Supporting Virtual Interaction Objects with Polymorphic Platform Bindings in a User Interface Programming Language

Today, there are numerous software patterns for the software engineering of User Interfaces through interaction object classes that can be automatically retargeted to different graphical environments. Such methods are usually deployed in implementing multi-platform User Interface libraries, delivering Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) typically split in two layers: (a) the top layer, encompassing the platform independent programming elements available to client programmers; and (b) the bottom layer, delivering the platform specific bindings, implemented differently for each distinct graphical environment. While multi-platform interaction objects primarily constitute programming generalizations of graphical interaction elements, virtual interaction objects play the role of abstractions defined above any particular physical realization or dialogue metaphor. In this context, a sub-set of a User Interface programming language is presented, providing programming facilities for: (a) the definition of virtual interaction object classes; and (b) the specification of the mapping-logic to physically bind virtual object classes across different target platforms.