic-function-methods cube))
-@result{}
-((method ((n <number>)) (* n n n)))
-@end example
-@end deffn
-
-@node Miscellaneous Functions
-@section Miscellaneous Functions
-
-@menu
-* Administrative Functions::
-* Error Handling::
-* Object Comparisons::
-* Cloning Objects::
-* Write and Display::
-@end menu
-
-@node Administrative Functions
-@subsection Administration Functions
-
-This section describes administrative, non-technical GOOPS functions.
-
-@deffn primitive goops-version
-Return the current GOOPS version as a string, for example ``0.2''.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Error Handling
-@subsection Error Handling
-
-The procedure @code{goops-error} is called to raise an appropriate error
-by the default methods of the following generic functions:
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{slot-missing} (@pxref{Handling Slot Access Errors,, slot-missing})
-
-@item
-@code{slot-unbound} (@pxref{Handling Slot Access Errors,, slot-unbound})
-
-@item
-@code{no-method} (@pxref{Handling Invocation Errors,, no-method})
-
-@item
-@code{no-applicable-method} (@pxref{Handling Invocation Errors,,
-no-applicable-method})
-
-@item
-@code{no-next-method} (@pxref{Handling Invocation Errors,,
-no-next-method})
-@end itemize
-
-If you customize these functions for particular classes or metaclasses,
-you may still want to use @code{goops-error} to signal any error
-conditions that you detect.
-
-@deffn procedure goops-error format-string . args
-Raise an error with key @code{goops-error} and error message constructed
-from @var{format-string} and @var{args}. Error message formatting is
-as done by @code{scm-error}.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Object Comparisons
-@subsection Object Comparisons
-
-@deffn generic eqv?
-@deffnx method eqv? ((x <top>) (y <top>))
-@deffnx generic equal?
-@deffnx method equal? ((x <top>) (y <top>))
-@deffnx generic =
-@deffnx method = ((x <number>) (y <number>))
-Generic functions and default (unspecialized) methods for comparing two
-GOOPS objects.
-
-The default method for @code{eqv?} returns @code{#t} for all values
-that are equal in the sense defined by R5RS and the Guile reference
-manual, otherwise @code{#f}. The default method for @code{equal?}
-returns @code{#t} or @code{#f} in the sense defined by R5RS and the
-Guile reference manual. If no such comparison is defined,
-@code{equal?} returns the result of a call to @code{eqv?}. The
-default method for = returns @code{#t} if @var{x} and @var{y} are
-numerically equal, otherwise @code{#f}.
-
-Application class authors may wish to define specialized methods for
-@code{eqv?}, @code{equal?} and @code{=} that compare instances of the
-same class for equality in whatever sense is useful to the
-application. Such methods will only be called if the arguments have
-the same class and the result of the comparison isn't defined by R5RS
-and the Guile reference manual.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Cloning Objects
-@subsection Cloning Objects
-
-@deffn generic shallow-clone
-@deffnx method shallow-clone (self <object>)
-Return a ``shallow'' clone of @var{self}. The default method makes a
-shallow clone by allocating a new instance and copying slot values from
-self to the new instance. Each slot value is copied either as an
-immediate value or by reference.
-@end deffn
-
-@deffn generic deep-clone
-@deffnx method deep-clone (self <object>)
-Return a ``deep'' clone of @var{self}. The default method makes a deep
-clone by allocating a new instance and copying or cloning slot values
-from self to the new instance. If a slot value is an instance
-(satisfies @code{instance?}), it is cloned by calling @code{deep-clone}
-on that value. Other slot values are copied either as immediate values
-or by reference.
-@end deffn
-
-@node Write and Display
-@subsection Write and Display
-
-@deffn {primitive generic} write object port
-@deffnx {primitive generic} display object port
-When GOOPS is loaded, @code{write} and @code{display} become generic
-functions with special methods for printing
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-objects - instances of the class @code{<object>}
-
-@item
-foreign objects - instances of the class @code{<foreign-object>}
-
-@item
-classes - instances of the class @code{<class>}
-
-@item
-generic functions - instances of the class @code{<generic>}
-
-@item
-methods - instances of the class @code{<method>}.
-@end itemize
-
-@code{write} and @code{display} print non-GOOPS values in the same way
-as the Guile primitive @code{write} and @code{display} functions.
-@end deffn
-
-@node MOP Specification, Tutorial, Reference Manual, Top
-@chapter MOP Specification
-
-For an introduction to metaobjects and the metaobject protocol,
-see @ref{Metaobjects and the Metaobject Protocol}.
-
-The aim of the MOP specification in this chapter is to specify all the
-customizable generic function invocations that can be made by the standard
-GOOPS syntax, procedures and methods, and to explain the protocol for
-customizing such invocations.
-
-A generic function invocation is customizable if the types of the arguments
-to which it is applied are not all determined by the lexical context in
-which the invocation appears. For example,
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-the @code{(initialize @var{instance} @var{initargs})} invocation in the
-default @code{make-instance} method is customizable, because the type of the
-@code{@var{instance}} argument is determined by the class that was passed to
-@code{make-instance}.
