Compiling source code

• US 20030041318A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Klarer, Robert M.N., Mathe, Sandor C.A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/4436 Exlining; Procedural abstraction

Abstract

The invention provides a compiler for compiling source code files to generate corresponding object code files, the source code files including a first source code file and a second source code file, the first source code file having an initial occurrence of a unit of source code, and the second source code file having a subsequent occurrence of the unit of source code, the compiler including means for compiling the first source code file to generate the first object code file having a first unit of object code representing the initial occurrence of the unit of source code, and means for compiling the second source code file to generate the second object code file having a pointer to the first unit of object code, whereby the pointer supplants a second unit of object code representing the subsequent occurrence of the unit of source code.

Claims

1. A compiler for compiling source code files to generate corresponding object code files, said source code files including a first source code file and a second source code file, said first source code file having an initial occurrence of a unit of source code, and said second source code file having a subsequent occurrence of said unit of source code, said compiler comprising:

means for compiling said first source code file to generate said first object code file having a first unit of object code representing said initial occurrence of said unit of source code; and

means for compiling said second source code file to generate said second object code file having a pointer to said first unit of object code;

whereby said pointer supplants a second unit of object code representing said subsequent occurrence of said unit of source code.

2. The compiler of claim 1 further comprising means for recording:

a usage of said unit of object code representing said initial occurrence of a unit of source code; and

a usage of said pointer.

3. The compiler of claim 2 wherein said usage of said unit of object code and said usage of said pointer is recorded in a table.

4. The compiler of claim 3 further comprising means for examining said table to determine said usage of said unit of object code and said usage of said pointer.

5. The compiler of claim 3 further comprising means for locating:

said initial occurrence of said unit of source code; and

subsequent occurrences of said unit of source code.

6. The compiler of claim 5 further comprising means for updating said pointer when said initial occurrence of said unit of source code is removed from the first source code file and inserted in another source code file.

7. The compiler of claim 6 further comprising means for linking said first and said second object code files to generate a linked object code file.

8. The compiler of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein occurrences of said units of source code are templates.

9. The compiler of any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the source code is written in a computer programming language which is an object oriented computer programming language.

10. The compiler of claim 9 wherein the object oriented computer programming language is C++.

11. A method for compiling source code files to generate corresponding object code files, said source code files including a first source code file and a second source code file, said first source code file having an initial occurrence of a unit of source code, and said second source code file having a subsequent-occurrence of said unit of source code, said method comprising:

compiling said first source code file to generate said first object code file having a first unit of object code representing said initial occurrence of said unit of source code; and

compiling said second source code file to generate said second object code file having a pointer to said first unit of object code;

whereby said pointer supplants a second unit of object code representing said subsequent occurrence of said unit of source code.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising recording:

a usage of said unit of object code representing said initial occurrence of a unit of source code; and

a usage of said pointer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said usage of said unit of object code and said usage of said pointer is recorded in a table.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising examining said table to determine said usage of said unit of object code and said usage of said pointer.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising locating:

said initial occurrence of said unit of source code; and

subsequent occurrences of said unit of source code.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising updating said pointer when said initial occurrence of said unit of source code is removed from the first source code file and inserted in another source code file.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising linking said first and said second object code files to generate a linked object code file.

18. The method of any of claims 11 to 16 wherein occurrences of said units of source code are templates.

19. The method of any of claims 11 to 17 wherein the source code is written in a computer programming language which is an object oriented computer programming language.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the object oriented computer programming language is C++.

21. A computer program product for use in a computer system operatively coupled to a computer readable memory, the computer program product including a computer-readable data storage medium tangibly embodying computer readable program code for directing said computer to compile source code files to generate corresponding object code files, said source code files including a first source code file and a second source code file, said first source code file having an initial occurrence of a unit of source code, and said second source code file having a subsequent occurrence of said unit of source code, said computer program product comprising:

code for instructing said computer system to compile said first source code file to generate said first object code file having a first unit of object code representing said initial occurrence of said unit of source code; and

code for instructing said computer system to compile said second source code file to generate said second object code file having a pointer to said first unit of object code;

whereby said pointer supplants a second unit of object code representing said subsequent occurrence of said unit of source code.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising code for instructing said computer system to record:

a usage of said unit of object code representing said initial occurrence of a unit of source code; and

a usage of said pointer.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said usage of said unit of object code and said usage of said pointer is recorded in a table.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 further comprising code for instructing said computer system to examine said table to determine said usage of said unit of object code and said usage of said pointer.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 further comprising code for instructing said computer system to locate:

said initial occurrence of said unit of source code; and

subsequent occurrences of said unit of source code.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 further comprising code for instructing said computer system to update said pointer when said initial occurrence of said unit of source code is removed from the first source code file and inserted in another source code file.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising code for instructing said computer system to link said first and said second object code files to generate a linked object code file.

28. The computer program product of any of claims 21 to 26 wherein occurrences of said units of source code are templates.

29. The computer program product of any of claims 21 to 27 wherein the source code is written in a computer programming language which is an object oriented computer programming language.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein the object oriented computer programming language is C++.