new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ov-classdef.h
@@ -0,0 +1,741 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (C) 2012 Michael Goffioul
+
+This file is part of Octave.
+
+Octave is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your
+option) any later version.
+
+Octave is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with Octave; see the file COPYING.  If not, see
+<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+*/
+
+#if !defined (octave_classdef_h)
+#define octave_classdef_h 1
+
+#include <string>
+
+#include "oct-map.h"
+#include "oct-refcount.h"
+#include "ov-base.h"
+
+class cdef_object;
+class cdef_class;
+class cdef_property;
+class cdef_method;
+class cdef_package;
+
+class
+cdef_object_rep
+{
+public:
+  friend class cdef_object;
+
+public:
+  cdef_object_rep (void)
+      : refcount (1), cname () { }
+
+  cdef_object_rep (const std::string& nm)
+      : refcount (1), cname (nm) { }
+
+  virtual ~cdef_object_rep (void) { }
+
+  virtual cdef_class get_class (void) const;
+
+  virtual void set_class (const cdef_object&)
+    { error ("set_class: invalid object"); }
+
+  virtual cdef_object_rep* clone (void) const
+    {
+      error ("clone: invalid object");
+      return new cdef_object_rep ();
+    }
+
+  virtual void put (const std::string&, const octave_value&)
+    { error ("put: invalid object"); }
+
+  virtual octave_value get (const std::string&) const
+    {
+      error ("get: invalid object");
+      return octave_value ();
+    }
+
+  virtual octave_value_list subsref (const std::string&,
+				     const std::list<octave_value_list>&,
+				     int, int&)
+    {
+      error ("subsref: invalid object");
+      return octave_value_list ();
+    }
+
+  virtual string_vector map_keys(void) const;
+
+  virtual bool is_valid (void) const { return false; }
+
+  std::string class_name (void) const { return cname; }
+
+  void set_class_name (const std::string& nm)
+    { cname = nm; }
+
+protected:
+  /* reference count */
+  octave_refcount<int> refcount;
+
+  /* class name */
+  std::string cname;
+};
+
+class
+cdef_object
+{
+public:
+  /* FIXME: use a null object */
+  cdef_object (void)
+      : rep (new cdef_object_rep ()) { }
+
+  cdef_object (const cdef_object& obj)
+    : rep (obj.rep)
+    {
+      rep->refcount++;
+    }
+
+  cdef_object (cdef_object_rep *r)
+      : rep (r) { }
+
+  virtual ~cdef_object (void)
+    {
+      if (--rep->refcount == 0)
+	delete rep;
+    }
+
+  cdef_object& operator = (const cdef_object& obj)
+    {
+      if (rep != obj.rep)
+	{
+	  if (--rep->refcount == 0)
+	    delete rep;
+
+	  rep = obj.rep;
+	  rep->refcount++;
+	}
+
+      return *this;
+    }
+
+  cdef_class get_class (void) const;
+
+  void set_class_name (const std::string& nm)
+    { rep->set_class_name (nm); }
+
+  std::string class_name (void) const
+    { return rep->class_name (); }
+
+  cdef_object clone (void) const
+    { return cdef_object (rep->clone ()); }
+
+  void put (const std::string& pname, const octave_value& val)
+    { rep->put (pname, val); }
+
+  octave_value get (const std::string& pname) const
+    { return rep->get (pname); }
+
+  octave_value_list subsref (const std::string& type,
+			     const std::list<octave_value_list>& idx,
+			     int nargout, int& skip)
+    { return rep->subsref (type, idx, nargout, skip); }
+
+  string_vector map_keys (void) const { return rep->map_keys (); }
+
+  const cdef_object_rep* get_rep (void) const { return rep; }
+
+  bool ok (void) const { return rep->is_valid (); }
+
+protected:
+  cdef_object_rep* get_rep (void) { return rep; }
+
+private:
+  cdef_object_rep *rep;
+};
+
+class
+handle_cdef_object : public cdef_object_rep
+{
+public:
+  handle_cdef_object (void)
+      : cdef_object_rep () { }
+
+  handle_cdef_object (const std::string& nm)
+      : cdef_object_rep (nm) { }
+
+  cdef_object_rep* clone (void) const
+    {
+      handle_cdef_object *obj = const_cast<handle_cdef_object *> (this);
+      obj->refcount++;
+      return obj;
+    }
+
+  void put (const std::string& pname, const octave_value& val)
+    { map.assign (pname, val); }
+
+  octave_value get (const std::string& pname) const
+    {
+      Cell val = map.contents (pname);
+
+      if (val.numel () > 0)
+	return val(0, 0);
+      else
+	{
+	  error ("get: unknown slot: %s", pname.c_str ());
