Re:Show HN: Lean4 proof that SSOT requires definition-time h...
by henearkr on Thursday January 08, 2026 @02:25AM
(#46538260)
Any example(s) of language that includes all the necessary features?
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Re:Show HN: Lean4 proof that SSOT requires definition-time h...
by trissim on Thursday January 08, 2026 @02:27AM
(#46538274)
Python is the canonical mainstream example: __init_subclass__/metaclasses (definition-time hooks) + __subclasses__(), mro(), __dict__ (introspection).
CLOS (Common Lisp Object System) also qualifies: defclass/initialize-instance/defmethod hooks plus runtime introspection of classes, generic functions, and method combinations.
Smalltalk similarly: class creation executes code, and everything is introspectable at runtime.
Languages that lack definition-time hooks (Java, C#, Go, Rust, TypeScript/TS-era JS) or lack sufficient runtime introspection for structural facts don’t meet both requirements without extra tooling.