Re: [boost] Better late than never - command line interface to on line code generator

Subject: Re: [boost] Better late than never - command line interface to on line code generator
From: Brian Wood (woodbrian77_at_[hidden])
Date: 2015-03-17 22:19:55

Rob Stewart writes:
> On March 17, 2015 4:04:39 PM EDT, Brian Wood <woodbrian77_at_[hidden]>
wrote:
>> In 2007 there was some discussion here about on line
>> code generation:
>
> Online generation of what kinds of code from what kinds of inputs?
>

The output is C++ serialization/middleware code.  One thing
it does is automate (and maintain) the creation of serialization
functions.

There are three kinds of input:

1. C++ header files.  It doesn't support template definitions,
but it can handle a lot of container classes.  Here's an
example of a header it can handle:

http://webEbenezer.net/misc/account_info.hh
.

2. Something called "middle" files.  These describe the
messages that you want to send and receive.  Here's some
middle code from a file called remote.mdl:

middle_messages_back
  @out (messageid_t, std::vector<cmw_account_info>)
  @out (messageid_t, cmw::marshalling_integer, cui_generator)
  @out (messageid_t)
}

----------------------- end of middle code
-----------------------------------

The name, "middle_messages_back," is used as the name
of a namespace in the generated output.  @out means you want
code generated to send a message.

3. Something called a request file that ties the first two types
of input together.  Here's an example:

Header                                    account_info.hh
Header                                    cui_generator.hh
Middle-File                               remote.mdl
Type-Used-for-Constants           int16_t

------------------------ end of request file
-------------------------------------

Header files are optional.  One middle file is required in a
request file.

And here's the output that's generated from those inputs:

http://webEbenezer.net/misc/zz.middle_messages_back.hh

>>
>> http://webEbenezer.net/build_integration.html
>
> That jumps right into the middle of the topic and assumes prior knowledge
of the
> context.
>
>> So now I would like to ask for further thoughts and
>> feedback.  How can it be improved?  It has support for some
>> Boost types and I'm open to adding support for more.  Tia.
>
> You might start by clarifying the purpose of the tool.

Ok, thanks for your comments.

-- 
Brian
Ebenezer Enterprises
http://webEbenezer.net