+	  return octave_value ();
+	}
+    }
+
+  octave_value_list subsref (const std::string& type,
+			     const std::list<octave_value_list>& idx,
+			     int nargout, int& skip);
+
+  bool is_valid (void) const { return true; }
+
+protected:
+  Octave_map map;
+};
+
+class
+cdef_class : public cdef_object
+{
+private:
+
+  class
+  cdef_class_rep : public handle_cdef_object
+  {
+  public:
+    cdef_class_rep (const std::string& nm)
+	: handle_cdef_object (nm) { }
+
+    cdef_method find_method (const std::string& nm);
+
+    void install_method (const cdef_method& meth);
+
+    Cell get_methods (void);
+
+    cdef_property find_property (const std::string& nm);
+
+    void install_property (const cdef_property& prop);
+
+    Cell get_properties (void);
+
+    string_vector get_names (void);
+
+    void set_directory (const std::string& dir) { directory = dir; }
+
+    std::string get_directory (void) const { return directory; }
+
+    void delete_object (cdef_object obj);
+
+  private:
+    void load_all_methods (void);
+
+    void find_names (std::map<std::string,std::string>& names,
+		     std::map<std::string,int>& count);
+    
+    void find_properties (std::map<std::string,cdef_property>& props,
+			  std::map<std::string,int>& count);
+    
+    void find_methods (std::map<std::string,cdef_method>& meths,
+		       std::map<std::string,int>& count);
+
+  private:
+    std::string directory;
+
+    std::map<std::string,cdef_method> method_map;
+
+    std::map<std::string,cdef_property> property_map;
+
+    typedef std::map<std::string,cdef_method>::iterator method_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string,cdef_method>::const_iterator method_const_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string,cdef_property>::iterator property_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string,cdef_property>::const_iterator property_const_iterator;
+  };
+
+public:
+  // Create and invalid class object
+  cdef_class (void)
+      : cdef_object () { }
+
+  cdef_class (const std::string& nm)
+      : cdef_object (new cdef_class_rep (nm)) { }
+
+  cdef_class (const cdef_class& cls)
+      : cdef_object (cls) { }
+
+  cdef_class (const cdef_object& obj)
+      : cdef_object (obj)
+    {
+      // This should never happen...
+      if (class_name () != "meta.class")
+	error ("internal error: invalid assignment from %s to meta.class object",
+	       class_name ().c_str ());
+    }
+
+  cdef_class& operator = (const cdef_class& cls)
+    {
+      cdef_object::operator= (cls);
+
+      return *this;
+    }
+
+  cdef_class& operator = (const cdef_object& obj)
+    {
+      if (obj.class_name () == "meta.class")
+	cdef_object::operator= (obj);
+      else
+	error ("internal error: invalid assignment from %s to meta.class object",
+	       class_name ().c_str ());
+
+      return *this;
+    }
+
+  cdef_method find_method (const std::string& nm);
+
+  void install_method (const cdef_method& meth)
+    { get_rep ()->install_method (meth); }
+
+  Cell get_methods (void) { return get_rep ()->get_methods (); }
+
+  cdef_property find_property (const std::string& nm);
+  
+  void install_property (const cdef_property& prop)
+    { get_rep ()->install_property (prop); }
+
+  Cell get_properties (void) { return get_rep ()->get_properties (); }
+
+  string_vector get_names (void) { return get_rep ()->get_names (); }
+
+  void set_directory (const std::string& dir)
+    { get_rep ()->set_directory (dir); }
+
+  std::string get_directory (void) const
+    { return get_rep ()->get_directory (); }
+
+  std::string get_name (void) const
+    { return get ("Name").string_value (); }
+
+  bool is_builtin (void) const
+    { return get_directory ().empty (); }
+
+  void delete_object (cdef_object obj)
+    { get_rep ()->delete_object (obj); }
+
+private:
+  cdef_class_rep* get_rep (void)
+    { return dynamic_cast<cdef_class_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+  
+  const cdef_class_rep* get_rep (void) const
+    { return dynamic_cast<const cdef_class_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+
+  friend bool operator == (const cdef_class&, const cdef_class&);
+  friend bool operator != (const cdef_class&, const cdef_class&);
+};
+
+inline bool
+operator == (const cdef_class& clsa, const cdef_class& clsb)
+// FIXME: is this really the right way to check class equality?
