Abstract: A visual coding tool that allows a user to visually implement the full inheritance capabilities of object oriented programming languages is disclosed. This includes the ability to visually create a first object class which is a subclass of a second object class, where the first object class has, as one of its attributes, a third object class which is a subclass of a fourth object class. The third object class is not an attribute of the second object class, while the fourth object class is also not an attribute of the second object class. The visual coding tool includes a user interface which allows a user to visually create object classes and establish an object class hierarchy by "dragging and dropping" visual icons associated with object classes.