Hi!
I found an interesting library which I think I can find useful (specifically, nb++). The problem is, the library is implemented as a C++ class, and I program in C.

The library doesn't seem to have any C bindings, and (not that I have a problem with C++) I don't want to spend the time learning another language just to use this library....

Does anyone know if/how it's possible to use a C++ library in C without bindings?
Sincerely,
Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
jack_mudge@hotmail.com

As you suspected c can not normally call c++ functions, nor can c call java functions, html, pascal, cobol, ada, and a host of functions written in other languages. You might be able to port the library to c, but that might take longer than taking the time to learn c++.

: As you suspected c can not normally call c++ functions, nor can c call java functions, html, pascal, cobol, ada, and a host of functions written in other languages. You might be able to port the library to c, but that might take longer than taking the time to learn c++.
:

How is it that bindings work, then?

I have the python bindings for ncurses installed on my system, allowing me to use python to write ncurses programs (though ncurses is a C library).

Perhaps a similar thing is possible for using a C++ Library in C?
Sincerely,
Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
jack_mudge@hotmail.com

: : As you suspected c can not normally call c++ functions, nor can c call java functions, html, pascal, cobol, ada, and a host of functions written in other languages. You might be able to port the library to c, but that might take longer than taking the time to learn c++.
: :
:
: How is it that bindings work, then?
:
: I have the python bindings for ncurses installed on my system, allowing me to use python to write ncurses programs (though ncurses is a C library).
:
: Perhaps a similar thing is possible for using a C++ Library in C?

Notice I said C can't normally call functions written in those other languages because C does not know their calling convention -- it doesn't know how the parameters are pushed and popped on/off the stack, or even if they are pushed/popped. The reverse is not necessarily true -- phthon can call C functions because the phthon language itself included capability to call them. But I'll bet phthon can not call c++ functions without you writing C wappers for the c++ functions.

At least two reasons it is difficult, if not impossible, for other languages to call c++ functions:

(1) name mangling: c++ compilers change the name of the functions to make them unique in the program. This allows c++ programmers to write two or more functions that have the same name but different parameters (called function overloading). This is problematic for other languages because they normally do not know how the c++ functions are named within the library file.

(2) Non-static c++ class functions have hidden parameters (called the this parameter). Other languages don't know how to pass this parameter.

: : : As you suspected c can not normally call c++ functions, nor can c call java functions, html, pascal, cobol, ada, and a host of functions written in other languages. You might be able to port the library to c, but that might take longer than taking the time to learn c++.
: : :
: :
: : How is it that bindings work, then?
: :
: : I have the python bindings for ncurses installed on my system, allowing me to use python to write ncurses programs (though ncurses is a C library).
: :
: : Perhaps a similar thing is possible for using a C++ Library in C?
:
: Notice I said C can't normally call functions written in those other languages because C does not know their calling convention -- it doesn't know how the parameters are pushed and popped on/off the stack, or even if they are pushed/popped. The reverse is not necessarily true -- phthon can call C functions because the phthon language itself included capability to call them. But I'll bet phthon can not call c++ functions without you writing C wappers for the c++ functions.
:
: At least two reasons it is difficult, if not impossible, for other languages to call c++ functions:
:
: (1) name mangling: c++ compilers change the name of the functions to make them unique in the program. This allows c++ programmers to write two or more functions that have the same name but different parameters (called function overloading). This is problematic for other languages because they normally do not know how the c++ functions are named within the library file.
:
: (2) Non-static c++ class functions have hidden parameters (called the this parameter). Other languages don't know how to pass this parameter.
:


Makes some degree of sense, as frustrating as is.

At this point, I think, then, I'll just pick up a few tutorials and maybe a good book on C++ and go for it...

Thanks for the help!
Sincerely,
Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
jack_mudge@hotmail.com

:
: At this point, I think, then, I'll just pick up a few tutorials and maybe a good book on C++ and go for it...
:

There's a lot of good information on the net. Read through some of the stickies near the top of the following link

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/forum8.html

: :
: : At this point, I think, then, I'll just pick up a few tutorials and maybe a good book on C++ and go for it...
: :
:
: There's a lot of good information on the net. Read through some of the stickies near the top of the following link
:
: http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/forum8.html
:
:

Thanks! That'll help quite a bit.
Sincerely,
Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
jack_mudge@hotmail.com

: Hi!
: I found an interesting library which I think I can find useful (specifically, nb++). The problem is, the library is implemented as a C++ class, and I program in C.
:
: The library doesn't seem to have any C bindings, and (not that I have a problem with C++) I don't want to spend the time learning another language just to use this library....
:
: Does anyone know if/how it's possible to use a C++ library in C without bindings?
: Sincerely,
: Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
: jack_mudge@hotmail.com
:

Hmm, couldn't you make a wrapper, and then link it with you're project?:

class{
 func()....
}

func(){
class func
....
}

But that would require some C++ skills...

: : Hi!
: : I found an interesting library which I think I can find useful (specifically, nb++). The problem is, the library is implemented as a C++ class, and I program in C.
: :
: : The library doesn't seem to have any C bindings, and (not that I have a problem with C++) I don't want to spend the time learning another language just to use this library....
: :
: : Does anyone know if/how it's possible to use a C++ library in C without bindings?
: : Sincerely,
: : Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
: : jack_mudge@hotmail.com
: :
:
: Hmm, couldn't you make a wrapper, and then link it with you're project?:
:
:

: class{
:  func()....
: }
: 
: func(){
: class func
: ....
: }
: 

:
: But that would require some C++ skills...
:


It's something like I was thinking....
The problem would be the C++ skills. I'm not against C++, I was just hoping I wouldn't have to spend the time to learn it :).

It might just be time for me to buy a good book on C++.

"You are coming to a sad realization. Allow or Deny?" "Allow."


Thanks for the help!
Sincerely,
Jakykong (Jack Mudge)
jack_mudge@hotmail.com