XML dumping and GraphViz/VCG in the GCC ast-optimizer-branch

[James Michael DuPont <mdupont777@yahoo.com>]

Dear GCC developers,

I was really suprized and happy to see the patches applied to the 
ast-optimizer-branch from Sebastian Pop. 
His XML dumping of call graphs is very useful. 
Can I take this as general acceptance of XML dumping in the gcc? 

At least it has not been attacked or criticized on the mailling list.

Also the dump-tree-dot module dumps into a format for the non-free
software dot, a part of graphviz. I take this is an accepted practice
of dumping tree structures for explict usage by non-free software? 

I hope that this is an indication that there is no longer any policy
problem of using the ast-dumps from the gcc by other free software
modules? I mean if the output is meant for non-free software, then you
must be happy to have this output used by free software.

Or is the contents of the CVS not an indication of policy at all, 
with the policy makers not enforcing them, and the cvs commiters not
asking for permission?

There have been many people who are interested in using the
introspector for creating free software. I have been trying to convince
people that it is better to not output asts to non-free software or
xml. But if the gcc is accepting patches to do the same, then I would
be silly not to follow suite. 

In fact, I cannot see any real reason anymore to get stressed out about
this issue at all. 

We am going to be re-starting up the binary distribution of the patched
gcc for full dumping of function bodies into xml and post processing in
perl. I had taken them down out of respect to some or Also we we will
be creating a local branch of the gcc ast-optimizer branch in the
introspector.sf.net repository.

My goal is to create a statically linked visualization and manipulation
tool under the GPL by gluing togeather the components of the VCG, GNOME
DIA, GCC and Perl. 

The VCG is a GPLed software that provides similar functions to 
GraphVis, In fact I have now gotten an "Un-Uglified" copy of the
sources from the author, and will be pushing to get the Gcc users to
switch over to use free software.

Also I have planned out an exchange of the ast information via
in-memory trees stored in the libxml2 dom structures. That would allow
for the visualization tools to get a "Live feed" from the compiler as a
push data feed. I hope that it will eliminate the need for external
representation, in fact the entire system could be statically linked
into one huge monolithic application. That would also include an
embedded perl for a script interpreter.

Anyway, we have many discussions about this issue on the list in the
past, and I think this whole issue of external representation is really
turning out to be a free-for-all where is it easier to ask for
forgiveness then for permisison, not following any real guidelines. It
is now time for me to get back in on this free-for-all, otherwise I
will just be left out.

Mike

=====
James Michael DuPont
http://introspector.sourceforge.net/

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