C++ Support by the MIPS ABI

Purpose of This Document

This document describes the strategy which has been developed by the MIPS ABI Group for the support of C++ applications. Please consult the MIPS Processor ABI Conformance Guide for additional information.

Current Solution

It is possible to use C++ to develop applications for the MIPS ABI if the following conditions are met:

The application is built using a C++ compilation system which generates MIPS ABI-compliant code, and
Only ABI-compliant C++ archives generated by the same C++ compilation system used, and
Either:
- The application does not need to be linked on site, or
- The C++ compilation system which was used to build the application is also available on all the current MIPS ABI platforms.

A C++ compilation system will normally include a C++ compiler, C++ libraries and a linker and may include a debugger.

If an application is built such that it does not need to be linked on site then any files required from C++ archives must be statically linked.

It is not possible to use C++ object files or libraries created by one C++ compilation system with those created by another. This is because, at this time, there is no standard for certain aspects of "hidden data", which is not normally visible to the C++ user, but which is necessary to support the functionality of C++.

Future Direction

The MIPS ABI Group intends to standardize all aspects of the C++ environment, including all aspects of hidden data, pending approval of the ANSI X3J16/ISO WG21 C++ standard. At that time, it will be possible to combine object files and libraries created by different compilation systems, provided that the compilation systems conform to that new standard.

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