Re: Java virtual machine as target language for C/C++

Drinie@xs4all.nl (Rinie Kervel) writes:
> I know that Java does not support pointer arithmetic.
>
> But as the Java virtual machine gets integrated in many OSes it would
> be nice to use it as a target language for other languages.


It be nice, if the JVM weren't so "JavaCentric"...


> Is it possible (and will Sun allow it) to extend the JVM to support
> pointer arithmetic. ... Does anyone know if proposals for such
> extensions have been made/ are considered.


Adding pointer arithmetic has some serious negative garbage collection
implementations issues too. That's reason enough not to add such an
extension. BTB right now you can compile C to JVM. Just simulate
pointers as indexes into an array that represents the C heap/stack. Or
why not just write an assembly language simulator in JVM and have it
interpret your favorite assembly language emitted by your favoriate C
compiler. :)


I'd personally be more interested in seeing a pointer safe GCable
version of C that just happens to compile to the JVM without all the
OO cruft that Java, the language, has.




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