Object-oriented 4th Generation Systems

The primary goal of this project was to merge concepts and techniques of object-oriented programming and modelling into a toolset containing components that are typically found in a 4th-generation system. The toolset supplied for the construction of information systems includes components for defining of structurally object-oriented data models, for generating of user interfaces, and arranging of application logic. Generic operations for manipulating user-defined objects are provided for every application. We reflected on custom requirements and questions that arise during data modelling and how an object model should look like to easily meet these requirements. As such, we defined a structurally object-oriented model that is rich enough to cover all usual situations in modelling data-intensive applications. Our model includes the possibility to define an object's structure, its constraints, and semantic relationships (inheritance, part-of, inverse relationships, ...) and also offers other modelling constructs for defining application views and role types.