Fundamental forms

The basis of the generic operation system consists of the two special forms OBJECT and OPERATION. OBJECT-expressions create objects which respond appropriately to generic operations, and OPERATION-expressions evaluate to operations.

Special form


\begin{inset}{} \par An {\tt OBJECT}-expression yields an object which is prepar... ... operation is applied to the object, not when the object is created. \end{inset}

Special form


\begin{inset}{} \par The syntax of {\tt OPERATION} is the same as that of {\tt O... ...default method is invoked, so the call yields the symbol {\tt ZEBU}. \end{inset}

Type predicate


\begin{inset}{} Returns true if {\it object\/} is an operation. \end{inset}