Objective-Everything Release 5.  Copyright ©1994-1998 by TipTop Software, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

Objective-Everything

Introduction

The Objective-Everything framework provides a true language independence for the OpenStep/YellowBox (i.e., Objective-C) object model.  The framework provides seamless integration of several high-level interpretive languages and the Objective-C runtime.  The framework not only breaks the barrier between interpreted and compiled code, but it also breaks the barrier between various programming languages.  Objective-Python, Objective-Tcl, Objective-Perl, and Objective-WebScript are languages currently available.

Architecture

The following diagram illustrates the Objective-Everything architecture.  (AppKit-related modules are excluded from the diagram.)

The Objective-Everything Meta Runtime layer provides true language independence.  It provides runtime services not only to the language-specific modules which sit on top of it, but also to the Apple-provided languages from below! That is, although TipTop superstructure sits on top of Apple Yellow Box, all the languages involved are first-class citizens: ObjC, Java, ObjPython, ObjTcl, ObjPerl, ObjWebScript, etc.  As a result of this, classes can  have mixed implementation; certain methods can be implemented in Objective-C, other methods can be implemented in Tcl, yet some other methods can be implemented in Python, etc.  It is transparent and irrelevant to the sender of a message which language implements the corresponding method---the method looks "native" to the caller.

Uses and Benefits

Objective-Everything is a comprehensive YellowBox development and runtime environment which complements the Apple-provided runtime system and tools. Some of the popular uses and benefits include:

Components

Objective-Everything comes in the form of OpenStep frameworks:

In addition:

Quick Start

To quickly get started with Objective-Everything, start by reading the "Quick Tour" documentation sections in the module of your interest: ObjBrowser, ObjPy, ObjTcl, ObjPerl, ObjWebScript. Then, read the rest of the documentation, starting by the Using InterfaceBuilder section.

Language Comparison

No language is perfect! That's the whole point of Objective-Everything --- use the best language for the task at hand.

Here are the references to the web sites for each of the languages:

Python
http://www.python.org

Tcl
http://www.sunscript.com
http://www.scriptics.com

Perl
http://www.perl.org
http://www.perl.com

WebScript
file:/NextLibrary/Documentation/NextDev/WebObjects/WOPages/LocalDoc/DevGuide/WebScript/WebScript.html
http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/enterprise/WebObjects/DevGuide/WebScript/WebScript.html

Contact Information

TipTop Software, Inc.
info@tiptop.com
http://www.tiptop.com
+1-301-656-3837  (9am--5pm US EST, Mon--Fri)
+1-301-656-8432 fax
PO Box 30681, Bethesda, MD 20824, USA

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