+{ return (clsa.get_rep () == clsb.get_rep ()); }
+
+inline bool
+operator != (const cdef_class& clsa, const cdef_class& clsb)
+{ return ! (clsa == clsb); }
+
+class
+cdef_property : public cdef_object
+{
+private:
+
+  class
+  cdef_property_rep : public handle_cdef_object
+  {
+  public:
+    cdef_property_rep (const std::string& nm)
+	: handle_cdef_object (nm) { }
+
+    octave_value get_value (void) const { return default_value; }
+
+    octave_value get_value (const cdef_object& obj);
+
+    void set_value (const octave_value& val) { default_value = val; }
+
+    void set_value (const cdef_object& obj, const octave_value& val);
+
+  private:
+    octave_value default_value;
+  };
+
+public:
+  cdef_property (void) : cdef_object () { }
+
+  cdef_property (const std::string& nm)
+      : cdef_object (new cdef_property_rep (nm)) { }
+
+  cdef_property (const cdef_property& prop)
+      : cdef_object (prop) { }
+
+  cdef_property (const cdef_object& obj)
+      : cdef_object (obj)
+    {
+      // This should never happen...
+      if (class_name () != "meta.property")
+	error ("internal error: invalid assignment from %s to meta.property object",
+	       class_name ().c_str ());
+    }
+
+  cdef_property& operator = (const cdef_property& prop)
+    {
+      cdef_object::operator= (prop);
+
+      return *this;
+    }
+
+  octave_value get_value (const cdef_object& obj)
+    { return get_rep ()->get_value (obj); }
+
+  octave_value get_value (void) { return get_rep ()->get_value (); }
+
+  void set_value (const cdef_object& obj, const octave_value& val)
+    { get_rep ()->set_value (obj, val); }
+
+  void set_value (const octave_value& val) { get_rep ()->set_value (val); }
+ 
+  std::string get_get_access (void) const
+    { return get ("GetAccess").string_value (); }
+  
+  std::string get_set_access (void) const
+    { return get ("SetAccess").string_value (); }
+
+  bool check_get_access (const std::string& acc) const;
+  
+  bool check_set_access (const std::string& acc) const;
+
+  std::string get_name (void) const
+    { return get ("Name").string_value (); }
+
+  bool is_constant (void) const
+    { return get ("Constant").bool_value (); }
+
+private:
+  cdef_property_rep* get_rep (void)
+    { return dynamic_cast<cdef_property_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+  
+  const cdef_property_rep* get_rep (void) const
+    { return dynamic_cast<const cdef_property_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+};
+
+class
+cdef_method : public cdef_object
+{
+private:
+
+  class
+  cdef_method_rep : public handle_cdef_object
+  {
+  public:
+    cdef_method_rep (const std::string& nm)
+	: handle_cdef_object (nm) { }
+
+    octave_value get_function (void) const { return function; }
+
+    void set_function (const octave_value& fcn)
+      { function = fcn; }
+
+    octave_value_list execute (const octave_value_list& args, int nargout);
+
+    octave_value_list execute (const cdef_object& obj,
+			       const octave_value_list& args, int nargout);
+
+  private:
+    void check_method (void);
+
+  private:
+    octave_value function;
+  };
+
+public:
+  cdef_method (void) : cdef_object () { }
+
+  cdef_method (const std::string& nm)
+      : cdef_object (new cdef_method_rep (nm)) { }
+
+  cdef_method (const cdef_property& prop)
+      : cdef_object (prop) { }
+
+  cdef_method (const cdef_object& obj)
+      : cdef_object (obj)
+    {
+      // This should never happen...
