Nim CPP Class

This module provides a macro that helps to define C++ classes from Nim.

Example

import cppclass

cppclass X:
  public:
    a: int
    proc `X`(a: int = 1, b: int = 2, c: int = 3) =
      (this[]).a = a
      (this[]).b = b
      (this[]).c = c
    proc get(): int =
      var
        a = (this[]).a
        b = (this[]).b
        c = (this[]).c
      return a + b + c
  protected:
    b: int
  private:
    c: int

var x: X
echo x.get()

The class is emitted to the generated code by using {.emit.}. All the member functions are exported to C++ and imported back, so they can be used both in C++ and Nim. However, constructors and destructors are not imported, please import them by yourself.

import cppclass

cppclass Foo:
  protected:
    n: cint
  public:
   proc `Foo`(n: cint) =
     this.n = n
   proc get(): cint =
     this.n

proc initFoo(n: cint): Foo {.importcpp: "Foo(@)", constructor.}

{.emit: "#include <iostream>".}

proc main =
  var f1 = initFoo(10)
  echo f1.get()
  {.emit: """
  Foo f2(20);
  std::cout << f2.get() << std::endl;
  """.}

main()

Operators can also be defined, but only those valid in C++. Whether valid is checked by the C++ compiler. They will be transformed into C++ operators. Both `+` and `operator+` have the same meaning.

import cppclass

cppclass Bar:
  protected:
    v: uint8
  public:
    proc store(n: cint) =
      this.v = uint8(n)
    proc `+`(k: cint): cint =
      cint(this.v) + k

{.emit: "#include <iostream>".}

proc main =
  {.emit: """
  Bar b;
  b.store(4);
  std::cout << b + 5 << std::endl;
  """.}

main()

Inheritance is supported, but only from one parent.

import cppclass

cppclass A:
  protected:
    a: cint = 1

cppclass B(A):
  public:
    b: cint
    proc get(): cint =
      this.a

var foo: B
echo foo.get()

In the above example, B inherits from A. The mode is default to private. This can be changed by using some pragma-like syntax.

import cppclass

cppclass A:
  private:
    a: int
  public:
    proc get(): int =
      this.a
    proc store(a: int) =
      this.a = a

cppclass B(A {.public.}):
  public:
    b: int

var foo: B
foo.store(2)
echo foo.get()

Note

• Generic parameters are not supported, as well as nested classes.

• Like in C++, the variable this is a ptr to the object that uses the member function.

• Do not use static[T] or lent T as parameter or return type.

• A class can have GC'ed members (ref, seq, ...), but they must be public and initialized with wasMoved. They should be destroyed properly.

• If a field (member) is not initialized, its value is undefined.

• A class can not be exported because the emitted code is invisible from other modules.