Microsoft Word OpenIssuesInOO. doc

The structural phase. This is the phase where the current understanding of concepts and 

phenomena are organised into structures. The exploratory style easily leads to a 

complicated structure of objects and classes with unclear dependencies on parent 

objects and classes. It is absolutely necessary that the structure and relations between 

objects and classes are clarified. This may be done by using classification and 

composition. Classification for forming new classes and organising these into 

generalisation/specialisation hierarchies. Composition for organising objects into 

compound objects as described above. 

 

Prototype-based languages are weak here, since classification is only possible by 

conventions.  

 

Class-based languages by definition support classification, but only some supports 

composition. The virtual concept of BETA is a strength here, since descriptions of 

classes are clearer and more concise than when using a language with redefinition of 

virtuals as opposed to extension.