Name

SPVM::Document::NativeClass - Document of Native Class

Description

A native class is the class that is implemented by a native language such as the C language or C++.

Native Method Definition

A native method is defined by the native method attribute in a SPVM module file. It ends with a semicolon. The method cannnot have the block.

# SPVM/MyClass.spvm
class MyClass {
  native static method sum : int ($num1 : int, $num2 : int);
}

Native Config File

A native config file is needed for a native class. The name of the config file is the SPVM module file extension replaced by the .config.

# Native config file
SPVM/MyClass.config

If the native config file does not exist, an exception occurs.

A native config file is writen by Perl. It must return Builder::Config object. Otherwise an exception is thrown.

Examples:

C99:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_c99(file => __FILE__);

$config;

C11:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_c11(file => __FILE__);

$config;

GNU C99:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_c99(file => __FILE__);

$config;

C++:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_cpp(file => __FILE__);

$config;

C++11:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_cpp11(file => __FILE__);

$config;

CUDA/nvcc:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new(file => __FILE__);

# Compiler and Linker common
my @ccldflags = qw(--compiler-options '-fPIC');

# Compiler
$config->cc('nvcc');
$config->add_ccflag(@ccldflags);
$config->ext('cu');

# Linker
$config->ld('nvcc');
$config->add_ldflag('-shared', @ccldflags);

$config;

Outputting messages of the compiler and the linker:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_c99(file => __FILE__);

$config->quiet(0);

$config;

Forcing the compilation and the link:

my $config = SPVM::Builder::Config->new_c99(file => __FILE__);

$config->force(1);

$config;

Native Class

A native class is the class that is implemented by a native language such as the C language or C++.

The name of the native module file is the SPVM module file extension replaced by the extension of the native class.

SPVM/MyClass.c

Native Class File Extension

The file extension of a native class is defined in the config using the ext field.

Examples:

$config->ext('c');

$config->ext('cpp');

$config->ext('cc');

$config->ext('cu');

Native Implementation Function

This is an example of SPVM natvie class. The config file is GNU99.

// SPVM/MyClass.c

#include "spvm_native.h"

int32_t SPVM__MyClass__sum(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {
  
  int32_t num1 = stack[0].ival;
  int32_t num2 = stakc[1].ival;
  
  int32_t total = num1 + num2;
  
  stack[0].ival = total;
  
  return 0;
}

Native Implementation Function Name

A native implementation function must have a name created with the following steps.

  • 1. :: in the SPVM basic type name is replaced with __.

  • 2. SPVM__ is added at the beginning.

  • 3. The name of the native method is added at the end.

If the name of a native implementation function is invalid, an exception is thrown.

Examples:

MyClass:

class MyClass {
  native method foo : void ();
}

SPVM__MyCLass__foo(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

}

Foo::Bar:

class Foo::Bar {
  native method foo : void ();
}

SPVM__Foo__Bar__foo(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

}

Native API Header

#include "spvm_native.h"

The included header file spvm_native.h is the header file of SPVM Native API.

Native Implementation Function Arguments

A native implementation function has two arguments.

The first argument is the SPVM_ENV* type and it should be named env. This is an execution environment.

The second argument is the SPVM_VALUE* type and it should be named stack. This is an call stack.

int32_t SPVM__MyClass__sum(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

}

Native Implementation Function Return Value

The type of return value of native implementation function is int32_t. If the method succeeds, the method must return 1. If the method fails, the method must return 0.

Note that this is not the return value of the SPVM native method, such as the total value in the above example.

Compile Native Method

Native methods are compiled into a shared libraries. teay are shared libraries (.so) on Unix/Linux, dynamic link libraries (.dll) on Windows or etc corresponding to your os.

The compilation is done when SPVM is compiled. The build directory must exist, otherwise an exception occures.

The default build directory is the "~/.spvm_build" directory in the directory containing the executed Perl script, and can be changed with the environment variable "SPVM_BUILD_DIR".

If you want to use SPVM Native Method from Perl, create a "~/.spvm_build" directory in the directory where the executed Perl script exists.

