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Embedded C++

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Embedded C++ (EC++) is a dialect of the C++ programming language for embedded systems. It was defined by an industry group led by major Japanese central processing unit (CPU) manufacturers, including NEC, Hitachi, Fujitsu, and Toshiba, to address the shortcomings of C++ for embedded applications. The goal of the effort is[citation needed] to preserve the most useful object-oriented features of the C++ language yet minimize code size while maximizing execution efficiency and making compiler construction simpler. The official website states the goal as "to provide embedded systems programmers with a subset of C++ that is easy for the average C programmer to understand and use".[1]

Differences from C++

Embedded C++ is a proper subset of C++. The following language features have been removed:

Compilation

An EC++ program can be compiled with any C++ compiler. But, a compiler specific to EC++ may have an easier time doing optimization.

Compilers specific to EC++ are provided by companies such as:

Criticism

The language has had a poor reception with many expert C++ programmers. In particular, Bjarne Stroustrup says, "To the best of my knowledge EC++ is dead (2004), and if it isn't it ought to be."[5] In fact, the official EC++ website has not been updated since 2002.

The stated reason for removing language features like templates and namespaces (and by extension major parts of the C++ standard library) is "too new to be used widely".[1] Those features were new in the late 1990s, but are widely used and relied upon in C++ code today.

A criticism is that EC++ is intended for use with 32-bit architecture instead of focusing on the big market of 8/16-bit microcontrollers.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b EC++ Questions and Answers
  2. ^ "IAR Systems - Compilers and debuggers". IAR Systems website.
  3. ^ "Embedded C++ compiler technology". Tasking website.
  4. ^ "Green Hills Optimizing C/C++/EC++ Compilers". Green Hills Software website.
  5. ^ "What do you think of EC++?". Bjarne Stroustrup's FAQ.
  6. ^ Jack Ganssle (1997-01-06). "EC++" (PDF). The Embedded Muse. 13: 1–2.
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