Ch (computer programming)
Original author(s) | Harry H. Cheng |
---|---|
Developer(s) | SoftIntegration, Inc. |
Initial release | October 1, 2001 |
Stable release |
7.5.1
/ December 2, 2015 |
Written in | C |
Operating system | Windows, OS X, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, Solaris (SPARC and x86), QNX, FreeBSD |
Platform | x86, SPARC |
Available in | English |
Type | Integrated development environment |
License |
Proprietary software Standard edition: freeware Student edition: freeware for students Professional edition: trialware for 30 days |
Website |
www |
Ch /ˌsiːˈeɪtʃ/ is a proprietary cross-platform C and C++ interpreter and scripting language environment, originally designed by Harry H. Cheng as a scripting language for beginners to learn mathematics, computing, numerical analysis (numeric methods), and programming in C/C++. Ch is now developed and marketed by SoftIntegration, Inc. A student edition is freely available.
Ch can be embedded in C/C++ application programs. It has numerical computing and graphical plotting features. Ch is a combined shell and IDE.[1] Ch shell combines the features of common shell and C language.[2] ChIDE provides quick code navigation and symbolic debugging. It is based on embedded Ch, Scite and Scintilla.[3][4]
Ch is written in C and runs on Windows, Linux, OS X, FreeBSD, AIX, Solaris, QNX, and HP-UX. It supports C90 and major C99 features, but it does not support the full set of C++ features. C99 complex number, IEEE-754 floating-point arithmetic, and variable-length array features were supported in Ch before they became part of the C99 standard.[5][6][7][8] An article published by Computer Reseller News (CRN) named Ch as notable among C-based virtual machines for its functionality and the availability of third-party libraries.[9]
Ch has many toolkits that extend its functions. For example, Ch Mechanism Toolkit is used for design and analysis of commonly used mechanisms such as fourbar linkage, five-bar linkage, six-bar linkage, crank-slider mechanism, and cam-follower system.[10] Ch Control System Toolkit is used for modeling, design, and analysis of continuous-time or discrete-time linear time invariant (LTI) control systems.[11] Both toolkits includes the source code.
Ch is now used and integrated into curriculum by many high schools and universities to teach computing and programming in C/C++.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
Features
Ch supports the 1999 ISO C Standard (C99) and C++ classes. It is a superset of C with C++ classes. Several major features of C99 are supported, such as complex numbers, variable length arrays (VLAs), IEEE-754 floating-point arithmetic, and generic mathematical functions. The specification for wide characters in Addendum 1 for C90 is also supported.
C++ features available in Ch include:
- Member functions
- Mixed code and declaration
- The this -> pointer
- Reference type and pass-by-reference
- Function-style type conversion
- Classes
- Private/public data and functions in classes. Ch is compatible with C++ in that by default, members of a class definition are assumed to be private until a 'public' declaration is given
- Static member of class/struct/union
- Const member functions
- The new and delete operators
- Constructors and destructors
- Polymorphic functions
- The scope resolution operator ::
- The I/O functions cout, cerr, and cin with endl
- Arguments for variadic functions are optional
Ch can interact with existing C/C++ libraries and call C/C++ functions from Ch script.[19]
As a C/C++ interpreter, Ch can be used as a scripting engine and extension language for applications. Pointers to arrays or variables can be passed and shared in both C-compiled and Ch scripting contexts. One example of an embedded Ch scripting application is Mobile-C, which has been used for collaborative visualization of distributed mesh model.[20][21][22]
Ch has a built-in string type (string_t) for automatic memory allocation and de-allocation. It supports shell aliases, history, piping, etc.[23][24]
Ch has built-in 2D/3D graphical plotting features and computational arrays for numerical computing. A 2D linear equation of the form b = A*x can be written verbatim in Ch.[25]
See also
References
- ↑ Veeraraghavan, Sriranga (2013). "An introduction to Ch: Implementing a temperature converter in Ch". ComputerWorld.
