[Opencxx-users] scriptable code generation

[Stefan S. <se...@sy...>]

hi there,

many moons ago we have discussed whether or not it would
be useful to expose the OpenC++ API to python and thus
to allow to drive the process of parsing and code generation
to be scripted.

As part of synopsis I'v done some experimentation, and
attached to this mail are some first results. The file
is a python script that uses python modules 'PTree',
'SymbolLookup', and 'Processor' to access the respective
APIs directly (this implements the design I posted earlier
last summer).
This particular example looks for function definitions
and inserts comments containing the function's name
at the beginning of each function block.

Beside the advantage we had discussed earlier to remove
the need for (portable) management of sub-processes, dynamic
modules, etc., there are also other advantages I can see:

With such a scripting approach, I'm seriously wondering
whether there is still a need to 'augment' the code in-place,
essentially changing the programming language.

Why not store the rules that drive the code manipulation
outside the code, as part of the script that drives the
processor ?

I have got quite positive comments from users who expressed
concern that the form of metaprogramming promoted by OpenC++
would require users not only to be expert in C++, but also
to know the additional dialects to use to drive the code
generation.

What do other OpenC++ users think ? What is the advantage
of this form of metaprogramming as opposed to scriptable
code manipulation driven by external rules ?

I'd appreciate any feedback,

		Stefan