Bindgen

Standalone C, C++, and/or Qt binding and wrapper generator.

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Installation

Add the dependency to shard.yml:

dependencies:
  bindgen:
    github: Papierkorb/bindgen
    version: ~> 0.7.0

Table of Contents

How To

When you have a Crystal project and want to bind to C, C++, or Qt libraries with the help of bindgen, do as follows:

  1. Add bindgen to your project's shard.yml as instructed above under "Installation" and then run shards
  2. Copy lib/bindgen/assets/bindgen_helper.hpp into your ext/ subdirectory, creating it if missing
  3. Copy lib/bindgen/TEMPLATE.yml into your_template.yml (adjust the name to your linking) and customize it for the library you want to bind to
  4. Run lib/bindgen/tool.sh your_template.yml. This will generate the bindings, and by default place the outputs in the ext/ subdirectory
  5. Develop your Crystal application as usual

Note: If you ship the output produced by bindgen along with your application, then bindgen will not be not required to compile it. In that case, you can move its entry in shard.yml from dependencies to development_dependencies.

The .yml file that you copy from TEMPLATE.yml will contain the complete configuration template along with accompanying documentation embedded in the comments. If you prefer working with shorter files, you can simply remove all the comments.

Projects using bindgen

You can use the following projects' .yml files as a source of ideas or syntax for your own bindings:

Have you created and published a usable binding with bindgen? Want to see it here? Send a PR!

Mapping behaviour

The following rules are automatically applied to all bindings:

Features

| Feature | Support | |--------------------------------------------------|---------| | Automatic Crystal binding generation | YES | | Automatic Crystal wrapper generation | YES | | Mapping C++ classes | | | +- Member methods | YES | | +- Static methods | YES | | +- Getters and setters for instance variables | YES | | +- Getters and setters for static variables | YES | | +- Constructors | YES | | +- Overloaded operators | Partial | | +- Conversion functions | TBD | | Mapping C/C++ global functions | | | +- Mapping global functions | YES | | +- Wrapping as Crystal class | YES | | Overloaded methods (Also default arguments) | YES | | Copying default argument values | | | +- Integer, float, boolean types | YES | | +- String | YES | | Enumerations | YES | | Copying structures | YES | | Custom type conversions between C/++ and Crystal | YES | | Automatic type wrapping and conversion | YES | | Integration with Crystals GC | YES | | C++ Template instantiation for containers types | YES | | Virtual methods | YES | | Override virtual methods from Crystal | YES | | Abstract classes | YES | | Multiple inheritance wrapping | YES | | Qt integration | | | +- QObject signals | YES | | +- QFlags types | YES | | +- QMetaObject generation (mimic moc) | TBD | | #define macro support | | | +- Mapping as enumeration | YES | | +- Mapping as constant (Including strings) | YES | | Copying in-source docs | TBD | | Platform specific type binding rules | YES | | Portable path finding for headers, libs, etc. | YES |

Architecture of bindgen

Bindgen employs a pipeline-inspired code architecture, which is strikingly similar to what most compilers use.

The code flow is basically Parser::Runner to Graph::Builder to Processor::Runner to Generator::Runner.

Architecture flow diagram

The Graph

An important data structure used throughout the program is the graph. Code-wise, it's represented by Graph::Node and its sub-classes. The nodes can contain child nodes, making it a hierarchical structure.

This allows to represent (almost) arbitrary structures as defined by the user configuration.

Say we're wrapping GreetLib. As any library, it comes with a bunch of classes (Greeter and Listener), enums (Greetings, Type) and other stuff like constants (PORT). The configuration file could look like this:

module: GreetLib
classes: # We copy the structure of classes
  Greeter: Greeter
  Listener: Listener
enums: # But map the enums differently
  Type: Greeter::Type
  Greeter::Greetings: Greetings

Which will generate a graph looking like this:

Graph example

Note: The concept is really similar to ASTs used by compilers.

Parser step

This is the beginning of the actual execution pipeline. It calls out to the clang-based parser tool () to read the C/C++ source code and write a JSON-formatted "database" onto standard output. This is directly read by bindgen and subsequently parsed as Parser::Document.

Graph::Builder step

The second step takes the Parser::Document and transforms it into a Graph::Namespace. This step is where the user configuration mapping is used.

Processor step

The third step runs all configured processors in order. These work with the Graph and mostly add methods and Calls so they can be bound later. But they're allowed to do whatever they want really, which makes it a good place to add more complex rewriting rules if desired.

Processors are responsible for many core features of bindgen. The TEMPLATE.yml has an already set-up example pipeline.

Generator step

The final step now takes the finalized graph and writes the result into an output of one or more files. Generators do not change the graph in any way, and also don't build anything on their own. They only write to output.

Processors

The processor pipeline can be configured through the processors: array. Its elements are run in the order they're defined, starting at the first element.

