+;;; Copying instances.
+
+(defgeneric copy-instance-using-class (class object &rest initargs)
+ (:documentation
+ "Does the donkey-work behind copy-instance."))
+
+(defmethod copy-instance-using-class
+ ((class standard-class) object &rest initargs)
+ (let ((new (apply #'allocate-instance class initargs)))
+ (dolist (slot (class-slots class))
+ (setf (slot-value-using-class class new slot)
+ (slot-value-using-class class object slot)))
+ (apply #'shared-initialize new nil initargs)
+ new))
+
+(defun copy-instance (object &rest initargs)
+ "Make a copy of OBJECT, modifying it by setting slots as requested by
+ INITARGS."
+ (apply #'copy-instance-using-class (class-of object) object initargs))
+
+;;;--------------------------------------------------------------------------