~/.spvm_build

The generated object files exists under "work/object" under the build directory. The object file name is the name which the extension of the SPVM basic type name is changed to ".o".

~/.spvm_build/work/object/MyClass.o

The generated shared libraries exists under "work/lib" under the build directory. The name of shared library is the name which the extension of the SPVM basic type name is changed to ".so", or etc corresponding to your os.

# Unix/Linux
~/.spvm_build/work/object/MyClass.so

# Windows
~/.spvm_build/work/object/MyClass.dll

Execution Environment

The object of the SPVM_ENV* type is an execution environement.

SPVM_ENV* env;

This object is passed as the first argument of a Native API.

int32_t SPVM__MyClass__sum(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

}

To create a new execution environment with the same runtime, initialize command line arguments and call INIT blocks, use the new_env method.

SPVM_ENV* my_env = env->new_env(env);

To free this object, use the free_env method.

my_env->free_env(my_env);

Call Stack

A call stack is passed to the second argument of the definition of the native method.. Stack is used getting arguments and return the value.

int32_t SPVM__MyClass__sum(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {
  
}

SPVM_VALUE is a union type of C language to store SPVM values. You can save integral value, floating point value, object value, and reference value to it.

For example, to get the value of the first argument(0th) of int type, write as follows.

int32_t args0 = stack[0].ival;

For example, to get the value of the second argument(1th) of long type, write as follows.

int64_t args1 = stack[1].lval;

For example, to return a value of double type, write as follows.

stack[0].dval = 0.5;

Examples:

#include "spvm_native.h"

int32_t SPVM__MyClass__sum(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

  int32_t num1 = stack[0].ival;
  int32_t num2 = stakc[1].ival;
  
  int32_t total = num1 + num2;
  
  stack[0].ival = total;
  
  return 0;
}

Getting Argument

Getting byte Type Argument

To get the SPVM byte argument, access the bval field. Assign to the C language int8_t type.

int8_t args0 = stack[0].bval;

Getting short Type Argument

To get the short argument of SPVM, access the sval field. Assign it to the C language int16_t type.

int16_t args0 = stack[0].sval;

Getting int Type Argument

To get the SPVM int type argument, access the ival field. Assign to the C language int32_t type.

int32_t args0 = stack[0].ival;

Getting long Type Argument

To get the long argument of SPVM, access the lval field. Assign to the C language int64_t type.

int64_t args0 = stack[0].lval;

Getting float Type Argument

To get the SPVM float type argument, access the fval field. Assign to float type of C language.

float args0 = stack[0].fval;

Getting double Type Argument

To get the SPVM double argument, access the dval field. Assign to the C language double type.

double args0 = stack[0].dval;

Getting Object Type Argument

To get the SPVM object type argument, access the oval field. Assign it to void* type in C language.

void* args0 = stack[0].oval;

Getting byte Reference Type Argument

If you get SPVM byte Reference Type argument, use "bref" field. it can be assinged to the value of C language int8_t* type.

int8_t* args0 = stack[0].bref;

Getting short Reference Type Argument

If you get SPVM short Reference Type argument, use "sref" field. it can be assinged to the value of C language int16_t* type.

int16_t* args0 = stack[0].sref;

Getting int Reference Type Argument

If you get SPVM int Reference Type argument, use "iref" field. it can be assinged to the value of C language int32_t* type.

int32_t* args0 = stack[0].iref;

Getting long Reference Type Argument

If you get SPVM long Reference Type argument, use "lref" field. it can be assinged to the value of C language int64_t* type.

int64_t* args0 = stack[0].lref;

Getting float Reference Type Argument

If you get SPVM float Reference Type argument, use "fref" field. it can be assinged to the value of C language float* type.

float* args0 = stack[0].fref;

Getting double Reference Type Argument

If you get SPVM double Reference Type Argument, use "dref" field. it can be assinged to the value of C language double* type.

double* args0 = stack[0].dref;

Getting Multi-Numeric Type Arguments

In a Native Method, multiple numeric type arguments are assigned to the coresponding multiple arguments.

