Help with C++ basics - comp.lang.c++

I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the difference between it and executive file? 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and executive file? 3. What is a function in the source code? 4. What is an object in the source code? 5. What is a library, what does it contain? 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and a header file? I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information about them can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read I'm having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would be great. -- Windows 7 32bit Ubuntu 10.04 32bit

On Mar 24, 10:59=A0am, Aleksandar_B <a...@testinglab.com> wrote: > I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and > would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: > > 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler > 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the > difference between it and executive file? A computer CPU does not understand C++ syntax. It only understands platform specific operation codes. Eg op code for moving a 32 bit value in memory location 112 could be 17 <source_mem_location> <target_mem_location> This is not a real op code by the way. Most programmers don't want to have to learn low level op codes. Therefore 'high level' languages are used so programmers can work at a higher level of abstraction. The compiler translates C++ instructions into assembly code. An assembler converts the assembly instructions into machine code. Object code is the machine code. A linker 'links' the bits of object code together to form an executable program. The compiler will create an object file for each translation unit (think that is the term). A translation unit is eg widget.cpp (and widget.hpp). So for a program you might gets LOTs of object files. The linker puts all the bits of machine code together to form an executable. > > 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and > executive file? *** See above. > > 3. What is a function in the source code? *** Not sure what your question is? > > 4. What is an object in the source code? ** Don't confuse a C++ object and object code. They are two entirely different concepts. > > 5. What is a library, what does it contain? *** A library is like object code which contains useful functions (but in object code form). If for example you use cout, then the implementation of this will be in a library which your linker links in with your own code to form an exe. A library can be considered equivalent to an object file containing your own functions. > > 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? *** A header contains the correct signatures for functions which you might call. Someone better help me out here :) > > 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? ** eg to use a vector you #include <vector>. The standard library contains the implementation of a vector. The linker links the required code into your exe if you use vector. > > 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and > a header file? > > I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information > about them =A0can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read > I'm having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would > be great. *** Not only C++ but any compiled language. Interpreted languages use slightly different concepts. I hope this helps. > > -- > > Windows 7 32bit > Ubuntu 10.04 32bit See above

On Mar 24, 6:59=A0am, Aleksandar_B <a...@testinglab.com> wrote: > I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ [snip] Wow, that looked exactly like homework. But I know that nobody would ever post homework on the webs. The answer to most of your questions is: google Socks

I'm long way from homework, and school for that matter. This is just something I started doing to pass the time. But you know what, instead of putting idiotic remarks how about helping or just skipping a chance to make a little turd on the way. Homework, yeah right. Windows 7 32bit Ubuntu 10.04 32bit On 2011-03-24 14:23, Puppet_Sock wrote: > On Mar 24, 6:59 am, Aleksandar_B<a...@testinglab.com> wrote: >> I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ [snip] > > Wow, that looked exactly like homework. But I know > that nobody would ever post homework on the webs. > > The answer to most of your questions is: google > Socks

Windows 7 32bit Ubuntu 10.04 32bit On 2011-03-24 12:25, Angus wrote: >> 3. What is a function in the source code? > > *** Not sure what your question is? So far I'v got that function is smaller independent unit that contains operations and data, but I'm having trouble visualizing it or distinguishing it from an object. You mention it in your library definition. >> >> 4. What is an object in the source code? > > ** Don't confuse a C++ object and object code. They are two entirely > different concepts. Ok, so what is a C++ object? >> >> 5. What is a library, what does it contain? > *** A library is like object code which contains useful functions (but > in object code form). If for example you use cout, then the > implementation of this will be in a library which your linker links in > with your own code to form an exe. A library can be considered > equivalent to an object file containing your own functions. >> >> 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? > *** A header contains the correct signatures for functions which you > might call. Someone better help me out here :) From what I'v gatherd a header is like a nametag for a library (something like a subject of a e-mail message), and by refering to it am actually calling a library. >> >> 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? > ** eg to use a vector you #include<vector>. The standard library > contains the implementation of a vector. The linker links the > required code into your exe if you use vector. >> >> 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and >> a header file? Hope I get a response to this :) > I hope this helps. It does, thanks. >> >> -- >> >> Windows 7 32bit >> Ubuntu 10.04 32bit