Note: Don't worry: The TEMPLATE.yml file already comes with the recommended pipeline pre-configured.

There are three kinds of processors:

  1. Refining ones modify the graph in some way, without a dependency to a later generator.
  2. Generation processors add data to the graph so that the generators run later have all data they need to work.
  3. Information processors don't modify the graph, but do checks or print data onto the screen for debugging purposes.

The order in the configured pipeline is to have Refining processors first, Generation processors second. Information processors can be run at any time.

The following processors are available, in alphabetical order:

AutoContainerInstantiation

When encountering a known container class on an instantiation that is not registered yet, registers it.

Container classes still need to be declared in the configuration, but don't require an explicit instantiations attribute anymore:

containers: # At the top-level of the config
  - class: QList # Set the class name
    type: Sequential # And its type
    # instantiations: # Can be added, but doesn't need to be.

BlockOverloads

Adds type parameters to ambiguous Crystal methods that take a single block argument, so that these methods can be overloaded by passing the parameter types of that argument to the method. Qt needs it for several signal connection methods.

cb = Qt::ComboBox.new
cb.on_activated(Int32) do |index| # Type argument added by this processor
  puts "Int32 overload selected: #{index}"
end
cb.on_activated(String) do |text| # Type argument added by this processor
  puts "String overload selected: #{text}"
end

CopyStructs

Copies structures of those types, that have copy_structure: true set in the configuration. A wrapper class of a copy_structure type will host the structure directly (instead of a pointer) to it.

CppWrapper

Generates the C++ wrapper method Calls.

CrystalBinding

Generates the lib Binding funs.

CrystalWrapper

Generates the Crystal methods in the wrapper classes.

DefaultConstructor

Clang doesn't expose default constructors methods for implicit default constructors. This processor finds these cases and adds an explicit constructor. Also, generates constructors for aggregate types.

DumpGraph

Debugging processor dumping the current graph onto STDERR.

Enums

Adds the copied enums to the graph. Should be run after other processors adding classes, so that enums can be added into classes.

ExternC

Checks if a method require a C/C++ wrapper. If not, marks the method to bind directly to the target method instead of writing a "trampoline" wrapper in C++.

Note: This processor is required for variadic functions to work. A variadic function looks like this: void func(int c, ...);

A method can be bound directly if all of these are true:

  1. It uses the C ABI (extern "C")
  2. No argument uses a to_cpp converter
  3. The return type doesn't use a from_cpp converter

Note: If all methods can be bound to directly, you can remove the cpp generator completely from your configuration.

FilterMethods

Removes all methods using an argument, or returning something, which is configured as ignore: true. Also removes methods that show up in the ignore_methods: list.

This processor can be run at any time in theory, but should be run as first part of the pipeline.

Functions

Maps C functions, configured through the functions: map in the configuration.

FunctionClass

Generates wrapper classes from OOP-like C APIs, using guidance from the user through configuration in the functions: map.

Inheritance

Implements Crystal wrapper inheritance and adds #as_X conversion methods. Also handles abstract classes in that it adds an Impl class, so code can return instances to the (otherwise) abstract class.

InstanceProperties

Generates getter and setter methods for static and instance members.

InstantiateContainers

Adds the container instantiation classes and wrappers.

Macros

Maps #define macros into the graph. The mapping is configured by the user in the macros: list. Only value-macros ("object-like macros") are supported, function-like macros are silently skipped.

// Okay:
#define SOME_INT 1
#define SOME_STRING "Hello"
#define SOME_BOOL true

// Not mapped:
#define SOME_FUNCTION(x) (x + 1)

Operators

Performs special handling for operator methods.

Qt

Adds Qt specific behaviour:

  1. Removes the qt_check_for_QGADGET_macro fake method.
  2. Provides #on_SIGNAL signal connection method.
  3. Removes #meta_object, #qt_metacast, and #qt_metacall from superclass wrappers, as these shouldn't be overridden by the user.
btn = Qt::PushButton.new
btn.on_clicked do |checked| # Generated by this processor
  puts "Checked: #{checked}"
end

SanityCheck

Does sanity checks on the graph, focusing on Crystal bindings and wrappers.

Checks are as follows:

VirtualOverride

Adds C++ and Crystal wrapper code to allow overriding C++ virtual methods from within Crystal. Requires the Inheritance processor.

Important Note: Make sure to run this processor after CrystalWrapper but before CrystalBinding.

It needs to modify the #initialize methods, and generate lib structures, bindings, and C++ code too.

