Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 20:10:17 +0200 From: Kai Grossjohann <kai@emptydomain.de> To: Daniela <dgw@liwest.at> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Beginning C++ in FreeBSD Message-ID: <87y8ouscfq.fsf@emptyhost.emptydomain.de> In-Reply-To: <200404162241.56535.dgw@liwest.at> (dgw@liwest.at's message of "Fri, 16 Apr 2004 22:41:56 %2B0000") References: <200404151110.i3FBAaoo048373@adsl-68-76-19-75.dsl.klmzmi.ameritech.net> <200404161720.37041.dgw@liwest.at> <87pta73bs2.fsf@emptyhost.emptydomain.de> <200404162241.56535.dgw@liwest.at>
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Daniela <dgw@liwest.at> writes: > On Friday 16 April 2004 20:31, Kai Grossjohann wrote: >> Daniela <dgw@liwest.at> writes: >> > What? C++ code is converted to C? Which compiler are you using, and >> > why the hell would a compiler do this? >> >> In the old days, C++ was implemented by a program called cfront, I >> believe, and it did convert C++ to C. >> >> If you can write a program that converts language X to C, then you get >> to take advantage of all the nifty optimizing C compilers out there. >> If you try to go the direct route to compiling into machine language, >> then you need to do the optimization part yourself. So converting >> into C as an intermediary language is an option that requires less >> work. > > There's no harm in doing the optimizing yourself. If you compile directly, > then you can optimize much more because you can take advantage of the > structure of the language. Two different languages always have different > strengths and weak points. What I was trying to say is that using C as an intermediary language reduces effort. Of course it is /possible/ to do the optimizing yourself, it is just more work. I think that "reducing effort" is a pretty damn good reason for doing something in a specific way. I hope that answers your "why the hell" question. > BTW, when I need somthing optimized, I'll do it in assembly anyway. *cough* Kai
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