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

tmb@best.com (Thomas Breuel) writes:


> Yes, it could support safe pointer arithmetic. However, that really
> isn't necessary. Correct, portable C/C++ code can be executed
> reasonably efficiently within the current JavaVM. However, building
> compilers for that is tricky.


I don't see how you can support STL without pointer arithmetic.
Besides the pointer arithmetic the java VM seems very regular as a
target language as compared to say, 80486 code, so I don't see why it
should be tricky.


> More likely, you are going to see conversion tools that will do 95%
> of the job. The places where they give up are likely to be places
> in the C/C++ code that needed attention anyway.


Again pointer arithmetic and STL are perfectly acceptable, standard C
code. Just because the C-family are about the only languages to
support the notion of p++ for 'next array element' and so on, doesn't
make this a bad feature.


The thing I like about C++ is that includes almost every C feature,
resisting the temptation to remove 'bad' features. This way you can
extend old code with new features. With Java the wheel has to be
invented again. I would like Java to see support of some kind of
extern "C++" feature so that you could mix C/C++ programs with for
instance a Java user interface. (Say you want to create a Visual AWK).


Rinie
[You sure can't fault C++ for a shortage of features. -John]


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