NAME

idl2xs_c - IDL compiler to extension interface between Perl and C code

SYNOPSIS

idl2xs_c [options] spec.idl

OPTIONS

All options are forwarded to C preprocessor, except -h -i -J -v -x.

With the GNU C Compatible Compiler Processor, useful options are :

-D name

-D name=definition

-I directory

-I-

-nostdinc

Specific options :

-h

Display help.

-i directory

Specify a path for import (only for version 3.0).

-J directory

Specify a path for Perl package importation (use package;).

-v

Display version.

-x

Enable export (only for version 3.0).

DESCRIPTION

idl2xs_c is an alternative to h2xs and XS language when an IDL interface is available.

idl2xs_c parses the given input file (IDL) and generates :

• a Perl stub spec.pm

  (deals with CDR serialization, and autoload)

• a C stub spec.c

  (deals with Perl API)

• a C stub cdr_spec.c

  (deals with CDR serialization)

• a include file spec.h

  (following the language C mapping rules)

• a C skeleton skel_spec.c (with automatic merge)

• Makefile.PL

• Makefile

  (from Makefile.PL)

• test.pl

• MANIFEST

• Changes

The files Makefile, Makefile.PL, Changes, MANIFEST, test.pl and spec.c are generated only if spec.idl contains operation or attribute.

idl2xs_c is a Perl OO application what uses the visitor design pattern. The parser is generated by Parse::Yapp.

idl2xs_c needs a cpp executable.

idl2xs_c needs CORBA::IDL, CORBA::C and CORBA::Perl modules.

CORBA Specifications, including (IDL : Interface Language Definition and CDR : Common Data Representation) and C Language Mapping are available on <http://www.omg.org/>.

CORBA mapping for Perl [mapping.pod - Draft 1, 7 October 1999] comes with the package CORBA::MICO or CORBA::ORBit.

Exceptions are implemented using the Error module.

TUTORIAL

EXAMPLE 1

The file Calc.idl describes the interface of a simple calculator.

First, run :

    idl2xs_c Calc.idl

Second, in skel_Calc.c complete each methode between tag START_EDIT and STOP_EDIT :

    // IDL : long Add(in long val1, in long val2);

    CORBA_long
    Calc_Add(
        Calc _o,
        CORBA_long val1, // in (fixed length)
        CORBA_long val2, // in (fixed length)
        CORBA_Environment * _ev
    )
    {
    /* START_EDIT (Calc_Add) */
        return val1 + val2;
    /* STOP_EDIT (Calc_Add) */
    }

Third, build :

    make
    make test
    make install

Fourth, if you use Test::Unit, you can continue with :

    cd testunit
    testrunner suite_calc

Finally, using the extension module :

    use Calc;
    my $calc = new Calc();
    print $calc->Add(2, 3);

EXAMPLE 2

Now, a complex calculator with two IDL files.

Cplx.idl contains :

    module Cplx {
        struct Complex {
            float   re;
            float   im;
        };
    };

and CalcCplx.idl contains :

    #include "Cplx.idl"
    interface CalcCplx {
        Cplx::Complex Add(in Cplx::Complex val1, in Cplx::Complex val2);
        Cplx::Complex Sub(in Cplx::Complex val1, in Cplx::Complex val2);
    };

First, run :

    idl2xs_c Cplx.idl
    idl2xs_c CalcCplx.idl

Second, complete skel_CplxCalc.c.

Third, build :

    make
    make test
    make install

EXAMPLE 3

Variante of a complex calculator with two IDL files. This is another decomposition of IDL specification.

Cplx.idl is the same, CalcCplx.idl contains :

    #include "Cplx.idl"
    module Cplx {
        interface CalcCplx {
            Complex Add(in Complex val1, in Complex val2);
            Complex Sub(in Complex val1, in Complex val2);
        };
    };

The build process is the same.

SEE ALSO

cpp, perl, idl2html, idl2c

COPYRIGHT

(c) 2002-2007 Francois PERRAD, France. All rights reserved.

This program and all CORBA::XS modules are distributed under the terms of the Artistic Licence.

AUTHOR

Francois PERRAD, francois.perrad@gadz.org

cpanm CORBA::XS

perl -MCPAN -e shell
install CORBA::XS