Implementing Signatures for C++
Gerald Baumgartner and Vincent F. Russo
Department of Computer Sciences
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
gb@cs.purdue.edu & russo@cs.purdue.edu
Abstract
In this paper we overview the design and implementation of a language
extension to C++ for abstracting types and for decoupling subtyping
and inheritance. This extension gives the user more of the
flexibility of dynamic typing while retaining the efficiency and
security of static typing. We discuss the syntax and semantics of this
language extension, show examples of its use, and present and analyze
the cost of three different implementation techniques: a preprocessor
to a C++ compiler, an implementation in the front end of a C++
compiler, and a low-level back-end based implementation.
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