What is a GCC plugin for struct inheritance?

It's a dynamic library loaded by GCC at compile-time, adding a custom `embed_struct` attribute to let C structs nest parents like inheritance—fields access via `super.field`.

How do you build and test a GCC plugin?

Grab plugin.c boilerplate, Makefile with `-fPIC`, compile shared lib, then `gcc -fplugin=./embedstruct.so test.c`. Warnings confirm load.

Will GCC plugins like this work on future compiler versions?

Probably not without tweaks—API evolves, versions mismatch. Stick to tested GCC like 16.x.

🛠️ Developer Tools

One Dev's GCC Plugin Hack: Bringing Struct Inheritance to Plain Old C

C's been around forever, powering everything from kernels to cars. Now one dev's GCC plugin sneaks in struct inheritance—without rewriting your codebase.

theAIcatchup Apr 09, 2026 4 min read

Screenshot of GCC plugin code adding embed_struct attribute to C structs

⚡ Key Takeaways

GCC plugins let you hack C features like struct inheritance without forking the compiler. 𝕏
Cool for readability in embedded/legacy C, but brittle across GCC versions. 𝕏
Niche win over C++ bloat, echoes old Unix tricks—don't expect mainstream adoption. 𝕏

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theAIcatchup

Community-driven. Code-first.

#C extensions #C programming #C struct inheritance #GCC plugin #compiler plugins #embedded C

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Originally reported by Dev.to

⚡ Key Takeaways

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