A scripting language interface to C++ libraries

The author discusses how one can generate wrapper code that allows existing C++ class libraries to be accessed from scripting languages such as Tcl and Perl. Previously suggested approaches to this problem are reviewed and compared. He points out some problems related to the C++ object model and the difficulties introduced by advanced C++ constructs such as templates, nested types, type definitions, temporaries, implicit casts, multiple inheritance and overloading. He argues that it is necessary to support all of these features, as they are used frequently in all modern C++ libraries. A new system called TIDE, which integrates C++ and Tcl, is presented and he describes the ideas behind its design. As an example, he shows how TIDE can be used for accessing the ISO C++ draft standard library.