LayerD SDK Release Alpha 0.5.3

This SDK version Alpha 0.5.3 includes the following components:

• Meta D++ compiler
• Zoe compiler
• Zoe Code Generator for .NET
• Zoe Code Generator for Java
• Interactive Zoe Code Generator for Meta D++
• Sample extensions to Zoe compiler
• Zoe CodeDOM and Compiler documentation generated from code ( \doc\CodeDOM-Reference\index.html )
• Meta D++ programming guide for .NET programmers, Spanish only ( \docs\Instructivo de LayerD para dotNET.pdf )
• Meta D++ Programmers Guide, Spanish only (Manual de Usuario Meta D++), ( \docs\Manual de Meta D++ v1.0.0.pdf )
• Sample programs (\Samples)

Hardware Requirements

Even when any PC that can run Windows will work properly these are recommended specs:

• 512MB RAM
• Processor: 1.5GHz AMD/INTEL
• Hard disk space :-).

It’s not recommended to run LayerD compilers from network or pendrives because of temporal files created could degrade compilers performance.

Software Requirements

• Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista (not tested on Windows 95/98)
• Microsoft .NET SDK 2.0 or greater.
• Java SDK 1.4 or greater to generate Java programs. (not mandatory, only to use Java Code Generator).
• Others SDK can be needed depending on target programs (for example .NET Compact Framework SDK for mobile applications).

Quick start

To make programs on LayerD framework you must make the programs on one high level language (currently Meta D++, also there is a Java clon that is distributed separately). After that, you must compile Meta D++ source code using metadppc.exe compiler and the generated .zoe files with zoec.exe compiler. Check the instructions on Meta D++ Programmers Guide.

It’s recommended to read the Meta D++ programming guide for .NET programmers even if you don’t program for that platform because of generic concepts explained in this document.

There isn’t an IDE currently available. I use Notepad++ editor or Visual Studio and have custom macros that call compilers. You can use any text editor.

Note: There is plug-in for Visual Studio that implements a kind of “Intellisense”; it’s only a concept and don’t work on programs that have more than one file but it can be useful (on files with less than 1500 lines of code :-P ).

More information on: http://layerd.net, http://layerd.blogspot.com, http://sourceforge.net/projects/layerd.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at alexis.ferreyra@yahoo.com for information or if you want to contribute with the project.

Compiler Usage and Hello World programs

Compiler Usage and hello world programs: http://layerd.wiki.sourceforge.net/compiler_usage

Debugging

Programs can be debugged using standard infrastructure of the target platform. For example, if you program for .NET you can use Visual Studio or SharpDevelop for debugging. If you develop for Java take into account that Zoe Code Generator for Java is Alpha version and don´t generate equivalence between Meta D++ source code and generated Java code, so it will be a bit more challenging but you can use any Java IDE to debug generated code, frequently visit LayerD’s website because this module will be updated frequently. /p>

To debug classfactorys (compile time functionality) you can use –wfd flag on zoec.exe compiler the compiler will wait until a compiler attaches to the compiler process before continue. So you can run the compilation with –wfd flag and attach to zoec.exe process from a debugger like Visual Studio (first set breakpoints on compile time source code).

Languages features implemented on this SDK

LayerD is a large, ambitious and little complex project so not all desired features of Meta D++, Zoe, and Zoe Code Generators are implemented. Currently these are the features included until now:

• Main features of Zoe and Meta D++ languages to support standard object oriented programming like classes, interfaces, single inheritance, enumerations and statements.
• Compilation of Classfactorys, standard and interactive.
• Multiple compile times on Zoe compiler.
• Interactive compilation for Meta D++ language.
• Generation of .NET assemblies for desktop and mobile, .exe and .dll.
• Generation of .class files for Java (using javac compiler)
• Automated import of types for .NET platform but not including generic types, nulleables and attributes.
• Automated import of types for Java platform but not including generic types or annotations.

Languages features NOT IMPLEMENTED on this SDK

• keyword modifier on classfactory members
• setplatforms directive on classfactorys members
• “hybrid” classfactorys
• “auto instantiation” of classfactorys
• calls blocking semantic on classfactorys (to warranty that all instance members of one classfactory will be executed on the same compile time or skipped to next compile time).
• automatic re-composition of classfactorys
• classfactorys that depends on other classfactorys currently installed on Zoe compiler
• import of generics types and attributes/annotations on .NET and Java
• homogenization of base types (for Java)
• some kind of semantic checks are not currently implemented by Zoe compiler like requiring return instructions on all code paths, this checks are implemented by lower level compilers on code generators for .NET or Java, but the required behavior is to be controlled on Zoe compiler.
• annotations or attributes are not implemented on Zoe or Meta D++ (even when it can be imitated by classfactorys)
• generation of “Extended Zoe” is not implemented on Zoe compiler, so code generator for java, for example, can’t implement custom operators or properties.
• multiple inheritance is not implemented
• forced member virtualization is not checked by Zoe compiler
• Meta D++ compiler doesn’t support Unicode files, only ASCII, but it must support Unicode :-P
• support for more than one XML namespace on Zoe files

Changes from 0.5.2 version

• Know bug when first compiling a program for .NET fixed.
• Bugs while merging nodes at compile time fixed.
• Bugs about expressions not being captured for compile time execution fixed.
• Several bugs on Java importer module fixed.
• Several bugs on .NET and Java code generator fixed.

Documentation

• Zoe CodeDOM and Compiler documentation generated from code ( \doc\CodeDOM-Reference\index.html )
• Meta D++ programming guide for .NET programmers, Spanish only ( \docs\Instructivo de LayerD para dotNET.pdf )
• Meta D++ Programmers Guide, Spanish only (Manual de Usuario Meta D++), ( \docs\Manual de Meta D++ v1.0.0.pdf )
• LayerD Wiki (English) http://layerd.wiki.sourceforge.net/
• LayerD Blog http://layerd.blogspot.com

Know bugs

As this is an alpha release it has know bugs. If you think that you have discovered a bug please mail me at alexis.ferreyra@yahoo.com.

LayerD SDK FAQ

Why is this SDK in mixed English / Spanish ?

Because I don't have time to maintain both English and Spanish SDK. So, I'm translating all to English. If you want to help me that will be great!!

There is a distribution for Linux ?

No, there isn't. It's perfectly possible to compile all modules in Linux but I don't have time to do that and I use Windows more than Linux. May be you can help me with this task.

Can be used to develop commercial applications ?

Yes, In fact it was used for at least two pretty big commercial projects (both on .NET). Please let me know if you use LayerD on a commercial project ! You don't have to pay me for that, this is a free and open source project. If you make money consider a donation :-)