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I'm making an interpreter (currently in python but later I'll remake it in C++) and I wondered how I could use a C/C++ function in my language so when somebody wants to write an extension for my language ex. an OpenGL extension he can bind the functions to my language.

Arunabh
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Oliver JT
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1 Answers1

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Approaches vary, because it depends how your language works, but the general technique:

  • load the native code as a library using e.g. "dlopen()"
  • identify the function name (see "C++ name mangling" for C++, this is much easier for C)
  • get the pointer to the function (e.g. call dlsym())
  • convert the types of your language to types required for the function
  • have the interpreter call the function
  • convert the return type back
  • return to your language

You will need a means of understanding the function signatures of the C++ functions, either by parsing the C++ headers (hard) or annotating it in your language. See C#'s "P/Invoke" mechanism or Pythons "CFFI".

pjc50
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