[Python-Dev] Classes and Metaclasses in Smalltalk

[Michel Pelletier]

On Wed, 2 May 2001, Guido van Rossum wrote:

> > <none>
> > o Object
> >     o Class
> >         o MetaClass
> >         o ObjectMetaClass
> >             o ClassMetaClass
> >                 o MetaClassMetaClass
> >
> > Object is the top of the class hierarchy (and total hierarchy).  It has no
> > superclass.  It is the only class that has no superclass.
> > Class is a subclass of Object.
> > MetaClass is a subclass of Class.
> >
> > ObjectMetaClass is also a subclass of Class.
> > ClassMetaClass is a subclass of ObjectMetaClass.
> > MetaClassMetaClass is a subclass of ClassMetaClass.

Does this go on ad infinitum?  ie, is there a ClassMetaClassMetaClass
which sublcasses MetaClassMetaClass and so on?  I was under the impression
from talking to JimF that Smalltalk eventually stopped at a class
that is a subclass of itself.

-Michel