On providing a high-level C interface for an object-oriented, C++ system

Abstract

We address the problem of providing a C language interface to a C++ system, with the explicit goals of keeping the cost of maintaining and extending the C interface low, and facilitating the transition of the C application to C++ in the long run. We describe an approach that satisfies these goals while efficiently using the C++ mechanisms of polymorphism and inheritance, and contrast our approach with the more traditional approach of creating a C binding by providing one C routine corresponding to every C++ method.