Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Singh, Hermanpreet
Author's Email Address	hsingh@vt.edu
URN	etd-11292004-155755
Title	Introspective C++
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Computer Science
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Gracanin, Denis Committee Chair Bohner, Shawn A. Committee Member Edwards, Stephen H. Committee Member
Keywords	introspection templates metaprogramming c++
Date of Defense	2004-08-20
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Introspection has become a significant language feature to enable new component technologies. It enables such capabilities as runtime component discovery, new levels of component flexibility and change tolerance, dynamic reconfiguration and system self healing. Three levels of introspection are discussed: simple type identification, structural introspection, and behavioral introspection The C++ programming language offers type identification, but neither structural or behavioral introspection. Through its use and combination of several language features, C++ has provided a flexible system for achieving some of the features of introspection without explicitly providing it. Features such as templates, operator overloading, polymorphism, and multiple inheritance have allowed software systems in C++ to build flexible components that tolerate change and support dynamic reconfiguration and self healing. The template system in particular has recently been shown to be more capable than expected, being Turing complete in its own right. Despite their existing capabilities, the language features have their limits and would benefit from an introspective mechanism. Unlike traditional introspective systems that execute solely at run-time, Introspective C++ has chosen a compile-time approach that tightly integrates with the template mechanism. This approach enables interaction with the other language mechanisms during the compilation, enabling the resolution of many introspective questions before the compiled program is ever run. Furthermore, the mechanism can serve as a base for developing run-time introspective systems.
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