-
-@item
-the @code{(make <generic> #:name ',name)} invocation in @code{define-generic}
-is not customizable, because all of its arguments have lexically determined
-types.
-@end itemize
-
-When using this rule to decide whether a given generic function invocation
-is customizable, we ignore arguments that are expected to be handled in
-method definitions as a single ``rest'' list argument.
-
-For each customizable generic function invocation, the @dfn{invocation
-protocol} is explained by specifying
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-what, conceptually, the applied method is intended to do
-
-@item
-what assumptions, if any, the caller makes about the applied method's side
-effects
-
-@item
-what the caller expects to get as the applied method's return value.
-@end itemize
-
-@menu
-* Class Definition::
-* Instance Creation::
-* Class Redefinition::
-* Method Definition::
-* Generic Function Invocation::
-@end menu
-
-@node Class Definition
-@section Class Definition
-
-@code{define-class} (syntax)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{class} (syntax)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{make-class} (procedure)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{make @var{metaclass} @dots{}} (generic)
-
-@var{metaclass} is the metaclass of the class being defined, either
-taken from the @code{#:metaclass} class option or computed by
-@code{ensure-metaclass}. The applied method must create and return the
-fully initialized class metaobject for the new class definition.
-@end itemize
-
-@end itemize
-
-@item
-@code{class-redefinition @var{old-class} @var{new-class}} (generic)
-
-@code{define-class} calls @code{class-redefinition} if the variable
-specified by its first argument already held a GOOPS class definition.
-@var{old-class} and @var{new-class} are the old and new class metaobjects.
-The applied method should perform whatever is necessary to handle the
-redefinition, and should return the class metaobject that is to be bound
-to @code{define-class}'s variable. The default class redefinition
-protocol is described in @ref{Class Redefinition}.
-@end itemize
-
-The @code{(make @var{metaclass} @dots{})} invocation above will create
-an class metaobject with metaclass @var{metaclass}. By default, this
-metaobject will be initialized by the @code{initialize} method that is
-specialized for instances of type @code{<class>}.
-
-@code{initialize <class> @var{initargs}} (method)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{compute-cpl @var{class}} (generic)
-
-The applied method should compute and return the class precedence list
-for @var{class} as a list of class metaobjects. When @code{compute-cpl}
-is called, the following @var{class} metaobject slots have all been
-initialized: @code{name}, @code{direct-supers}, @code{direct-slots},
-@code{direct-subclasses} (empty), @code{direct-methods}. The value
-returned by @code{compute-cpl} will be stored in the @code{cpl} slot.
-
-@item
-@code{compute-slots @var{class}} (generic)
-
-The applied method should compute and return the slots (union of direct
-and inherited) for @var{class} as a list of slot definitions. When
-@code{compute-slots} is called, all the @var{class} metaobject slots
-mentioned for @code{compute-cpl} have been initialized, plus the
-following: @code{cpl}, @code{redefined} (@code{#f}), @code{environment}.
-The value returned by @code{compute-slots} will be stored in the
-@code{slots} slot.
-
-@item
-@code{compute-get-n-set @var{class} @var{slot-def}} (generic)
-
-@code{initialize} calls @code{compute-get-n-set} for each slot computed
-by @code{compute-slots}. The applied method should compute and return a
-pair of closures that, respectively, get and set the value of the specified
-slot. The get closure should have arity 1 and expect a single argument
-that is the instance whose slot value is to be retrieved. The set closure
-should have arity 2 and expect two arguments, where the first argument is
-the instance whose slot value is to be set and the second argument is the
-new value for that slot. The closures should be returned in a two element
-list: @code{(list @var{get} @var{set})}.
-
-The closures returned by @code{compute-get-n-set} are stored as part of
-the value of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{getters-n-setters} slot.
-Specifically, the value of this slot is a list with the same number of
-elements as there are slots in the class, and each element looks either like
-
-@example
-@code{(@var{slot-name-symbol} @var{init-function} . @var{index})}
-@end example
-
-or like
-
-@example
-@code{(@var{slot-name-symbol} @var{init-function} @var{get} @var{set})}
-@end example
-
-Where the get and set closures are replaced by @var{index}, the slot is
-an instance slot and @var{index} is the slot's index in the underlying
-structure: GOOPS knows how to get and set the value of such slots and so
-does not need specially constructed get and set closures. Otherwise,
-@var{get} and @var{set} are the closures returned by @code{compute-get-n-set}.
-
-The structure of the @code{getters-n-setters} slot value is important when
-understanding the next customizable generic functions that @code{initialize}
-calls@dots{}
-
-@item
-@code{compute-getter-method @var{class} @var{gns}} (generic)
-
-@code{initialize} calls @code{compute-getter-method} for each of the class's
-slots (as determined by @code{compute-slots}) that includes a
-@code{#:getter} or @code{#:accessor} slot option. @var{gns} is the
-element of the @var{class} metaobject's @code{getters-n-setters} slot that
-specifies how the slot in question is referenced and set, as described
-above under @code{compute-get-n-set}. The applied method should create
-and return a method that is specialized for instances of type @var{class}
-and uses the get closure to retrieve the slot's value. [ *fixme Need
-to insert something here about checking that the value is not unbound. ]
-@code{initialize} uses @code{add-method!} to add the returned method to
-the generic function named by the slot definition's @code{#:getter} or
-@code{#:accessor} option.
