module Mom # SlotLoad is an abstract base class for moving data into a slot # A Slot is basically an instance variable, but it must be of known type # # The value loaded can be a constant (SlotConstant) or come from another Slot (SlotMove) # # The Slot is the left hand side, the right hand side being determined by the subclass. # The only known object (*) for the left side is the current message, which is a bit like # the oo version of a PC (program Counter) # (* off course all class objects are global, and so they are allowed too) # # A maybe not immediately obvious corrolar of this design is the total absence of # general purpose instance variable accessors. Ie only inside an object's functions # can a method access instance variables, because only inside the method is the type # guaranteed. # From the outside a send is neccessary, both for get and set, (which goes through the method # resolution and guarantees the correct method for a type), in other words perfect data hiding. # # @left: is an array of symbols, that specifies the first the object, and then the Slot. # The first element is either a known type name (Capitalized symbol of the class name) , # or the symbol :message # And subsequent symbols must be instance variables on the previous type. # Examples: [:message , :receiver] or [:Space : :next_message] # # @right: depends on the derived Class # class SlotLoad < Instruction attr_reader :left , :right def initialize(left , right) left = SlotDefinition.new(left.shift , left) if left.is_a? Array @left , @right = left , right raise "left not SlotDefinition, #{left}" unless left.is_a? SlotDefinition raise "right not Mom, #{right.to_rxf}" unless right.class.name.include?("Mom") end end class SlotDefinition attr_reader :known_object , :slots def initialize( object , slots) @known_object , @slots = object , slots slot = [slot] unless slot.is_a?(Array) end end end