Logical Observable Entities

Abstract

We show how finite-state machines can standardize the protocol used by a component object to notify other interested objects of its state changes, resulting in a more effective use of static types to constrain both parties, and a more efficient dissemination of information. The enhanced component specification is called a logical observable entity, or LOE. We address two key issues in effectively applying such a strategy: how to extend subtyping to consider the state machines, and how to ensure some kind of compliance between the state-machine specification and its implementation. This leads to an unusual subtyping predicate for LOEs on the one hand, and a prototype code generation strategy on the other.