Xref: utzoo comp.lang.c++:3292 comp.lang.eiffel:178 comp.lang.smalltalk:1062
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!apple!kmcentee
From: kmcentee@Apple.COM (Kevin McEntee)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.eiffel,comp.lang.smalltalk
Subject: Use of inheritance for classification?
Keywords: metrics, oop
Message-ID: <30582@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 12 May 89 23:16:07 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 15


Meyer's Object Oriented Software Construction recommends that subclassing
should take place only in the context of the is-a relationship.

    e.g.  Every dog is a mammal.

This seems to imply that inheritance is first a classification scheme and 
only second a code sharing mechanism.  

What are your thoughts on this?  Can code sharing outside of the natural 
taxonomy of the problem space happen gracefully?

Thanks,
	Kevin McEntee   
	kmcentee@apple.com