'\"
'\" Generated from file 'critcl_class\&.man' by tcllib/doctools with format 'nroff'
'\" Copyright (c) 2011-2018 Andreas Kupries
'\"
.TH "critcl::class" n 1\&.1\&.1 doc "C Runtime In Tcl (CriTcl)"
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.BS
.SH NAME
critcl::class \- CriTcl Utilities: C Classes
.SH SYNOPSIS
package require \fBTcl  8\&.4\fR
.sp
package require \fBcritcl  ?3\&.1\&.6?\fR
.sp
package require \fBcritcl::class  ?1\&.1\&.1?\fR
.sp
\fB::critcl::class::define\fR \fIname\fR \fIscript\fR
.sp
\fBinclude\fR \fIpath\fR
.sp
\fBsupport\fR \fIcode\fR
.sp
\fBtype\fR \fIname\fR
.sp
\fBclassconstructor\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBclassdestructor\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBconstructor\fR \fIbody\fR ?\fIpostbody\fR?
.sp
\fBdestructor\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBclassvariable\fR \fIctype\fR \fIname\fR ?\fIcomment\fR? ?\fIconstructor\fR? ?\fIdestructor\fR?
.sp
\fBclassmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBcommand\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBclassmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBproc\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIresulttype\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBclassmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBas\fR \fIfunname\fR ?\fIarg\fR\&.\&.\&.?
.sp
\fBinsvariable\fR \fIctype\fR \fIname\fR ?\fIcomment\fR? ?\fIconstructor\fR? ?\fIdestructor\fR?
.sp
\fBmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBcommand\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBproc\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIresulttype\fR \fIbody\fR
.sp
\fBmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBas\fR \fIfunname\fR ?\fIarg\fR\&.\&.\&.?
.sp
\fBmethod_introspection\fR
.sp
.BE
.SH DESCRIPTION
.PP
\fIC Runtime In Tcl\fR, or \fICriTcl\fR , is a system for compiling C code
embedded in Tcl on the fly and either loading the resulting objects into Tcl for
immediate use or packaging them for distribution\&.  Use \fICriTcl\fR to improve
performance by rewriting in C those routines that are performance bottlenecks\&.
.PP
This document is the reference manpage for the \fBcritcl::class\fR
package\&. This package provides convenience commands for advanced
functionality built on top of the core\&.
.PP
With it a user wishing to create a C level object with class
and instance commands can concentrate on specifying the class- and
instance-variables and -methods in a manner similar to a TclOO class,
while all the necessary boilerplate around it is managed by this
package\&.
.PP
Its intended audience are mainly developers wishing to write
Tcl packages with embedded C code\&.
.PP
This package resides in the Core Package Layer of CriTcl\&.
.PP
.PS
.nf
+----------------+
|Applications    |
| critcl         |
| critcl::app    |
+----------------+

*================*
|Core Packages   |
| critcl         |
| critcl::util   |
*================*

+----------------+
|Support Packages|
| stubs::*       |
| md5, platform  |
|  \&.\&.\&.           |
+----------------+