For example, In the case of the argument values of Complex_2d type, you can get them by the following way.

double args_re = stack[0].dval;
double args_im = stack[1].dval;

Note that you cannot access the values by the field name of Complex_2d.

Return Value

Setting Return Value of byte Type

Use bval field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is byte. This is corresponding to int8_t type of C language.

int8_t retval;
stack[0].bval = retval;

Setting Return Value of short Type

Use sval field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is short. This is corresponding to int16_t type of C language.

int16_t retval;
stack[0].sval = retval;

Setting Return Value of int Type

Use ival field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is int. This is corresponding to int32_t type of C language.

int32_t retval;
stack[0].ival = retval;

Setting Return Value of long Type

Use lval field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is long. This is corresponding to int64_t type of C language.

int64_t retval;
stack[0].lval = retval;

Setting Return Value of float Type

Use fval field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is float. This is corresponding to float type of C language.

float retval;
stack[0].fval = retval;

Setting Return Value of double Type

Use dval field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is double. This is corresponding to double type of C language.

double retval;
stack[0].dval = retval;

Setting Return Value of Object Type

Use oval field of SPVM_VALUE to set a return value which type of SPVM is object. This is corresponding to void* type of C language.

void* retval;
stack[0].oval = retval;

Setting Return Value of Multi-Numeric Type

If you set multiple numeric return value in native method, set multiple return values.

For example, in the case of Complex_2d, do the following.

double retval_x;
double retval_y;
stack[0].dval = retval_x;
stack[1].dval = retval_y;

Calling Method

If you want to call a method, you get a method id using get_class_method_id or get_instance_method_id.

get_class_method_id get a method id of a class method.

get_instance_method_id get a method id of a instance method.

// Get method id of class method
int32_t method_id = env->get_class_method_id(env, "MyClass", "sum", "int(int,int)");

// Get method id of instance method
int32_t method_id = env->get_instance_method_id(env, object, "sum", "int(int,int)");

If method_id is less than 0, it means that the method was not found. It is safe to handle exceptions as follows.

if (method_id < 0) { return env->die(env, stack, "Can't find method id", __func__, "MyClass.c", __LINE__); }

Set the SPVM method argument to stack before calling the method.

stack[0].ival = 1;
stack[0].ival = 2;

To call a SPVM method, use the <a href="#native-api-native-sub-api-call_method">call_method</a> function.

int32_t error = env->call_method(env, method_id, stack);

Nonzero if the method raised an exception, 0 if no exception occurred.

The return value of the method is stored in the first element of the stack.

int32_t total = stack[0].ival;

Scope

Native method are entirely enclosed in scope.

Objects added to the mortal stack will automatically have their reference count decremented by 1 when the native method ends. When the reference count reaches 0, it is released.

Use push_mortal to add objects to the mortal stack.

env->push_mortal(env, stack, object);

Native APIs that normally create an object such as "new_object" will add the automatically created object to the mortal stack so you don't need to use this.

Use "enter_scope" to create a scope. The return value is the ID of that scope.

int32_t scope_id = env->enter_scope(env, stack);

Use "leave_scope" to leave the scope. For the argument, it is necessary to specify the scope ID obtained in "enter_scope".

env->leave_scope(env, stack, scope_id);

Use "remove_mortal" to remove the object from the mortal stack. For the argument, specify the scope ID obtained by "enter_scope" and the object you want to remove. The object is removed from the mortal stack and the reference count is automatically decremented by 1. When the reference count reaches 0, it is released.

env->remove_mortal(env, stack, scope_id, object);

Information about the mortal stack is stored in env.

Exception

In the native method, it is the return value that indicates whether an exception has occurred.

return 0;

return 1;

If no exception occurs, "0" is returned. This is defined as "0".

If an exception occurs, "1" is returned. It is defined as a value other than "0".

If you want to set the exception message yourself, you can create an exception message with "new_string_nolen" and set it with "set_exception".

env->set_exception(env, stack, env->new_string_nolen(env, stack, "Exception occur");
return 1;

If no exception message is set, a default exception message will be set.

