Generating C++ code at runtime, compilling and running it.

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+1 Q:

Generating C++ code at runtime, compilling and running it.

Hi, is there a multiplatform c++ compiller that could be linked into any software ?

Lets say I want to generate c++ code at runtime, compile it and run it. I'm looking for a compact solution (bunch of classes), preferably LGPL/BSD licence :)

As far as I know it can be done in Java and c#. What about c++ ?

Thanks

+1 A:

This kind of thing is much much harder in C++, because the language doesn't use a virtual machine (or "runtime") that abstracts machine specifics away.

You could look into gcc, it's under the GPL IIRC, and ports exist for all major platforms.

tdammers 2010-09-24 11:11:28

+2 A:

Well maybe one of the modules of CLang will be of help? It's not dry yet on the C++ side but certainly will be soon.

Klaim 2010-09-24 11:11:59

Looks promising. Thanks.

Seba 2010-09-24 11:58:17

+3 A:

I don't know of any open source ones for C++, but if you want small and compact scripting and are not hung up on C++ LUA might be an option for you

Harald Scheirich 2010-09-24 11:14:06

+3 A:

I'd drop C++ altogether and use Google V8. If you wanted to use C++ because the people using your app only know this, they should have no difficulties going to javascript.

And it's damn fast. And Javascript is a cool language too.

Alexandre C. 2010-09-24 11:19:10

I was considering C++ bacause of performance. I wonder how much slower v8 runns js code compared to similar c++ code.

Seba 2010-09-24 11:57:31

there is just in time compilation with V8, soou should definitely benchmark. I believe however that the ease of use of V8 will offset the problems you'll encounter if you try to compile C++ code on the fly.

Alexandre C. 2010-09-24 11:59:47

+1 A:

I've done this years ago in Linux by generating C++-code into a file, compile it by shell execute (with gcc) and then linking in the generated library dynamically. The dynamic linking differs of course between platforms.

Zaphod 2010-09-24 12:42:09

Good thinking :)

Seba 2010-09-24 12:58:09

I did it once too (a parser were taking an equation, and C code was generated on the fly). The problem is that you need a full development environment, which you have to deploy with your application. On linux it is generally not a problem, but on other platforms it is. Moreover, there are security risks with this approach. Imho, scripting is superior, even in situations where you need speed.

Alexandre C. 2010-09-24 13:33:03

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Generating C++ code at runtime, compilling and running it.

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