.fi
.PE
.PP
.SH API
.TP
\fB::critcl::class::define\fR \fIname\fR \fIscript\fR
This is the main command to define a new class \fIname\fR, where
\fIname\fR is the name of the Tcl command representing the class,
i\&.e\&. the \fIclass command\fR\&. The \fIscript\fR provides the
specification of the class, i\&.e\&. information about included headers,
class- and instance variables, class- and instance-methods, etc\&.
See the section \fBClass Specification API\fR below for the
detailed list of the available commands and their semantics\&.
.PP
.SH "CLASS SPECIFICATION API"
Here we documents all class specification commands available inside of
the class definition script argument of \fB::critcl::class::define\fR\&.
.SS "GENERAL CONFIGURATION"
.TP
\fBinclude\fR \fIpath\fR
This command specifies the path of a header file to include within the
code generated for the class\&. This is separate from the \fBsupport\fR
because the generated include directives will be put at the very
beginning of the generated code\&. This is done to allow the use of the
imported declarations within the instance type, and elsewhere\&.
.sp
Calls to this command are cumulative\&.
It is of course possible to not use this command at all, for classes
not making use of external definitions\&.
.sp
The result is the empty string\&.
.TP
\fBsupport\fR \fIcode\fR
This command specifies supporting C code, i\&.e\&. any definitions (types,
functions, etc\&.) needed by the \fIwhole\fR class and not fitting into
class- and instance-methods\&. The code is embedded at global level,
outside of any function or other definition\&.
.sp
Calls to this command are cumulative\&.
It is of course possible to not use this command at all, for classes
not requiring supporting code\&.
.sp
The result of the command is the empty string\&.
.TP
\fBtype\fR \fIname\fR
This command specifies the name of an external C type to be used as
the type of the instance structure\&.
.sp
Initialization and release of the structure with the given type
are the responsibility of the user, through \fBconstructor\fR and
\fBdestructor\fR code fragments\&.
.sp
\fIAttention:\fR Using this command precludes the use of
regular class- and instance variables\&. It further precludes the use of
\fBmethod-introspection\fR as well, as this make use of generated
instance-variables\&.
.sp
If class- and/or instance-variable have to be used in
conjunction with an external C type, simply create and use a class- or
instance-variable with that type\&.
.sp
The result of the command is the empty string\&.
.PP
.SS "CLASS LIFETIME MANAGEMENT"
.TP
\fBclassconstructor\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies a C code block surrounding the initialization
of the class variables, i\&.e\&. the fields of the class structure\&.
\fINote\fR that allocation and release of the class structure itself
is done by the system andf not the responsibility of the user\&.
.sp
For the initialization (and release) of a class variable it is
recommended to use the \fIconstructor\fR and \fIdestructor\fR
arguments of the variable's definition (See command
\fBclassvariable\fR) for this instead of using a separate
\fBclassconstructor\fR\&.
.sp
This is an optional command\&. Using it more than once is allowed
too and each use will add another C code fragment to use during
construction\&. I\&.e\&. multiple calls aggregate\&.
.sp
The C code blocks of multiple calls (including the constructors
of classvariable definitions) are executed in order of specification\&.
.sp
The result of the command is the empty string\&.
.sp
The C code in \fIbody\fR has access to the following
environment:
.RS
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
class structure will be associated with\&. It enables the generation
of a Tcl error message should construction fail\&.
.TP
\fBclass\fR
Pointer to the class structure to initialize\&.
.TP
error
A C code label the constructor can jump to should it have
to signal a construction failure\&. It is the responsibility of the
constructor to release any variables already initialized before
jumping to this label\&. This also why the 'execution in order of
specification' is documented and can be relied on\&. It gives us the
knowledge which other constructors have already been run and
initialized what other fields\&.
.RE
.TP
\fBclassdestructor\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies a C code block surrounding the release of the
class variables, i\&.e\&. the fields of the class structure\&.
\fINote\fR that allocation and release of the class structure itself
is done by the system and not the responsibility of the user\&.
.sp
For the initialization (and release) of a class variable it is
recommended to use the \fIconstructor\fR and \fIdestructor\fR
arguments of the variable's definition (See command
\fBclassvariable\fR) for this instead of using a separate
\fBclassconstructor\fR\&.
.sp
This is an optional command\&. Using it more than once is allowed
too and each use will add another C code fragment to use during