This is the recommended processor order:

processors:
  # ...
  - crystal_wrapper
  - block_overloads
  - virtual_override
  - cpp_wrapper
  - crystal_binding

After this, usage is the same as with any method:

class MyAdder < VirtualCalculator
  # In C++: virtual int calculate(int a, int b) = 0;
  # In Crystal:
  def calculate(a, b) : Int32
    a + b
  end
end

Do NOT call super in the body of a Crystal method that overrides a concrete C++ virtual method! Due to Bindgen's limitations, doing so will result in a stack overflow immediately. Instead, Bindgen provides a private #superclass method in every concrete abstract class; it wraps the calling instance so that the original C++ methods can be called, bypassing Crystal's overrides.

class MyLogger < Calculator
  # In C++:
  # virtual void clear_memory();
  # virtual void add_memory(int m);

  # In Crystal:
  def clear_memory : Nil
    puts "M = 0"
    superclass.clear_memory
  end

  def add_memory(m) : Nil
    puts "M += #{m}"
    # unlike `super`, all arguments are mandatory
    superclass.add_memory(m)
  end
end

Advanced configuration features

Bindgen's YAML configuration files support conditional definitions as well as loading external dependency files.

Apart from that extra logic, the configuration file is still valid YAML.

Note: Conditionals and dependencies are only supported in YAML mappings (data structures equivalent to Hashes in Crystal). Any such syntax encountered in something other than a mapping will not trigger special behaviour.

Conditions

YAML documents can define conditional parts in mappings by having a conditional key with mapping value. If the condition matches, the mapping value will be transparently embedded. If it does not match, the value will be transparently skipped.

Condition keys look like if_X or elsif_X or else. X is the condition, and it looks like Y_is_Z or Y_match_Z. You can also use (one or more) spaces () instead of exactly one underscore (_) to separate the words.

Available conditions:

A condition block is opened by the first if. Later condition keys can use elsif or else (or if to open a new condition block).

Note: elsif or else without an if will raise an exception.

Their behaviour is like in Crystal: if starts a condition block, elsif starts an alternative condition block, and else is used if none of if or elsif matched. It's possible to mix condition key-values with normal key-values.

Note: Conditions can be used in every mapping, even in mappings of a conditional. Each mapping acts as its own scope.

Variables

Variables are set by the user of the class (probably through ConfigReader.from_yaml). All variable values are strings.

Variable names are case-sensitive. A missing variable will be treated as having an empty value ("").

Examples

foo: # A normal mapping
  bar: 1

# A condition: Matches if `platform` equals "arm".
if_platform_is_arm: # In Crystal: `if platform == "arm"`
  company: ARM et al

# You can mix in values between conditionals.  It won't "break" following
# elsif or else blocks.
not_a_condition: Hello

# An elsif: It matches if
# 1) the previous conditions didn't match, and
# 2) its own condition matches.
elsif_platform_match_x86: # In Crystal: `elsif platform =~ /x86/`
  company: Many different

# An else: Matches if all previous conditions didn't match.
else:
  company: No idea

# At any time, you can start a new if sequence.
"if today is friday": # You can use spaces instead of underscores too
  hooray: true

Dependencies

To modularize the configuration, you can require ("merge") external yaml files from within your configuration.

This is triggered by using a key named <<, and writing the file name as value: <<: my_dependency.yml. The file-extension can also be omitted: <<: my_dependency in which case an .yml extension is assumed.

The dependency path is relative to the currently processed YAML file.

You can also require multiple dependencies into the same mapping:

types:
  Something: true # You can mix dependencies with normal fields.
  <<: simple_types.yml
  <<: complex_types.yml
  <<: ignores.yml

The dependency will be embedded into the open mapping: It is transparent to the client code.

It's perfectly possible to mix conditionals with dependencies:

if_os_is_windows:
  <<: windows-specific.yml

Errors

An exception will be raised if any of the following occur:

Platform support

| Arch | System | CI | Clang version | | ------- | ----------------- | ----------- | -------------- | | x86_64 | ArchLinux | Travis | Rolling | | x86_64 | Debian 9 | Travis | 6.0, 7.0 | | x86_64 | Debian 7 | Travis | 4.0, 5.0 | | x86_64 | Ubuntu 17.04 | None | 5.0 | | x86_64 | Ubuntu 16.04 | Travis | 4.0, 5.0 | | | Other systems | Help wanted | ? |

You require the LLVM and Clang development libraries and headers. If you don't have them already installed, bindgen will tell you. These packages are usually named after the following pattern on Debian-based systems: clang-7 libclang-7-dev llvm-7 llvm-7-dev.

Contributing

  1. Open a new issue on the project to discuss what you're going to do and possibly receive comments
  2. Read the STYLEGUIDE.md for some tips.
  3. Then do the rest, PR and all. You know the drill :)

Contributors

License

This project (bindgen) and all of its sources, except those otherwise noted, all fall under the GPLv3 license. You can find a copy of its complete license text in the LICENSE file.

The configuration used to generate code, and all code generated by this project, fall under the full copyright of the user of bindgen. bindgen does not claim any copyright, legal or otherwise, on your work. Established projects should define a license they want to use for the generated code and configuration.