- ↑ Ch Shell
- ↑ Ch IDE
- ↑ Wang, Gary (2002). "Ch Solves Portability Headaches". IEEE Spectrum.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (1993). "Handling of Complex Numbers in the Ch Programming Language". Scientific Programming: 76–106.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (1993). "Scientific Computing in the Ch Programming Language". Scientific Programming: 49–75.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (1995). "Extending C and FORTRAN for Design Automation". ASME Trans., Journal of Mechanical Design: 390–395.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (1995). "Extending C with arrays of variable length". Computer Standards & Interfaces. Computer Standards & Interfaces. 17 (4): 375–406. doi:10.1016/0920-5489(95)00007-H.
- ↑ Morejon, Mario (2006). "Ch Language Rivals Java Functionality". CRN.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (2006). "Object-Oriented Interactive Mechanism Design and Analysis". Engineering with Computers: 237–246.
- ↑ Zhu, Yong (2003). "An Object-Based Software Package for Interactive Control System Design and Analysis". ASME Trans. Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering: 366–367.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (2009). "C for the Course". ASME Mechanical Engineering Magazine: 50–52.
- ↑ Huber, Tom (2010). "An Introduction to C and Ch: Your One-Stop Shop for Scientific Computing". Computing in Science & Engineering. IEEE Computing in Science and Engineering. 12 (4): 7. doi:10.1109/MCSE.2010.82.
- ↑ Liu, Li; Wang, Zhaoqing; Jiang, Xusheng (2010). "Anchor-based programming teaching embedded with Ch platform". Mechatronics and Embedded Systems and Applications (MESA), IEEE/ASME International Conference: 49–52.
- ↑ Furman, B.; Wertz, E. (2010). "A first course in computer programming for mechanical engineers". Mechatronics and Embedded Systems and Applications (MESA), IEEE/ASME International Conference: 70–75.
- ↑ Zhuang, Hong; Wang, Zhao-qing (2009). "Experience of Using Ch for Teaching Computer Programming in C". Computer Education: TP311.11–4. CKNI:SUN:JYJS.0.2009-07-016.
- ↑ Wang, Rong (2009). "Study of C Language Programming Teaching Method on platform Ch". Journal of Weinan Teachers University: TP312.1–4. CNKI:SUN:WOLF.0.2009-05-018.
- ↑ Stopforth, Riaan (2013). "Teaching and programming with Ch for tertiary-level mechatronics engineering education". Robotics and Mechatronics Conference (RobMech): 146–149.
- ↑ Wilson, Matthew (2004). "Open-RJ and Ch". Dr. Dobb's Journal.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (2009). "Speeding-Up Software Development Using Embedded Scripting". Dr. Dobb's Journal: 8–8.
- ↑ Wang, Li-rong; Bo, Yo; Hagiwara, I. "Mobile-C based agent management for collaborative visualization of distributed mesh model". Computer-Aided Industrial Design & Conceptual Design, 2009. CAID & CD 2009. IEEE 10th International Conference.
- ↑ Wang, Li-rong; Bo, Yo; Hagiwara, Ichiro (2009). "An agent based collaborative simplification of 3D mesh model". CDVE'09 Proceedings of the 6th international conference on cooperative design, visualization, and engineering.
- ↑ Campbell, Matt (2003). "Ch, A C/C++ Interpreter – New possibilities for people who like C and Unix". MACTECH, the journal of Apple technology.
- ↑ Cheng, Harry (2010). The Ch Language Environment (6.3 ed.). Davis, CA: SoftIntegration , Inc.
- ↑ Glassborow, Francis (2001). "The Ch Language Environment Version 2.0". C Vu Magazine: 36–37.
Further reading
- Heller, Martin (2001). "The Ch Language Environment". Byte. Archived from the original on November 16, 2001.
- Cheng, Harry (2002). "C99 & Numeric Computing". Dr. Dobb's Journal: 28–34.
- Cheng, Harry (2006). "Ch: A C/C++ Interpreter for Script Computing". Dr. Dobb's Journal: 6–12.
- Cheng, Harry (2009). C For Engineers & Scientists, An Interpretive Approach. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-729046-7.
- Cheng, Harry (2011). C For Engineers & Scientists (Chinese edition). Higher Education Press. ISBN 978-0-07-729046-7.
External links
- Official website, SoftIntegration
- Mobile-C: a Multi-Agent Platform for Mobile C/C++ Agents Home Page