gencpp/Readme.md
2024-12-15 22:53:32 -05:00

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# gencpp
An attempt at simple staged metaprogramming for C/C++. Reflect and generate code for your codebase at runtime!
![splash](./docs/assets/Code_-_Insiders_2024-12-15_22-52-13.gif)
The library API is a composition of code element constructors, and a non-standards-compliant single-pass C/C++ parser.
These build up a code AST to then serialize with a file builder, or can be traversed for staged-reflection of C/C++ code.
This code base attempts follow the [handmade philosophy](https://handmade.network/manifesto).
Its not meant to be a black box metaprogramming utility, it should be easy to integrate into a user's project domain.
## Documentation
* [docs - General](./docs/Readme.md): Overview and additional docs
* [AST_Design](./docs/AST_Design.md): Overview of ASTs
* [AST Types](./docs/AST_Types.md): Listing of all AST types along with their Code type interface.
* [Parsing](./docs/Parsing.md): Overview of the parsing interface.
* [Parser Algo](./docs/Parser_Algo.md): In-depth breakdown of the parser's implementation.
* [base](./base/Readme.md): Essential (base) library.
* [gen_c_library](./gen_c_library/): C11 library variant generation (single header and segmented).
* [gen_segmented](./gen_segmented/): Segmented C++ (`gen.<hpp/cpp>`, `gen.dep.<hpp/cpp>`) generation
* [gen_singleheader](./gen_singleheader/): Singlehader C++ generation `gen.hpp`
* [gen_unreal_engine](./gen_unreal_engine/): Unreal Engine thirdparty code generation.
## Notes
This project is still in development (very much an alpha state), so expect bugs and missing features.
See [issues](https://github.com/Ed94/gencpp/issues) for a list of known bugs or todos.
The library can already be used to generate code just fine, but the parser is where the most work is needed. If your C++ isn't "down to earth" expect issues.
A `natvis` and `natstepfilter` are provided in the scripts directory (its outdated, I'll update this readme when its not).
*Minor update: I've been using [RAD Debugger](https://github.com/EpicGamesExt/raddebugger) with this and the code structures should be easy to debug even without natvis.*
## Usage
A metaprogram is built to generate files before the main program is built. We'll term runtime for this program as `GEN_TIME`. The metaprogram's core implementation are within `gen.hpp` and `gen.cpp` in the project directory.
`gen.cpp` \`s `main()` is defined as `gen_main()` which the user will have to define once for their program. There they may reflect and/or generate code.
In order to keep the locality of this code within the same files the following pattern may be used (although this pattern isn't the best to use):
Within `program.cpp` :
```cpp
#ifdef GEN_TIME
#include "gen.hpp"
...
u32 gen_main()
{
gen::Context ctx;
gen::init(& ctx);
...
gen::deinit(& ctx);
return 0;
}
#endif
// "Stage" agnostic code.
#ifndef GEN_TIME
#include "program.gen.cpp"
// Regular runtime dependent on the generated code here.
#endif
```
The design uses a constructive builder API for the code to generate.
The user is provided `Code` objects that are used to build up the AST.
Example using each construction interface:
### Upfront
Validation and construction through a functional interface.
```cpp
Code t_uw = def_type( name(usize) );
Code t_allocator = def_type( name(allocator) );
Code t_string_const = def_type( name(char), def_specifiers( args( ESpecifier::Const, ESpecifier::Ptr ) ));
Code header;
{
Code num = def_variable( t_uw, name(Num) );
Code cap = def_variable( t_uw, name(Capacity) );
Code mem_alloc = def_variable( t_allocator, name(Allocator) );
Code body = def_struct_body( args( num, cap, mem_alloc ) );
header = def_struct( name(ArrayHeader), __, __, body );
}
```
### Parse
Validation through ast construction.
```cpp
Code header = parse_struct( code(
struct ArrayHeader
{
usize Num;
usize Capacity;
allocator Allocator;
};
));
```
### Untyped
No validation, just glorified text injection.
```cpp
Code header = code_str(
struct ArrayHeader
{
usize Num;
usize Capacity;
allocator Allocator;
};
);
```
`name` is a helper macro for providing a string literal with its size, intended for the name parameter of functions.
`code` is a helper macro for providing a string literal with its size, but intended for code string parameters.
`args` is a helper macro for providing the number of arguments to varadic constructors.
`code_str` is a helper macro for writing `untyped_str( code( <content> ))`
All three construction interfaces will generate the following C code:
```cpp
struct ArrayHeader
{
usize Num;
usize Capacity;
allocator Allocator;
};
```
**Note: The formatting shown here is not how it will look. For your desired formatting its recommended to run a pass through the files with an auto-formatter.**
*(The library currently uses clang-format for formatting, beware its pretty slow...)*
## Building
See the [scripts directory](scripts/).