gistfile1.cpp

class Module {
 
  map<string, Code> exports;
  // string = exported function name
  // Code = actual code
  
  list<Processes> processes;
  // list of processes spawned using this module
 
}
 
class ModulePair {
  Module old_module;  // the old code, if any
  Module new_module;  // the current code
}
  
class Runtime {
  map<string, ModulePair> mps;
  // string = name of Module
  // ModulePair = old + new module
}
 
Runtime myRuntime;
 
 
void compile(string module_name, string code) {
  
  // kill all the the processes that are 3 generations old
  list<Processes> zombies = myRuntime.mps[module_name].old_module.processes;
  for(proc in zombiles) kill proc;
  
  // replace the old module's code
  myRuntime.mps[module_name].old_module = myRuntime.mps[module_name].new_module;
  
  // link in the new module's new code
  myRuntime.mps[module_name].new_module = ...(code)
}
 
 
// anytime we lookup something of the form
//   foo:bar()
//   we always look at the latest copy of foo
void lookup(string module_name, string func_name) {
  return myRuntime.mps[module_name].new_module.exports[func_name]
}