Cross-platform support middleware
In today's world, Cross-platform support middleware has become a topic of great importance and interest to a wide spectrum of individuals and communities. Whether due to its relevance in contemporary society, its impact on people's daily lives, or its significance in the global sphere, Cross-platform support middleware has aroused great interest and debate among experts, scholars, and the population in general. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the different dimensions and aspects related to Cross-platform support middleware, in order to provide relevant information and in-depth analysis on this significant topic.
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A cross-platform support middleware (CPSM) is a software abstraction layer that guarantees the existence, and correct implementation, of a set of services on top a set of platforms.[1]
Abstraction method
The abstraction method in the CPSM development is the method used to compile the concrete source code for a given platform without compromising the abstract interfaces provided. The most commonly used abstraction methods in CPSM development are: conditional compilation and directory separation of sources.
The first method consists in embedding preprocessor instructions in the source code to conditionally select the source subtree compatible with a given platform.
The second method takes advantage of the filesystem organization to divide the source code in different folders, one for each incompatible platform. Thus delegating the selection problem to the build system.
Some distributions like MSYS and Cygwin may help build the cross-platform code in a Unix-like environment even on Microsoft Windows. Both distributions provide a decent version of GNU Make that can direct the build process in a cross-platform fashion.
See also
- Adaptive Communication Environment
- Boost C++ libraries
- GTK+
- Netscape Portable Runtime
- Simple DirectMedia Layer
- wxWidgets
References
- ^ Zavolinsky, Patricio. "Abstracción en el desarrollo de software independiente de la plataforma: Análisis del proceso de desarrollo de Cross-Platform Support Middlewares (spanish)" (PDF). Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-04-11. Retrieved 2008-09-25.