ABIAPI

ABIAPI is a term used to describe a conceptual framework that combines elements of the application binary interface (ABI) and application programming interface (API) design to specify how software components expose and consume functionality. It is not a formal, widely recognized standard, but a way to discuss interoperability concerns at the intersection of binary compatibility and API surface.

The idea rests on reconciling binary compatibility with API surface compatibility. An ABI defines calling conventions, data layout, and binary contracts; an API defines function names, parameters, and expected behavior. ABIAPI seeks to describe both aspects in a unified interface description, enabling tools and components to reason about compatibility across languages and runtimes.

Key concepts include a language-agnostic interface description language, metadata about types, versions, and guards; tooling for generating bindings, stubs, and adapters; and mechanisms for runtime negotiation of compatible components. Such a framework would support clear contracts between producers and consumers of libraries, including how data is laid out in memory and how API semantics are exposed.

Use cases include cross-language plugins, language bindings for native libraries, and portable components across platforms and compilers. ABIAPI can support safer plugin architectures and easier integration of heterogeneous modules, provided there is careful management of versioning, performance considerations, and security constraints.

Related topics include ABI, API, interface description languages, foreign function interfaces, and plugin architectures.