SELF: the power of simplicity (object-oriented language)

An introduction is given to SELF, an object-oriented language for exploratory programming that is based on a small number of simple and concrete ideas: prototypes, slots and behavior. Prototypes combine inheritance and instantiation to provide a framework that is simpler and more flexible than most object-oriented languages. Slots unite variables and procedures into a single construct. This permits the inheritance hierarchy to take over the function of lexical scoping in conventional languages. Because SELF does not distinguish state from behavior, it narrows the gap between ordinary objects and procedures. SELF´s simplicity and expressiveness offer insights into object-oriented computation.<>