Re: [boost] Clang: Open-source C/C++ front end under development

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-09-01 15:52:30

on Sat Sep 01 2007, Chris Lattner <clattner-AT-apple.com> wrote:

> David's characterization is somewhat correct, but is also a bit  
> simplistic.  The LLVM project does certainly use templates (including  
> partial specialization etc), but we prefer to keep this as an  
> implementation detail in a library.  Exposing "complex" template code  
> through the public interface of a library generally make the library  
> "scary" to those developers who don't consider themselves to be C++  
> gurus.  This design point also reduces build time for the LLVM code  
> itself.

If you're building this framework as a bunch of libraries, that means
expressivity at all kinds of boundaries that would be strictly
"internal" in a monolithic compiler will be limited by your idea of
what may scare people.  Are you sure this constraint is a good idea?
Seems likely there are good reasons to templatize a lexer and lots of
other components in a C++ compiler.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
http://www.boost-consulting.com
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