+      if (class_name () != "meta.method")
+	error ("internal error: invalid assignment from %s to meta.method object",
+	       class_name ().c_str ());
+    }
+
+  cdef_method& operator = (const cdef_method& meth)
+    {
+      cdef_object::operator= (meth);
+
+      return *this;
+    }
+
+  /* normal invokation */
+  octave_value_list execute (const octave_value_list& args, int nargout)
+    { return get_rep ()->execute (args, nargout); }
+
+  /* dot-invokation: object is pushed as 1st argument */
+  octave_value_list execute (const cdef_object& obj,
+			     const octave_value_list& args, int nargout)
+    { return get_rep ()->execute (obj, args, nargout); }
+
+  std::string get_access (void) const
+    { return get ("Access").string_value (); }
+
+  bool check_access (const std::string& req) const;
+  
+  std::string get_name (void) const
+    { return get ("Name").string_value (); }
+
+  bool is_static (void) const
+    { return get ("Static").bool_value (); }
+
+  void set_function (const octave_value& fcn)
+    { get_rep ()->set_function (fcn); }
+
+private:
+  cdef_method_rep* get_rep (void)
+    { return dynamic_cast<cdef_method_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+  
+  const cdef_method_rep* get_rep (void) const
+    { return dynamic_cast<const cdef_method_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+};
+
+inline cdef_class
+cdef_object::get_class (void) const
+{ return rep->get_class (); }
+
+inline cdef_method
+cdef_class::find_method (const std::string& nm)
+{ return get_rep ()->find_method (nm); }
+
+inline cdef_property
+cdef_class::find_property (const std::string& nm)
+{ return get_rep ()->find_property (nm); }
+
+class
+cdef_package : public cdef_object
+{
+private:
+
+  class
+  cdef_package_rep : public handle_cdef_object
+  {
+  public:
+    cdef_package_rep (const std::string& nm)
+      : handle_cdef_object (nm) { }
+
+    void install_class (const cdef_class& cls, const std::string& nm);
+
+    void install_function (const octave_value& fcn, const std::string& nm);
+
+    void install_package (const cdef_package& pack, const std::string& nm);
+
+    octave_value_list subsref (const std::string& type,
+                               const std::list<octave_value_list>& idx,
+                               int nargout, int& skip);
+
+    Cell get_classes (void) const;
+
+    Cell get_functions (void) const;
+
+    Cell get_packages (void) const;
+
+  private:
+    std::map<std::string, cdef_class> class_map;
+    std::map<std::string, octave_value> function_map;
+    std::map<std::string, cdef_package> package_map;
+
+    typedef std::map<std::string, cdef_class>::iterator class_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, cdef_class>::const_iterator class_const_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, octave_value>::iterator function_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, octave_value>::const_iterator function_const_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, cdef_package>::iterator package_iterator;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, cdef_package>::const_iterator package_const_iterator;
+  };
+
+public:
+  cdef_package (void) : cdef_object () { }
+
+  cdef_package (const std::string& nm)
+      : cdef_object (new cdef_package_rep (nm)) { }
+
+  cdef_package (const cdef_object& obj)
+      : cdef_object (obj)
+    {
+      // This should never happen...
