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Module Concept of MVM

A MVM module is a collection of classes, methods, and variables with a unique name. The module is loaded within another module by load [NAME];

Building a MVM Module

If compiling code which should be packed to a module instead of a executable, then put module [NAME]; into the module code. What happend within the compiler: The compiler ...

  • ... calls LLVM to optimize the user code.
  • ... outputs the user code to a module-[NAME]-user.bc.
  • ... builds are partial memory layout, see optimizer concept.
  • ... collects all public classes, methods, and variables and generates reflection informations for these public items.
  • ... calls LLVM to optimize all code (user code, memory layout code, and reflection code).
  • ... outputs the code to a module-[NAME]-all.bc.
  • ... calls LLVM to compiles module-[NAME]-all.bc to module-[NAME].so (or .dll on windows).

Loading a MVM Module

During the load [NAME]; the compiler does the following steps. The compiler ...

  • ... looking for module-[NAME].so (or .dll on windows) in module search path (link include path of c/c++ compiler specified via command line options).
  • ... loading module-[NAME].so in an OS-native way.
  • ... calling some registerModule method, which is allowed to register additional parser, additional analysis, ... (see extending MVM).
  • ... calling reflection code to add symbols definitions to search tree. Important: All classes, methods, and variables of the module are usage at compile time!

Linking a MVM Program against MVM Modules

During linking of a MVM program the following steps are done by the compiler (MVM does not distingish between linker and compiler): The compiler ...

  • ... collects all needed modules by the following steps:
    • Collect all externally called LLVM-functions.
    • Find modules which define this LLVM-functions.
    • Load module-[NAME]-user.bc.
    • Start again until no new modules have to be loaded.
  • ... change all external LLVM-functions to internal (to enable further optimizations).
  • ... calls LLVM to optimize all user code.
  • ... builds a overall memory layout, see optimizer concept.
  • ... calls LLVM to optimize all code (user code and memory layout code).
  • ... outputs the code to program-with-mvm-modules.bc.
  • ... calls LLVM to compile program-with-mvm-modules.bc and link with additional libraries coming from outside of MVM.