Usually, die is defined to make it easier to use, so it is better to use this.

return env->die("Error. Values must be %d and %d", 3, 5, __func__, "MyClass.c", __LINE__);

die can be used in the same way as the C language sprintf function. Be sure to include this file name in the second from the end, and the line number in the last argument. If the message exceeds 255 bytes, the excess is truncated.

The exception is stored in env.

Pointer Type

There is a type called pointer type in SPVM, but I will explain how to use it.

The pointer type definition specifies the pointer attribute in the SPVM class definition. Pointer types cannot have field definitions. This example describes how to use the C standard "struct tm" as a pointer type.

# SPVM/MyTimeInfo.spvm
class MyTimeInfo : pointer {

  # Constructor
  native static method new : MyTimeInfo ();

  # Get second
  native method sec : int ();

  # Destructor
  native method DESTROY : ();
}

It defines a new constructor, a method that takes seconds information called sec, and a destructor called DESTROY. These are Native Method.

Next is the definition on the C language side.

# SPVM/MyTimeInfo.c

int32_t SPVM__MyTimeInfo__new(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

  // Alloc strcut tm
  void* tm_ptr = env->new_memory_stack(env, stack, sizeof (struct tm));

  // Create strcut tm instance
  void* tm_obj = env->new_pointer_object(env, stack, "MyTimeInfo", tm_ptr);

  stack[0].oval = tm_obj;

  return 0;
}

int32_t SPVM__MyTimeInfo__sec(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {
  void* tm_obj = stack[0].oval;

  strcut tm* tm_ptr = (struct tm*) env->get_pointer(env, stack, tm_obj);

  stack[0].ival = tm_ptr-> tm_sec;

  return 0;
}

int32_t SPVM__MyTimeInfo__DESTROY(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

  void* tm_obj = stack[0].oval;
  strcut tm* tm_ptr = (struct tm*) env->get_pointer(env, stack, tm_obj);

  env->free_memory_block (tm_ptr);

  return 0;
}

In the constructor new, the memory of "struct tm" is first allocated by the new_memory_stack function. This is a function that reserves one memory block in SPVM. Similar to malloc, this function increments the memory block count by one, making it easier to spot memory leaks.

// Alloc strcut tm
void* tm_ptr = env->new_memory_stack(env, stack, sizeof (struct tm));

Next, use the new_pointer_object function to create a new pointer type object with MyTimeInfo associated with it in the allocated memory.

// Create strcut tm instance
void* tm_obj = env->new_pointer_object(env, stack, "MyTimeInfo", tm_ptr);

If you return this as a return value, the constructor is complete.

stack[0].ival = tm_ptr-> tm_sec;

return 0;

Next, let's get the value of tm_sec. sec method. The get_pointer function can be used to get a pointer to the memory allocated as a "struct tm" from a pointer type object.

void* tm_obj = stack[0].oval;

strcut tm* tm_ptr = (struct tm*) env->get_pointer(env, stack, tm_obj);

stack[0].ival = tm_ptr-> tm_sec;

The last is the destructor. Be sure to define a destructor, as the allocated memory will not be released automatically.

int32_t SPVM__MyTimeInfo__DESTROY(SPVM_ENV* env, SPVM_VALUE* stack) {

  void* tm_obj = stack[0].oval;

  strcut tm* tm_ptr = (struct tm*) env->get_pointer(env, stack, tm_obj);

  env->free_memory_block (tm_ptr);

  return 0;
}

Execute the free_memory_block function to free the memory. Be sure to free the memory allocated by new_memory_stack with the free_memory_block function. Releases the memory and decrements the memory block count by one.

Calling Native API

Native API can be called from "SPVM_ENV* env" passed as an argument. Note that you have to pass env as the first argument.

int32_t basic_type_id = env->get_basic_type_id(env, "Int");

Utilities

Utilities.

spvmdist

If you want to create SPVM class that have the native class, spvmdist is useful.

Examples

Copyright & License

Copyright (c) 2023 Yuki Kimoto

MIT License