+      if (class_name () != "meta.package")
+	error ("internal error: invalid assignment from %s to meta.package object",
+	       class_name ().c_str ());
+    }
+
+  cdef_package& operator = (const cdef_package& pack)
+    {
+      cdef_object::operator= (pack);
+
+      return *this;
+    }
+
+  void install_class (const cdef_class& cls, const std::string& nm)
+    { get_rep ()->install_class (cls, nm); }
+
+  void install_function (const octave_value& fcn, const std::string& nm)
+    { get_rep ()->install_function (fcn, nm); }
+
+  void install_package (const cdef_package& pack, const std::string& nm)
+    { get_rep ()->install_package (pack, nm); }
+
+  Cell get_classes (void) const
+    { return get_rep ()->get_classes (); }
+
+  Cell get_functions (void) const
+    { return get_rep ()->get_functions (); }
+
+  Cell get_packages (void) const
+    { return get_rep ()->get_packages (); }
+
+private:
+  cdef_package_rep* get_rep (void)
+    { return dynamic_cast<cdef_package_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+  
+  const cdef_package_rep* get_rep (void) const
+    { return dynamic_cast<const cdef_package_rep *> (cdef_object::get_rep ()); }
+};
+
+class
+octave_classdef : public octave_base_value
+{
+public:
+  octave_classdef (void)
+      : octave_base_value (), object () { }
+
+  octave_classdef (const cdef_object& obj)
+      : octave_base_value (), object (obj) { }
+
+  octave_classdef (const octave_classdef& obj)
+      : octave_base_value (obj), object (obj.object) { }
+
+  octave_base_value* clone (void) const
+    { return new octave_classdef (object.clone ()); }
+
+  octave_base_value* empty_clone (void) const
+    { return new octave_classdef (); }
+
+  cdef_object get_object (void) const
+    { return object; }
+
+  bool is_defined (void) const { return true; }
+
+  bool is_map (void) const { return true; }
+
+  bool print_as_scalar (void) const { return true; }
+
+  void print(std::ostream& os, bool pr_as_read_syntax = false) const
+    {
+      // FIXME: should call "display" method
+      print_raw(os, pr_as_read_syntax);
+      newline(os);
+    }
+
+  void print_raw(std::ostream& os, bool /* pr_as_read_syntax */ = false) const
+    {
+      os << object.class_name () << " object";
+    }
+
+  octave_value_list subsref (const std::string& type,
+			     const std::list<octave_value_list>& idx, int nargout);
+
+  octave_value subsref (const std::string& type,
+			const std::list<octave_value_list>& idx)
+    {
+      octave_value_list retval = subsref (type, idx, 1);
+      return (retval.length () > 0 ? retval(0) : octave_value ());
+    }
+
+  string_vector map_keys (void) const { return object.map_keys (); }
+
+  dim_vector dims (void) const { return dim_vector (1, 1); }
+
+private:
+  cdef_object object;
+
+private:
+  DECLARE_OCTAVE_ALLOCATOR
+
+public:
+  int type_id (void) const { return t_id; }
+  std::string type_name (void) const { return t_name; }
+  std::string class_name (void) const { return object.class_name (); }
+
+  static int static_type_id (void) { return t_id; }
+  static std::string static_type_name (void) { return t_name; }
+  static std::string static_class_name (void) { return "<unknown>"; }
+  static void register_type (void);
+
+private:
+  static int t_id;
+
+  static const std::string t_name;
+};
+
+inline octave_value
+to_ov (const cdef_object& obj)
+{
+  if (obj.ok ())
+    return octave_value (new octave_classdef (obj));
+  else
+    return octave_value (Matrix ());
+}
+
+inline octave_value
+to_ov (const octave_value& ov)
+{ return ov; }
+
+inline cdef_object
+to_cdef (const octave_value& val)
+{
+  if (val.type_name () == "object")
+    return dynamic_cast<octave_classdef *> (val.internal_rep ())->get_object ();
+  else
+    {
+      warning ("trying to cast non-object into object");
+      return cdef_object ();
+    }
+}
+
+inline cdef_object
+to_cdef (const cdef_object& obj)
+{ return obj; }
+
+OCTINTERP_API void install_classdef (void);
+
+#endif
+
+/*
+;;; Local Variables: ***
+;;; mode: C++ ***
+;;; End: ***
+*/