Re: Putting C++ code into gcc front end

[Zack Weinberg <zack at codesourcery dot com>]

dewar at gnat dot com (Robert Dewar) writes:

> Seriously, I think it is reasonable at this stage to admit C++ more
> widely. Yes, it may complicate build processes a bit, but gcc is a
> huge complex program, and anything that can make it easier to manage
> such a large program by improving abstraction seems a clear win to me.

C++ compilers and runtime libraries that implement the full language
as it was standardized are still rare.  Compilers that implement a
language called "C++" that is incompatible with standard C++ are still
common.

Therefore I think it is premature to consider use of C++ in the
language-independent parts of the compiler, or the C or C++ front
ends.  We should only use C++ in places where it does not force
the user to have a sufficiently new C++ compiler to begin with.

> That being said, I think that, just as GNAT uses a very simple
> straightforward subset of Ada, that is easily read even by those who
> are not Ada experts, it makes sense to approach the use of C++ with
> the same economy of style, and avoid getting too clever with
> language features.

Agree 100% with this point.

zw