On 24 Mrz., 15:44, Aleksandar_B wrote: > [... I have no clue, please explain basic things to me ...] Get hold of a (or more) decent C++ book(s). Check out http://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/ key words for your internet search: separate compilation, translation unit, linker (computing), one-definition rule Header files are nothing special. They are simply best practice. Once you understand that a C++ compiler likes to see declarations or definitions of "things" before you can make "use" of them, and once you understand separate compilation, it should be obvious what the purpose of header files is. SG

On Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:59:56 +0100, Aleksandar_B <alex@testinglab.com> wrote: >I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and >would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: > >1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler >'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the >difference between it and executive file? > >2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and >executive file? > >3. What is a function in the source code? > >4. What is an object in the source code? > >5. What is a library, what does it contain? > >6. What is a header file, what does it contain? > >7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? > >8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and >a header file? > >I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information >about them can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read >I'm having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would >be great. I suggest having a look at Accelerated C++. An excellent beginner book that emphasizes teaching useful concepts.

"Aleksandar_B" <alex@testinglab.com> wrote in message news:imf87c$sn8$1@ss408.t-com.hr... >I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and would >appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: > > 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler > 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the > difference between it and executive file? > > 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and > executive file? > No simple answer, object files comprise of symbol tables and relative addresses , they are a format the linker can understand. Types of common obj files are ELF and COFF, you may wish to study some literature on these file formats to gain a better insight. You can create non executable obj files as libraries of functions. Your program can use these files, the best way to understand is to actually do it, let me explain: 1) Create an object file containing one function and compile only( no link) ======== static_lib.cpp ============== #include <iostream> extern void output_line( char* p){ std::cout<< p << std::endl; } ================================= Compile with: cl /EHsc /c static_lib.cpp Your compiler may take different commands this is for ms compiler and what the commands mean: cl = invoke compiler /EHsc = enable C++ Exceptions( needed for iostream) /c = compile only no link. filename.cpp 2) Create a main program file: ========= test_prog.cpp ============= void output_line(char* ); //* need to declare the lib functions you use, this is usually in a .h file supplied with your lib.*// int main(){ char str[] = "This is the argument"; output_line( str); /*invoke the fucntion inside the obj file*/ } =============================== Compile with: cl /EHsc test_prog.cpp /link static_lib.obj Now you see the command takes a /link option which specifies an input file for the linker. obj files can be created using different langauges, usually asm obj files are usefull. When assembled/compiled to an obj file it becomes portable across languages. A large obj lib is usually a .lib file file these are used extensivelly when compiling large windows programs( dunno about nix but probably similar). > 3. What is a function in the source code? A function contains a defintion(usually) and a decalration. ..I think my above example of linking shows the difference between the two. ..> > 4. What is an object in the source code? An "object"? LOL you don't wanna go there. > > 5. What is a library, what does it contain? There are different types of libraries. answer1 ) Its a large building containing books (joke). answer 2) See above link example for a static library. answer 3) dynamic libraries are more advance I won't go into that. > > 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? A header file contains declarations of the implementations is declares. > > 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? Again see my example of linking. > > 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and a > header file? A namespace is basically self explanitory , it basically adds a scope. Example: int x; namespace newscope{int x;} You can have two different varaible with the same names , because they are in a different namespace/scope. No namespace usually is the global namespace. > > I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information > about them can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read I'm > having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would be > great. > > -- HTH Paul.

