Microsoft ObjectThinking

David West

PUBLISHED BY
Microsoft Press
A Division of Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052-6399

Copyright 2004 by David West

All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data pending.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

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About the Author

Currently Dr. David West is a professor in the School of Business at New Mexico Highlands University, where he is developing an object-based curriculum in software architectures, business engineering, and management information systems. He also teaches at the University of New Mexico, where he is engaged in developing a software development track for students in graduate and undergraduate computer science.

Prior to joining the faculty at NMHU, he was an associate professor in the Graduate Programs in Software at the University of St. Thomas and a consultant/trainer to several Fortune 500 companies. He has taught courses in object- oriented development ranging from three- hour introductory sessions for managers to multiday technical seminars for professional developers, as well as semester-long courses at both the graduate and the undergraduate level.

He founded and served as the director of the Object Lab at the University of St. Thomas. The Object Lab was a cooperative effort with local corporations dedicated to researching and promoting object technology.

He was a cofounder of the Object Technology User Group (the original, not the Rational-sponsored group ), the first editor of its monthly newsletter, and the principal organizer and chair of two regional conferences sponsored by OTUG.

Digitalk s Methods (the first incarnation of Smalltalk for the personal computer, later named Smalltalk/V) was his first object development environment, used to construct an automated cultural informant, a teaching tool for cultural anthropologists learning ethnographic fieldwork techniques. His object experience is complemented by more than 20 years of software development work, ranging from assembly-language programmer to executive management.

His undergraduate education at Macalester College (oriental philosophy and East Asian history) was capped with an MS in computer science (artificial intelligence) and an MA in cultural anthropology followed by a PhD in cognitive anthropology. All the graduate degrees were earned at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Acknowledgments

One name appears on the cover as author of this book, hiding the fact that every book is a collaborative effort involving scores of contributors. Although it is impossible to acknowledge and thank everyone who played a role, I can and must name some individuals. Each is owed my personal thanks, and each stands as a proxy for many others whom I acknowledge in my mind and heart.

Mary ”without whom this would never have been done. My muse, my friend, my spouse of twenty-one years.

Maurine, Bob, Sara, Ryan, and Kathleen ”my family, whose support was required and freely given.

Kevin ”the best programmer with whom I have ever worked. You proved, sometimes after a lot of discussion as to why it was impossible, that my crazy ideas could be implemented.

Tom, Pam, Don, Dion, Julie, Kyle, Dave, Steve, and J.P. ”our initial contact was as student and professor, but you became colleagues and friends and represent the hundreds of St. Thomas alumni who helped shape object thinking and then applied it in the real world with notable success.

Tom and Ken ”your technical review, insightful comments, correction of errors, and honest advice were invaluable. This would not have been as useful a book without your assistance.

Linda, Devon, Denise, Robin, Shawn, Joel, Sandi, and Elizabeth ”the editors and staff at Microsoft Press who smoothly dealt with all the technical aspects of getting a book out the door (including an author with deadline issues). An author could not have found a friendlier, more helpful, or more professional group of editors and craftspeople with whom to work.