The IFC specification aims to formally define a binary format for describing the semantics of C++ programs (or program fragments) at a high level of abstraction, before lowering to machine code or similar.
This format is designed to offer a persistent form of the in-memory Internal Program Representation (IPR) of C++ programs originally developed by Gabriel Dos Reis and Bjarne Stroustrup. As such, it follows the same principles as the IPR:
- Completeness: Represents the semantics of all Standard C++ constructs
- Generality: Suitable for every kind of application, rather than targeted to a particular application area
- Regularity: Does not mimic C++ language irregularities; general rules are used, rather than long lists of special cases
- Typefulness: Every expression has a type
- Minimality: No redundant values, and traversal involves no redundant indirections
- Compiler neutrality: Not tied to a particular compiler
- Scalability: Able to represent hundreds of thousands of lines of codes on common machines
The latest IFC draft specification can be downloaded here.
Official releases can be found on the releases page.
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In order to build the PDF rendering of the specification, ensure that you have a modern LaTeX processor installed.
Clone a copy of the repo
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/ifc-spec.git
Change to the LaTeX directory
cd ltx
Issue the command
pdflatex ifc
followed by
bibtex ifc
and possibly two more times
pdflatex ifc