Thanks for all the replies, this should get me on my way. Windows 7 32bit Ubuntu 10.04 32bit On 2011-03-24 11:59, Aleksandar_B wrote: > I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and > would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: > > 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler > 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the > difference between it and executive file? > > 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and > executive file? > > 3. What is a function in the source code? > > 4. What is an object in the source code? > > 5. What is a library, what does it contain? > > 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? > > 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? > > 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and > a header file? > > I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information > about them can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read I'm > having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would be > great. >

Aleksandar_B Wrote: > I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and > > would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to > me: > > 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler > > 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the > > difference between it and executive > file? > > 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and > > executive > file? > > 3. What is a function in the source > code? > > 4. What is an object in the source > code? > > 5. What is a library, what does it > contain? > > 6. What is a header file, what does it > contain? > > 7. What is the connection between a library and a header > file? > > 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and > > a header > file? > > I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information > > about them can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read > > I'm having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would > > be > great. > > -- > > > Windows 7 > 32bit > Ubuntu 10.04 32bit Aleksandar_B Wrote: > I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and > would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: A good beginners book on programming should cover these questions in more detail than we can do here, but I will give an introduction. > > 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler > 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the > difference between it and executive file? Compiling a C++ program is done in three steps: 1. Preprocessing. In this step, a source file is transformed to a translation unit (TU) by resolving all #include directives 2. Compiling. In this step, the TU from the first step is converted from C++ code into an object file that contains the code in a format that the processor can understand. 3. Linking. Step 1 and 2 are performed separately for every source file. In this step, all the object files are combined together to form a single executable. So, object code is the result of compiling a single source file. An executable is the result of combining several object files and (static) libraries such that the operating system can run the program without running into the problem of "where can I find the definition of that next function". > > 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and > executive file? see above > > 3. What is a function in the source code? Within C++, a function is a named group of statements that together perform a task. In C++, execuable code must exist only within functions. For a more general definition of a function, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_%28computer_science%29 > > 4. What is an object in the source code? The term 'object' can have different meanings in C++. Sometimes, the term 'object' is used to refer to a piece of memory that contains some values. In this sense, object is sometimes used interchangeably with the term 'variable', where variable can also be seen as a named object. At other times, the term 'object' with the same meaning as in Object Oriented Programming, meaning an instance of a class. See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object-oriented_programming and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_%28computer_science%29 > > 5. What is a library, what does it contain? A library is essentially a collection of already compiled source files that provide facilities (functions, classes, etc.) that are useful to multiple programs. > > 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? As a C++ compiler processes only one source file at a time and because there is no link between the name of a source file and its contents, there needs to be a way to tell the compiler "I will be using these functions and classes, but they will be defined elsewhere." This can be done by mentioning all the relevant functions and classes in your source file, but if you have several source files that all want to refer to the same functions foo() and bar(), then that becomes tedious and error-prone. For classes it is even worse, because you would have to type the whole class each time. This is where header files come to the rescue. They already contain the code that tells the compiler "these functions and classes are available (somewhere) and can be used in this way". With the directive #include "my_header.h" you tell the preprocessor to pull in the contents of the my_header.h header at that point in the source file. > > 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? Header files are the mechanism by which you tell the compiler "these functions, classes, etc. are available for use in the program. The exact function definitions can be found elsewhere." Libraries are used to tell the linker "if you need function X, here is where you can find it." So, header files are used to indicate WHAT is available and libraries tell WHERE it is. > > 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and > a header file? There is no direct connection between a namespace and a library or header, but it is not unusual for a library to provide a namespace with the same name as the library. Namespaces are a mechanism to overcome the problem that different libraries may have used the same word for different concepts. For example, the term 'vector' is an important mathematical concept, so you are likely to find a class vector in a math library. But the C++ standard library also uses the term 'vector' for a resizeable array. So, how can you use both kinds of 'vector' in one program? This is what namespaces are for, because they give contextual information to tell which 'vector' you mean. Bart v Ingen Schenau