construction\&. I\&.e\&. multiple calls aggregate\&.
.sp
The C code blocks of multiple calls (including the constructors
of class variable definitions) are executed in order of specification\&.
.sp
The result of the command is the empty string\&.
.sp
The C code in \fIbody\fR has access to the same
environment as the class constructor code blocks\&.
.PP
.SS "INSTANCE LIFETIME MANAGEMENT"
.TP
\fBconstructor\fR \fIbody\fR ?\fIpostbody\fR?
This command specifies a C code block surrounding the initialization
of the instance variables, i\&.e\&. the fields of the instance structure\&.
\fINote\fR that allocation and release of the instance structure
itself is done by the system and not the responsibility of the user\&.
\fIOn the other hand\fR, if an external \fBtype\fR was specified
for the instance structure, then instance variables are not possible,
and the system has no knowledge of the type's structure\&. In that case
it is the responsibility of the \fIbody\fR to allocate and free the
structure itself too\&.
.sp
For the initialization (and release) of an instance variable it
is recommended to use the \fIconstructor\fR and \fIdestructor\fR
arguments of the variable's definition (See command \fBinsvariable\fR)
for this instead of using a separate \fBconstructor\fR\&.
.sp
This is an optional command\&. Using it more than once is allowed
too and each use will add another C code fragment to use during
construction\&. I\&.e\&. multiple calls aggregate\&.
.sp
The C code blocks of multiple calls (including the constructors
of instance variable definitions) are executed in order of specification\&.
.sp
The result of the command is the empty string\&.
.sp
The C code in \fIbody\fR has access to the following
environment:
.RS
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
instance structure will be associated with\&. It enables the generation
of a Tcl error message should construction fail\&.
.TP
\fBinstance\fR
Pointer to the instance structure to initialize\&.
.TP
error
A C code label the constructor can jump to should it have
to signal a construction failure\&. It is the responsibility of the
constructor to release any variables already initialized before
jumping to this label\&. This also why the 'execution in order of
specification' is documented and can be relied on\&. It gives us the
knowledge which other constructors have already been run and
initialized what other fields\&.
.RE
.sp
The C code in \fIpostbody\fR is responsible for construction
actions to be done after the primary construction was done and the
Tcl-level instance command was successfully created\&. It has access to
a slightly different environment:
.RS
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
instance structure will be associated with\&. It enables the generation
of a Tcl error message should construction fail\&.
.TP
\fBinstance\fR
Pointer to the instance structure to initialize\&.
.TP
\fBcmd\fR
The Tcl_Command token of the Tcl-level instance
command\&.
.TP
\fBfqn\fR
The fully qualified name of the instance command,
stored in a Tcl_Obj*\&.
.RE
.TP
\fBdestructor\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies a C code block surrounding the release of the
instance variables, i\&.e\&. the fields of the instance structure\&.
\fINote\fR that allocation and release of the instance structure
itself is done by the system and not the responsibility of the user\&.
\fIOn the other hand\fR, if an external \fBtype\fR was specified
for the instance structure, then instance variables are not possible,
and the system has no knowledge of the type's structure\&. In that case
it is the responsibility of the \fIbody\fR to allocate and free the
structure itself too\&.
.sp
For the initialization (and release) of an instance variable it
is recommended to use the \fIconstructor\fR and \fIdestructor\fR
arguments of the variable's definition (See command \fBinsvariable\fR)
for this instead of using a separate \fBconstructor\fR\&.
.sp
This is an optional command\&. Using it more than once is allowed
too and each use will add another C code fragment to use during
construction\&. I\&.e\&. multiple calls aggregate\&.
.sp
The C code blocks of multiple calls (including the constructors
of instance variable definitions) are executed in order of specification\&.
.sp
The result of the command is the empty string\&.
.sp
The C code in \fIbody\fR has access to the following
environment:
.RS
.TP
\fBinstance\fR
Pointer to the instance structure to release\&.
.RE
.PP
.SS "CLASS VARIABLES AND METHODS"
.TP
\fBclassvariable\fR \fIctype\fR \fIname\fR ?\fIcomment\fR? ?\fIconstructor\fR? ?\fIdestructor\fR?
This command specifies a field in the class structure of the class\&.
Multiple fields can be specified, and are saved in the order
specified\&.
.sp
\fIAttention:\fR Specification of a class variable precludes
the use of an external C \fBtype\fR for the instance structure\&.
.sp
\fIAttention:\fR Specification of a class variable
automatically causes the definition of an instance variable named
\fBclass\fR, pointing to the class structure\&.
