Introspection in system-level language frameworks: Meta-level vs. integrated

Reflection and automated introspection of a design in system level design frameworks are seen as necessities for the CAD tools to manipulate the designs within the tools. These features are also useful for debuggers, class and object browsers, design analyzers, composition validation, type checking, compatibility checking, etc. However the central question is whether such features should be integrated into the language, or if we should build frameworks which feature these capabilities in a meta-layer leaving the system-level language intact. In our recent interactions with designers, we have found differing opinions. Especially in the context of SystemC, the temptation to integrate reflective APIs into the language is great, because C++ is expressive, and already has type introspective packages available. In this paper we analyze this issue and show that (i) it is a better EDA system architecture to implement reflection/introspection at a meta-layer in a design framework (ii) there are relatively unexplored territories of design automation, such as behavioral typing of component interfaces, corresponding type-theory, and their implication in automating component composition, interface synthesis, and validation, which can be better incorporated if the introspection is implemented at a meta-layer.