Tnanks for the short explanation. Windows 7 32bit Ubuntu 10.04 32bit On 2011-03-27 17:39, Bart van Ingen Schenau wrote: > Aleksandar_B Wrote: > >> I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and >> >> would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to >> me: >> >> 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler >> >> 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the >> >> difference between it and executive >> file? >> >> 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and >> >> executive >> file? >> >> 3. What is a function in the source >> code? >> >> 4. What is an object in the source >> code? >> >> 5. What is a library, what does it >> contain? >> >> 6. What is a header file, what does it >> contain? >> >> 7. What is the connection between a library and a header >> file? >> >> 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and >> >> a header >> file? >> >> I know that these quesions are about the basics of C++ and information >> >> about them can be found 'anywhere', but so far from what I have read >> >> I'm having hard time to 'visualize' these concepts, so some help would >> >> be >> great. >> >> -- >> >> >> Windows 7 >> 32bit >> Ubuntu 10.04 32bit > Aleksandar_B Wrote: > >> I have a few question regarding some essentials concepts in c++ and >> would appreciate it if somebody could explain them to me: > > A good beginners book on programming should cover these questions in more > detail than we can do here, but I will give an introduction. > >> >> 1. What is object code? I know that it's a result of compiler >> 'translating' source code and that it's a binary file, but what is the >> difference between it and executive file? > > Compiling a C++ program is done in three steps: > 1. Preprocessing. In this step, a source file is transformed to a > translation unit (TU) by resolving all #include directives > 2. Compiling. In this step, the TU from the first step is converted from C++ > code into an object file that contains the code in a format that the > processor can understand. > 3. Linking. Step 1 and 2 are performed separately for every source file. In > this step, all the object files are combined together to form a single > executable. > > So, object code is the result of compiling a single source file. > An executable is the result of combining several object files and (static) > libraries such that the operating system can run the program without running > into the problem of "where can I find the definition of that next function". > >> >> 2. What is a linker and what is it's connection to object code file and >> executive file? > > see above >> >> 3. What is a function in the source code? > > Within C++, a function is a named group of statements that together perform > a task. > In C++, execuable code must exist only within functions. > > For a more general definition of a function, see > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_%28computer_science%29 > >> >> 4. What is an object in the source code? > > The term 'object' can have different meanings in C++. > Sometimes, the term 'object' is used to refer to a piece of memory that > contains some values. In this sense, object is sometimes used > interchangeably with the term 'variable', where variable can also be seen as > a named object. > > At other times, the term 'object' with the same meaning as in Object > Oriented Programming, meaning an instance of a class. > > See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object-oriented_programming and > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object_%28computer_science%29 > >> >> 5. What is a library, what does it contain? > > A library is essentially a collection of already compiled source files that > provide facilities (functions, classes, etc.) that are useful to multiple > programs. > >> >> 6. What is a header file, what does it contain? > > As a C++ compiler processes only one source file at a time and because there > is no link between the name of a source file and its contents, there needs > to be a way to tell the compiler "I will be using these functions and > classes, but they will be defined elsewhere." > This can be done by mentioning all the relevant functions and classes in > your source file, but if you have several source files that all want to > refer to the same functions foo() and bar(), then that becomes tedious and > error-prone. For classes it is even worse, because you would have to type > the whole class each time. > This is where header files come to the rescue. They already contain the code > that tells the compiler "these functions and classes are available > (somewhere) and can be used in this way". > With the directive > #include "my_header.h" > you tell the preprocessor to pull in the contents of the my_header.h header > at that point in the source file. > >> >> 7. What is the connection between a library and a header file? > > Header files are the mechanism by which you tell the compiler "these > functions, classes, etc. are available for use in the program. The exact > function definitions can be found elsewhere." > Libraries are used to tell the linker "if you need function X, here is where > you can find it." > So, header files are used to indicate WHAT is available and libraries tell > WHERE it is. > >> >> 8. What is a namespace and what is it's connection between a library and >> a header file? > > There is no direct connection between a namespace and a library or header, > but it is not unusual for a library to provide a namespace with the same > name as the library. > > Namespaces are a mechanism to overcome the problem that different libraries > may have used the same word for different concepts. > For example, the term 'vector' is an important mathematical concept, so you > are likely to find a class vector in a math library. > But the C++ standard library also uses the term 'vector' for a resizeable > array. > So, how can you use both kinds of 'vector' in one program? This is what > namespaces are for, because they give contextual information to tell which > 'vector' you mean. > > Bart v Ingen Schenau >

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