essential language support for generic programming.pdfVIP

Essential Language Support for Generic Programming Jeremy Siek Andrew Lumsdaine Open Systems Lab, Indiana University Open Systems Lab, Indiana University jsiek@ lums@ Abstract sary properties. Although a statically typed language must therefore Concepts are an essential language feature for generic program- provide type parameterization (“generics”) to support generic pro- ming in the large. Concepts allow for succinct expression of con- gramming, generic programming as a development methodology is straints on type parameters of generic algorithms, enable systematic much richer than simply type parameterization. organization of problem domain abstractions, and make generic al- A fundamental issue in providing language support for generic gorithms easier to use. In this paper we present the design of a type programming is how to express the set of admissible types for a system and semantics for concepts that is suitable for non-type- given algorithm, or equivalently, how to design a type system that inferencing languages. Our design shares much in common with can check calls to a generic (type-parameterized) algorithm and the type classes of Haskell, though our primary influence is from separately check the implementation of the algorithm. An impor- best practices in the C++ community, where concepts are used to tant complementary issue is providing the run-time mechanism by document type requirements for templa