An object-oriented APL2

Abstract

Object oriented programming has become an important and accepted part of the computer software industry. Nearly every new operating system that has recently arrived or is scheduled to arrive soon is object oriented in nature. If APL2 is to continue to be a mainstream computational environment, it is very important that it becomes object oriented. Finding a way that APL2 may sit comfortably in these new operating systems is important. Unfortunately, in both implementation and current programming teaching philosophy, existing APL2 does not easily offer the end user the ability to adopt this new approach. This paper proposes some small changes to the basic APL2 language definition which will permit objects to be defined and used. It also suggests some major changes to the end user's programming methodology.