Jan,

How do you plan to implement object-messaging ? using VTABLES ?
How about using a runtime messenger like Objective-C ? Using a runtime
messenger makes the backend much easier and simpler to write. Besides, type
introspection and message forwarding can be achieved easily. I think looking
at the GNU Objective-C sources should reveal valuable insight.

cheers,
-Krish

Hi Krish,

I have not gone that far yet. Yesterday I started looking more serious into
other compiler front-end implementations to see how we coule reuse existing
technology.
Of course initially we are going to use the GCC back-end. We are just writing a
GLUE layer to glue the D front-end to the GCC back-end. Any help and insight is
more than welcome.
I certainly will take a look at the GCC Objective-C implementation.

Jan



"V. Krishnakumar" wrote:

> Jan,
>
> How do you plan to implement object-messaging ? using VTABLES ?
> How about using a runtime messenger like Objective-C ? Using a runtime
> messenger makes the backend much easier and simpler to write. Besides, type
> introspection and message forwarding can be achieved easily. I think looking
> at the GNU Objective-C sources should reveal valuable insight.
>
> cheers,
> -Krish

"Jan Knepper" <jan@smartsoft.cc> wrote in message news:3D46E25F.3642255D@smartsoft.cc...
> Hi Krish,
>
> I have not gone that far yet. Yesterday I started looking more serious
into
> other compiler front-end implementations to see how we coule reuse
existing
> technology.

> Of course initially we are going to use the GCC back-end. We are just
writing a
> GLUE layer to glue the D front-end to the GCC back-end. Any help and
insight is
> more than welcome.
I'm talking about the backend. The GCC backend as I assume, provides an
infrastructure for code generation. You still have to map the oop stuff,
isnt it ? (or is my ignorance speaking here ?)  AFAIK, there are 3 models of
OOP impl:
1. the "SELF" approach
2. the VTABLE approach
3. the runtime messenger.

Option (3) seems to be the most flexible, but slightly slower.

> I certainly will take a look at the GCC Objective-C implementation.
>
And also look at some of the old archives of the objective-c mailing list. It contains a lot of valuable info.

-Krish