.sp
Beyond the basic \fIname\fR and C type of the new variable the
definition may also contain a \fIcomment\fR describing it, and C code
blocks to initialize and release the variable\&.
These are effectively local forms of the commands
\fBclassconstructor\fR and \fBclassdestructor\fR\&. Please read their
descriptions for details regarding the C environment available to the
code\&.
.sp
The comment, if specified will be embedded into the generated C
code for easier cross-referencing from generated "\fI\&.c\fR" file to
class specification\&.
.TP
\fBclassmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBcommand\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies a class method and the C code block
implementing its functionality\&. This is the first of three forms\&. The
method is specified like a \fBcritcl::ccommand\fR, with a fixed set of
C-level arguments\&. The \fIbody\fR has to perform everything
(i\&.e\&. argument extraction, checking, result return, and of course the
actual functionality) by itself\&.
.sp
For this the \fIbody\fR has access to
.RS
.TP
\fBclass\fR
Pointer to the class structure\&.
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
class structure is associated with
.TP
\fBobjc\fR
The number of method arguments\&.
.TP
\fBobjv\fR
The method arguments, as C array of Tcl_Obj pointers\&.
.RE
.IP
The \fIarguments\fR of the definition are only a human readable form
of the method arguments and syntax and are not used in the C code,
except as comments put into the generated code\&. Again, it is the
responsibility of the \fIbody\fR to check the number of arguments,
extract them, check their types, etc\&.
.TP
\fBclassmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBproc\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIresulttype\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies a class method and the C code block
implementing its functionality\&.  This is the second of three forms\&. The
method is specified like a \fBcritcl::cproc\fR\&.
Contrary to the first variant here the \fIarguments\fR are computer
readable, expected to be in the same format as the \fIarguments\fR of
\fBcritcl::cproc\fR\&. The same is true for the \fIresulttype\fR\&.
The system automatically generates a wrapper doing argument checking
and conversion, and result conversion, like for \fBcritcl::cproc\fR\&.
.sp
The \fIbody\fR has access to
.RS
.TP
\fBclass\fR
Pointer to the class structure\&.
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
class structure is associated with
.TP
\&.\&.\&.
All \fIarguments\fR under their specified names and C types
as per their definition\&.
.RE
.TP
\fBclassmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBas\fR \fIfunname\fR ?\fIarg\fR\&.\&.\&.?
This command specifies a class method and the C code block
implementing its functionality\&. This is the third and last of three
forms\&.
.sp
The class method is implemented by the external function
\fIfunname\fR, i\&.e\&. a function which is declared outside of the class
code itself, or in a \fBsupport\fR block\&.
.sp
It is assumed that the first four arguments of that function
represent the parameters
.RS
.TP
\fBclass\fR
Pointer to the class structure\&.
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
class structure is associated with
.TP
\fBobjc\fR
The number of method arguments\&.
.TP
\fBobjv\fR
The method arguments, as C array of Tcl_Obj pointers\&.
.RE
.IP
Any additional arguments specified will be added after these and are
passed into the C code as is, i\&.e\&. are considered to be C expressions\&.
.PP
.SS "INSTANCE VARIABLES AND METHODS"
.TP
\fBinsvariable\fR \fIctype\fR \fIname\fR ?\fIcomment\fR? ?\fIconstructor\fR? ?\fIdestructor\fR?
This command specifies a field in the instance structure of the class\&.
Multiple fields can be specified, and are saved in the order
specified\&.
.sp
\fIAttention:\fR Specification of an instance variable
precludes the use of an external C \fBtype\fR for the instance
structure\&.
.sp
\fIAttention:\fR Specification of an instance variable
automatically causes the definition of an instance variable of type
\fBTcl_Command\fR, and named \fBcmd\fR, holding the token of the
instance command, and the definition of an instance method named
\fBdestroy\fR\&. This implicit instance variable is managed by the
system\&.
.sp
Beyond the basic \fIname\fR and C type of the new variable the
definition may also contain a \fIcomment\fR describing it, and C code
blocks to initialize and release the variable\&.
These are effectively local forms of the commands \fBconstructor\fR
and \fBdestructor\fR\&. Please read their descriptions for details
regarding the C environment available to the code\&.
.sp
The comment, if specified will be embedded into the generated C
code for easier cross-referencing from generated "\fI\&.c\fR" file to
class specification\&.
.TP
\fBmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBcommand\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies an instance method and the C code block
