llvm dev - Sep 2009 - [LLVMdev] C++ Interpreter

On Aug 31, 2009, at 1:19 PM, Renato Golin wrote:
> 2009/8/31 Axel Naumann <Axel.Naumann at cern.ch>:
>> we want to implement a C++ interpreter using LLVM and clang
>
> Isn't clang going on that direction anyway?

Clang is meant to be flexible enough to be used as the basis for a C++  
interpreter. However, there will probably be a bit of work to do in  
Clang to make this happen, e.g., by providing clean APIs for an  
interpreter to call into Clang's parser to parse a new expression/ 
statement/function.

	- Doug

2009/8/31 Douglas Gregor <dgregor at apple.com>:
> Clang is meant to be flexible enough to be used as the basis for a C++
> interpreter. However, there will probably be a bit of work to do in Clang
to
> make this happen, e.g., by providing clean APIs for an interpreter to call
> into Clang's parser to parse a new expression/statement/function.
Ok, my bad, language barrier. ;)

Speaking of those APIs, I guess if you do have something of the sort,
it may be easy to evaluate expressions and understanding the structure
of a program on a debugger.

If you manage to parse dwarf information on the same structure as
clang (or the interpreter) does with code, one can later list the
members of a class, print their values etc.

cheers,
--renato

Reclaim your digital rights, eliminate DRM, learn more at
http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm

Hi Renato,

Renato Golin wrote on 09/01/2009 10:40 AM:
> 2009/8/31 Douglas Gregor <dgregor at apple.com>:
>> Clang is meant to be flexible enough to be used as the basis for a C++
>> interpreter. However, there will probably be a bit of work to do in
Clang to
>> make this happen, e.g., by providing clean APIs for an interpreter to
call
>> into Clang's parser to parse a new expression/statement/function.
> 
> Speaking of those APIs, I guess if you do have something of the sort,
> it may be easy to evaluate expressions and understanding the structure
> of a program on a debugger.
Correct. As a matter of fact we use the current interpreter's knowledge 
also for introspection and serialization.
> If you manage to parse dwarf information on the same structure as
> clang (or the interpreter) does with code, one can later list the
> members of a class, print their values etc.
Right, having a working interactive C++ interpreter would also help for 
a debugger, as you said assuming that the symbols "are there".
Function
calls will be possible, too; you could also create objects in the 
interpreter stack and evaluate them.

So - are you interested? :-)

Cheers, Axel.