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From: rodkay@dodo.com.au
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: C to Ada
Date: 25 Nov 2006 15:52:47 -0800
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Brian May wrote:
> >>>>> "rodkay" == rodkay  <rodkay@dodo.com.au> writes:
>
>     rodkay>    These attempt to generate Ada bindings to both C and
>     rodkay> C++ libraries.  The 'ada' module is for any Ada compiler,
>     rodkay> and produces bindings based on a 'proxy' approach. The
>     rodkay> 'gnat' compiler targets the GNAT family of compilers, and
>     rodkay> produces Ada types and objects which are the binary
>     rodkay> equivalent of their corresponding C/C++ types.
>
> I am still not clear on the difference - what is the 'proxy' approach?

   With the 'proxy' approach, the Ada type holds only a pointer to the
wrapped C++ object. When an object of the the Ada type is constructed,
a corresponding C++ object is created, and its pointer stored in the
Ada type object. All operations on the Ada object are then relayed to
its internal C++ object.

   The 'gnat' binary approach produces an Ada record layout which is
equivalent to the C++ class layout. Operations act directly on the Ada
object.



> Can I assume that the GNAT target uses GNAT specific features and
> won't work without GNAT??

   Yes, the 'gnat' SWIG module produces bindings which require a GNAT
compiler.

    Perhaps a similar approach (binary-compatible) for other compilers
might be attempted, after the existing modules have matured a little
more.