Re: Putting C++ code into gcc front end

[Pop Sébastian <pop at gauvain dot u-strasbg dot fr>]

On Thu, Mar 06, 2003 at 05:53:42PM -0800, Per Bothner wrote:
> Personally, I'd love to re-write all of Gcc in C++,
> starting with using inheritance for tree nodes, so
> we can actually get some static type-checking.

I also think we could win in this rewriting. 

I already started to work in this direction and the first step 
would be to provide an interface for building the underlying 
structures.

For the tree level the interface would be something like:
- a build_<lang>_* interface for language specific trees
- a build_generic_* interface for building GENERIC trees
- a build_gimple_* interface for building GIMPLE trees

http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2002-09/msg01036.html

Once we removed all the dependencies on the structures via an 
appropriate interface, we're ready to switch to a better 
implementation. 

Since this interfacing work is quite intrusive (it will affect 
all the "build (" or "build1 (" functions), I would like it to go 
in the mainline instead of in a branch.  A new branch will contain 
the oo-trees that will (I hope) replace the current tree structures. 
The performances in compile time and the clarity of the design (this 
includes the documentation) will decide of the inclusion of this 
branch in mainline.  

	Sebastian