implementing its functionality\&. This is the first of three forms\&. The
method is specified like a \fBcritcl::ccommand\fR, with a fixed set of
C-level arguments\&. The \fIbody\fR has to perform everything
(i\&.e\&. argument extraction, checking, result return, and of course the
actual functionality) by itself\&.
.sp
For this the \fIbody\fR has access to
.RS
.TP
\fBinstance\fR
Pointer to the instance structure\&.
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
instance structure is associated with
.TP
\fBobjc\fR
The number of method arguments\&.
.TP
\fBobjv\fR
The method arguments, as C array of Tcl_Obj pointers\&.
.RE
.IP
The \fIarguments\fR of the definition are only a human readable form
of the method arguments and syntax and are not used in the C code,
except as comments put into the generated code\&. Again, it is the
responsibility of the \fIbody\fR to check the number of arguments,
extract them, check their types, etc\&.
.TP
\fBmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBproc\fR \fIarguments\fR \fIresulttype\fR \fIbody\fR
This command specifies an instance method and the C code block
implementing its functionality\&.  This is the second of three
forms\&. The method is specified like a \fBcritcl::cproc\fR\&.
Contrary to the first variant here the \fIarguments\fR are computer
readable, expected to be in the same format as the \fIarguments\fR of
\fBcritcl::cproc\fR\&. The same is true for the \fIresulttype\fR\&.
The system automatically generates a wrapper doing argument checking
and conversion, and result conversion, like for \fBcritcl::cproc\fR\&.
.sp
The \fIbody\fR has access to
.RS
.TP
\fBinstance\fR
Pointer to the instance structure\&.
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
instance structure is associated with
.TP
\&.\&.\&.
All \fIarguments\fR under their specified names and C types
as per their definition\&.
.RE
.TP
\fBmethod\fR \fIname\fR \fBas\fR \fIfunname\fR ?\fIarg\fR\&.\&.\&.?
This command specifies an instance method and the C code block
implementing its functionality\&. This is the third and last of three
forms\&.
.sp
The instance method is implemented by the external function
\fIfunname\fR, i\&.e\&. a function which is declared outside of the instance
code itself, or in a \fBsupport\fR block\&.
.sp
It is assumed that the first four arguments of that function
represent the parameters
.RS
.TP
\fBinstance\fR
Pointer to the instance structure\&.
.TP
\fBinterp\fR
Pointer to the Tcl interpreter (Tcl_Interp*) the
instance structure is associated with
.TP
\fBobjc\fR
The number of method arguments\&.
.TP
\fBobjv\fR
The method arguments, as C array of Tcl_Obj pointers\&.
.RE
.IP
Any additional arguments specified will be added after these and are
passed into the C code as is, i\&.e\&. are considered to be C expressions\&.
.TP
\fBmethod_introspection\fR
This command generates one class- and one instance-method both of
which will return a list of the instance methods of the class, and
supporting structures, like the function to compute the information,
and a class variable caching it\&.
.sp
The two methods and the class variable are all named
\fBmethods\fR\&.
.PP
.SS "CONTEXT DEPENDENT INTERACTIONS"
This section documents the various interactions between the
specification commands\&. While these are are all documented with the
individual commands here they are pulled together to see at a glance\&.
.IP [1]
If you are using the command \fBtype\fR to specify an external
C type to use for the instance structure you are subject to
the following constraints and rules:
.RS
.IP [1]
You cannot define your own instance variables\&.
.IP [2]
You cannot define your own class variables\&.
.IP [3]
You cannot use \fBmethod_introspection\fR\&.
.IP [4]
You have to allocate and release the instance structure on your
own, through \fBconstructor\fR and \fBdestructor\fR code blocks\&.
.RE
.IP [2]
If you declare class variables you are subject to the
following constraints and rules:
.RS
.IP [1]
You cannot use \fBtype\fR\&.
.IP [2]
The system generates an instance variable \fBclass\fR for
you, which points from instance to class structure\&. This makes
you also subject to the rules below, for instance variables\&.
.RE
.IP [3]
If you declare instance variables (possibly automatic, see
above) you are subject to following constraints and rules:
.RS
.IP [1]
You cannot use \fBtype\fR\&.
.IP [2]
The system generates and manages an instance variable
\fBcmd\fR for you, which holds the Tcl_Command token
of the instance command\&.
.IP [3]
The system generates an instance method \fBdestroy\fR for
you\&.
.IP [4]
The system manages allocation and release of the instance
structure for you\&. You have to care only about the instance
variables themselves\&.
.RE
.PP
.SH EXAMPLE
The example shown below is the specification of queue data structure,
with most of the method implementations and support code omitted to
keep the size down\&.
.PP
The full implementation can be found in the directory
"\fIexamples/queue\fR" of the critcl source distribution/repository\&.
.CS


