Abstract Interface Types in GNAT: Conversions, Discriminants, and C++

Interface Types in GNAT: Conversions, Discriminants, and C++ Javier Miranda1 and Edmond Schonberg2 1 [email protected] Applied Microelectronics Research Institute University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Spain and AdaCore 2 [email protected] AdaCore 104 Fifth Avenue, 15th floor New York, NY 10011 Abstract. Ada 2005 Abstract Interface Types provide a limited and practical form of multiple inheritance of specifications. In this paper we cover the following aspects of their implementation in the GNAT compiler: interface type conversions, the layout of variable sized tagged objects with interface progenitors, and the use of the GNAT compiler for interfacing with C++ classes with compatible inheritance trees. Ada 2005 Abstract Interface Types provide a limited and practical form of multiple inheritance of specifications. In this paper we cover the following aspects of their implementation in the GNAT compiler: interface type conversions, the layout of variable sized tagged objects with interface progenitors, and the use of the GNAT compiler for interfacing with C++ classes with compatible inheritance trees.