Technologies for Lightweight, Generative, Binary Software Components

“软件组件”是程序员可以作为较大代码段的一部分使用的任何代码。组件可以按照三个维度进行分类：(1)源代码级组件作为源代码交付，而二进制级组件作为可执行文件交付。(2)轻量级组件的运行时成本较低，而重量级组件的运行时成本较高。(3)生成式组件在使用组件时创建新的代码片段，而非生成式组件只是从组件中复制代码。子程序和类库是二进制级的，中等权重的，非生成的；宏和c++模板是源代码级的、轻量级的、可生成的。一般来说，二进制级组件更方便，而生成组件更强大。这个项目的目标是为轻量级的、生成的、二进制级组件提供一种技术。它基于两个原则：高阶宏（用作强大的组件语言）和组合语义（允许将宏呈现为可执行文件）。这项研究的目标是通过允许使用比当前组件技术更强大、更通用的组件来构建程序，从而提高编程水平。

A "software component" is any code that a programmer can use as part of a larger piece of code. Components may be classified along three dimensions: (1) Source-level components are delivered as source code, while binary-level components are delivered as executables. (2) Lightweight components extract little run-time cost, while heavyweight components extract a large run-time cost. (3) Generative components create new code fragments at the time that the component is used, while non-generative components simply copy code from the component. Subroutine and class libraries are binary-level, medium-weight, and non-generative; macros and C++ templates are source-level, lightweight, and generative. Broadly speaking, binary-level components are more convenient, while generative components are more powerful. The goal of this project is to produce a technology for lightweight, generative, binary-level components. It is based on two principles: Higher-order macros, used as a powerful component language, and compositional semantics, to permit macros to be rendered as executables. The goal of the research is to raise the level of programming by allowing programs to be built from more powerful and general components than current component technologies admit.