package require Tcl 8\&.4
package require critcl 3\&.1

critcl::buildrequirement {
    package require critcl::class ; # DSL, easy spec of Tcl class/object commands\&.
}

critcl::cheaders util\&.h

critcl::class::define ::queuec {
    include util\&.h

    insvariable Tcl_Obj* unget {
	List object unget elements
    } {
	instance->unget = Tcl_NewListObj (0,NULL);
	Tcl_IncrRefCount (instance->unget);
    } {
	Tcl_DecrRefCount (instance->unget);
    }

    insvariable Tcl_Obj* queue {
	List object holding the main queue
    } {
	instance->queue = Tcl_NewListObj (0,NULL);
	Tcl_IncrRefCount (instance->queue);
    } {
	Tcl_DecrRefCount (instance->queue);
    }

    insvariable Tcl_Obj* append {
	List object holding new elements
    } {
	instance->append = Tcl_NewListObj (0,NULL);
	Tcl_IncrRefCount (instance->append);
    } {
	Tcl_DecrRefCount (instance->append);
    }

    insvariable int at {
	Index of next element to return from the main queue
    } {
	instance->at = 0;
    }

    support {\&.\&.\&. queue_peekget, queue_size, etc\&.}

    method clear {} {\&.\&.\&.}
    method destroy {\&.\&.\&.}

    method get  as queue_peekget 1
    method peek as queue_peekget 0

    method put {item \&.\&.\&.}

    method size {} {
	if ((objc != 2)) {
	    Tcl_WrongNumArgs (interp, 2, objv, NULL);
	    return TCL_ERROR;
	}

	Tcl_SetObjResult (interp, Tcl_NewIntObj (queue_size (instance, NULL, NULL, NULL)));
	return TCL_OK;
    }

    method unget {item} {\&.\&.\&.}
}

package provide queuec 1

.CE
.SH AUTHORS
Andreas Kupries
.SH "BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK"
This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain
bugs and other problems\&.
Please report such at \fIhttps://github\&.com/andreas-kupries/critcl\fR\&.
Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have for either
package and/or documentation\&.
.SH KEYWORDS
C class, C code, C instance, C object, Embedded C Code, code generator, compile & run, compiler, dynamic code generation, dynamic compilation, generate package, linker, on demand compilation, on-the-fly compilation
.SH CATEGORY
Glueing/Embedded C code
.SH COPYRIGHT
.nf
Copyright (c) 2011-2018 Andreas Kupries

.fi
