File C++ Conversion Background #103343

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opened 2022-12-19 15:59:10 +01:00 by Hans Goudey · 5 comments
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Moving Blender code from C to C++ has many benefits:

  • Less manual memory management with use of C++ data structures like Array, Vector, Map
  • Easier access to better performance through those same data structures
  • Can use existing C++ APIs directly instead of relying on C wrappers
  • Stronger type safety enforced by the compiler
  • Much easier multi-threading with parallel_for, etc.

Common changes when moving C code to C++:

  • NULL -> nullptr
  • Remove UNUSED() macro for unused arguments. Comment name out instead (see style guide).
  • Remove use of designated initializers (not part of C++17)
  • Add casting where necessary (static_cast and reinterpret_cast)
  • Change to functional casts for arithmetic and enum types (from style guide)
  • Change headers <string.h> -> <cstring> (Clang tidy check)
  • Remove typedef
  • Remove unnecessary struct keywords
  • Add ENUM_OPERATORS to used enums in headers.

When converting C to C++ code, do not change old loops to use LISTBASE_FOREACH and the like. That's known to cause behavior changes in subtle ways. Instead just insert casts. A cleanup to use LISTBASE_FOREACH can be done separately afterwards.

Moving Blender code from C to C++ has many benefits: - Less manual memory management with use of C++ data structures like `Array`, `Vector`, `Map` - Easier access to better performance through those same data structures - Can use existing C++ APIs directly instead of relying on C wrappers - Stronger type safety enforced by the compiler - Much easier multi-threading with `parallel_for`, etc. Common changes when moving C code to C++: - `NULL` -> `nullptr` - Remove `UNUSED()` macro for unused arguments. Comment name out instead ([see style guide](https://wiki.blender.org/wiki/Style_Guide/Best_Practice_C_Cpp#Comment_unused_arguments_in_C++_code)). - Remove use of designated initializers (not part of C++17) - Add casting where necessary (`static_cast` and `reinterpret_cast`) - Change to functional casts for arithmetic and enum types (from style guide) - Change headers `<string.h>` -> `<cstring>` (Clang tidy check) - Remove `typedef` - Remove unnecessary `struct` keywords - Add `ENUM_OPERATORS` to used enums in headers. When converting C to C++ code, do **not** change old loops to use `LISTBASE_FOREACH` and the like. That's known to cause behavior changes in subtle ways. Instead just insert casts. A cleanup to use `LISTBASE_FOREACH` can be done separately afterwards.

This issue was referenced by 3d6fd2906b

This issue was referenced by 3d6fd2906be0adac2f42528f55a53e0cac1d5896
Member

Is the idea to move most/all Blender code to C++ I am interested in converting UI files to C++

Is the idea to move most/all Blender code to C++ I am interested in converting UI files to C++
Author
Member

I already converted the editors/interface directory to C++ if that's what you mean.

I already converted the `editors/interface` directory to C++ if that's what you mean.
Member

What Module label is appropriate here?

What Module label is appropriate here?
Hans Goudey added the
Module
Development Management
label 2023-02-20 14:14:10 +01:00
Author
Member

Maybe Development Management? Or Core.

Maybe Development Management? Or Core.
Howard Trickey referenced this issue from a commit 2023-05-29 02:51:40 +02:00
Jacques Lucke referenced this issue from a commit 2023-07-20 09:47:26 +02:00
Jacques Lucke referenced this issue from a commit 2023-07-20 09:49:17 +02:00
Jacques Lucke referenced this issue from a commit 2023-07-20 10:41:46 +02:00
Jacques Lucke referenced this issue from a commit 2023-07-20 22:12:37 +02:00
Hans Goudey referenced this issue from a commit 2023-08-02 15:34:53 +02:00
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Reference: blender/blender#103343
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