Symbol table construction and name lookup in ISO C++

Abstract

The authors present an object oriented model of symbol table construction and name lookup for ISO C++ using the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Our use of UML class, activity and sequence diagrams serves to explicate our model and our use of patterns such as decorator and facade increase the understandability of the model. Clause three of the ISO C++ standard describes the procedures and rules for performing name lookup; our activity and sequence diagrams serve to simulate these procedures in graphical fashion. An advantage of our approach is that our model can increase C++ understandability for those practitioners with a working UML knowledge. An important contribution of our work is that our model forms the basis for construction of a parser front-end for ISO C++. Our explication of the name lookup problem represents a necessary first step in this construction and our component approach is independent of the compiler technology utilized. Our use of the UML in describing parser driven applications demonstrates how front-end development can be integrated into an object oriented framework. Construction of an ISO C++ front-end will help to increase the collection of tools for applications that use this popular language.