Combining D and C

[Adam D. Ruppe]

On Sat, May 16, 2009 at 03:21:28PM -0400, Matt wrote:
> OK, I'm reallly confused about this. If I have a C source file, and a D module, what are the things I'd need to create an executable from the two?
> 

If your main() is in the D file, it is really easy:

====== file.c ==========

extern int globalFromD;

void functionFromC(int a) {
   globalFromD = a;
}

======= code.d ==========

extern(C) { // this is needed to make it available from C
	int globalFromD;
}

extern(C) { // also needed when listing the prototypes for your C functions
	void functionFromC(int);
}

import std.stdio; // for writefln

int main() {
	globalFromD = 100;
	writefln("%d", globalFromD);

	functionFromC(500);
	writefln("%d", globalFromD);

	return 0;
}

=====================

To compile them (assuming linux):

gcc -c file.c
dmd code.d file.o


In general: compile your C file separately, then add the object file from
that on to the end of the dmd command line.

Run the program:

./code
100
500

---------

Some of the types in the prototypes listed in the D file might change a bit.
This is where htod comes in to help. Or you could do the hackish thing I
often do and just list void* for all pointers. The fun comes in with
accessing C structs. For them, you need to copy/paste and fix the syntax
of the struct definition into the extern(C) block.

But if your C functions just take pointers to structs, you can

typedef void* StructName;

in the D and still pass it around. You can't access the members directly,
but I find this is often good enough.

Anyway, this extern(C) block of the prototypes is what htod automates, so
you might not need to worry about this, just

import file; // where file is the .d file the htod spits out

and start calling your functions. Remember to stick the object file from
compiling the .c on the dmd command line though or you'll get linker errors.


======

If your main() is in the C file, things get messier, since you need to
set up exceptions and the runtime and whatnot. I don't know the process
for that off the top of my head.


> How would I go about reading functions and varables from D in C, and vice versa. I apologise if it is really simple, but I just can't find anything concrete on exactly what to do. 

If you need another example, be a bit more specific with what you're trying
to do (copy/paste the prototypes here if you can) and I'll try to help.



-- 
Adam D. Ruppe
http://arsdnet.net