-
-@item
-@code{compute-setter-method @var{class} @var{gns}} (generic)
-
-@code{compute-setter-method} is invoked with the same arguments as
-@code{compute-getter-method}, for each of the class's slots that includes
-a @code{#:setter} or @code{#:accessor} slot option. The applied method
-should create and return a method that is specialized for instances of
-type @var{class} and uses the set closure to set the slot's value.
-@code{initialize} then uses @code{add-method!} to add the returned method
-to the generic function named by the slot definition's @code{#:setter}
-or @code{#:accessor} option.
-@end itemize
-
-@node Instance Creation
-@section Instance Creation
-
-@code{make <class> . @var{initargs}} (method)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{allocate-instance @var{class} @var{initargs}} (generic)
-
-The applied @code{allocate-instance} method should allocate storage for
-a new instance of class @var{class} and return the uninitialized instance.
-
-@item
-@code{initialize @var{instance} @var{initargs}} (generic)
-
-@var{instance} is the uninitialized instance returned by
-@code{allocate-instance}. The applied method should initialize the new
-instance in whatever sense is appropriate for its class. The method's
-return value is ignored.
-@end itemize
-
-@node Class Redefinition
-@section Class Redefinition
-
-The default @code{class-redefinition} method, specialized for classes
-with the default metaclass @code{<class>}, has the following internal
-protocol.
-
-@code{class-redefinition @var{(old <class>)} @var{(new <class>)}}
-(method)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{remove-class-accessors! @var{old}} (generic)
-
-@item
-@code{update-direct-method! @var{method} @var{old} @var{new}} (generic)
-
-@item
-@code{update-direct-subclass! @var{subclass} @var{old} @var{new}} (generic)
-@end itemize
-
-This protocol cleans up things that the definition of the old class
-once changed and modifies things to work with the new class.
-
-The default @code{remove-class-accessors!} method removes the
-accessor methods of the old class from all classes which they
-specialize.
-
-The default @code{update-direct-method!} method substitutes the new
-class for the old in all methods specialized to the old class.
-
-The default @code{update-direct-subclass!} method invokes
-@code{class-redefinition} recursively to handle the redefinition of
-subclasses.
-
-When a class is redefined, any existing instance of the redefined class
-will be modified for the new class definition before the next time that
-any of the instance's slot is referenced or set. GOOPS modifies each
-instance by calling the generic function @code{change-class}.
-
-The default @code{change-class} method copies slot values from the old
-to the modified instance, and initializes new slots, as described in
-@ref{Changing the Class of an Instance}. After doing so, it makes a
-generic function invocation that can be used to customize the instance
-update algorithm.
-
-@code{change-class @var{(old-instance <object>)} @var{(new <class>)}} (method)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{update-instance-for-different-class @var{old-instance} @var{new-instance}} (generic)
-
-@code{change-class} invokes @code{update-instance-for-different-class}
-as the last thing that it does before returning. The applied method can
-make any further adjustments to @var{new-instance} that are required to
-complete or modify the change of class. The return value from the
-applied method is ignored.
-
-The default @code{update-instance-for-different-class} method does
-nothing.
-@end itemize
-
-@node Method Definition
-@section Method Definition
-
-@code{define-method} (syntax)
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{add-method! @var{target} @var{method}} (generic)
-
-@code{define-method} invokes the @code{add-method!} generic function to
-handle adding the new method to a variety of possible targets. GOOPS
-includes methods to handle @var{target} as
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-a generic function (the most common case)
-
-@item
-a procedure
-
-@item
-a primitive generic (@pxref{Extending Guiles Primitives})
-@end itemize
-
-By defining further methods for @code{add-method!}, you can
-theoretically handle adding methods to further types of target.
-@end itemize
-
-@node Generic Function Invocation
-@section Generic Function Invocation
-
-[ *fixme* Description required here. ]
-
-@code{apply-generic}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{no-method}
-
-@item
-@code{compute-applicable-methods}
-
-@item
-@code{sort-applicable-methods}
-
-@item
-@code{apply-methods}
-
-@item
-@code{no-applicable-method}
-@end itemize
-
-@code{sort-applicable-methods}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{method-more-specific?}
-@end itemize
-
-@code{apply-methods}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{apply-method}
-@end itemize
-
-@code{next-method}
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{no-next-method}
-@end itemize
-
-@node Tutorial, Concept Index, MOP Specification, Top
-@chapter Tutorial
-@include goops-tutorial.texi
-
-@node Concept Index, Function and Variable Index, Tutorial, Top
-@unnumberedsec Concept Index
-
-@printindex cp
-
-@node Function and Variable Index, , Concept Index, Top
-@unnumberedsec Function and Variable Index
-
-@printindex fn
-
-@summarycontents
-@contents
-@bye
HCoop / bpt / guile.git / blobdiff