Exceptions in remote procedure calls using C++ template metaprogramming

Serialization of data is needed when information is passed among program entities that have no shared memory. For remote procedure calls, this includes serialization of exception objects in addition to more traditional parameters and return values. In C++, serialization of exceptions is more complicated than parameters and return values, since internal copying and passing of exceptions is handled differently from C++ parameters and return values. This article presents a light‐weight template metaprogramming‐based mechanism for passing C++ exceptions in remote procedure calls, remote method invocations, and other situations where caller and callee do not have a shared address space. This mechanism has been implemented and tested in the KC++ concurrent active object system. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.