Package templates: a definition by semantics-preserving source-to-source transformations to efficient Java code

Abstract

Package Templates (PT) is a mechanism designed for writing reusable modules, called templates, each consisting of a set of classes that can be adapted to their use in a program through compile-time specialization. A template must be instantiated in a program before its classes can be used. The mechanism supports type-safe renaming, merging, type parameterization and refinement in the form of static additions and overrides that are orthogonal to the corresponding concepts of ordinary inheritance.