Specifications

Compilers, Interpreters, and Assemblers
7.6 BLISS-32
• Machine-specific functions can be separated from the common, mainline code
via modularization, macros, and special Library and Require files (separate
files that can be invoked from a BLISS program).
• Machine-specific characters can be passed to BLISS data structures with the
use of parameters.
7.7 C
Digital offers two versions of C, VAX C and DEC C. VAX C is available on
OpenVMS VAX systems only. DEC C is available on OpenVMS AXP systems and
will soon be supported on OpenVMS VAX systems as well.
Both products are full implementations of the C language and both are fully
supported by the OpenVMS operating system. This support includes access to all
utilities, the ability to invoke the callable system routines, and the ability to use
object modules from other programming languages.
DEC C is compliant with the ANSI-standard Systems-Programming Language C
(document number: X3.159-1989). By using command-line qualifiers, DEC C is
compatible with older dialects of C, including common usage C and VAX C.
VAX C and DEC C provide the following features within the OpenVMS operating
system environment:
• Set of structured control flow operators
• Set of mathematical and logical operators
• Data typing and conversions
• Consistent data declarations and data references
• Compiler optimized code, along with listing and cross-referenced storage map
• Common set of run-time support routines for accomplishing common tasks
such as I/O or math routines (many UNIX specific routines have been
emulated)
• New keywords for sharing data among program modules to allow for easy
reference to VAX MACRO programs and OpenVMS callable system routines
• Set of predefined macros to assist in transporting code and performing simple
tasks
• Set of built-in functions to efficiently access processor instructions
7.8 C++
DEC C++, a language that supports an object-oriented program design, is
supported on both OpenVMS VAX and OpenVMS AXP. DEC C++ supports the
full language definition as specified in The Annotated C++ Reference Manual by
Margaret Ellis and Bjarne Stroustrup (Addison-Wesley, 1990) excluding exception
handling. Exception handling is an experimental language feature that is not
currently implemented in DEC C++ but is considered for a future version.
DEC C++ supports LSE/SCA templates and LSE/SCA diagnostics and includes
enhancements to the debugger support of the C++ language features, such as the
OpenVMS Debugger command and DECwindows interfaces.
7–5