Differences

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--- at:tutorial:objects [2007/07/10 22:00] – added tvcutsem
+++ at:tutorial:objects [2007/07/10 22:04] – expanded tvcutsem
@@ Line 148: / Line 148: @@
 In the above example, the ''connection'' object can be in an "open" or "closed" state. Rather than implementing the state-specific behaviour of e.g. the ''send'' method by means of a state variable and an ''if''-test, state-specific methods are implemented in dedicated objects which are dynamically assigned as the parent of the ''connection'' object when it changes state. When ''connection.send(msg)'' is evaluated, the ''send'' message is delegated to the parent, resulting in the application of the method in the correct state.
-<note important>
+<note>
-In AmbientTalk, ''self'' and ''super'' indicate the current object and its parent respectively. While the former corresponds to a language keyword the latter is just a field name of the object.
+In AmbientTalk, ''self'' and ''super'' indicate the receiver object and the parent respectively. However, ''self'' is a pseudovariable: it is a special keyword, not a variable that can be assigned to. ''super'' on the other hand, denotes a regular field in an object. This is a significant difference with respect to many other object-oriented languages who also treat ''super'' as a special keyword. There is, however, a reason for this special treatment of ''super'': "super-sends". The repercussions of AmbientTalk's treatment of ''super'' on "super-sends" is discussed below.
 </note>