Implement CValuesRef in interop

* Represent pointer parameters of C functions as `CValuesRef`.
* Represent struct value parameters as `CValue`.
* Implement some helper methods to make the new approach more useful.
* Migrate some code to new interop approach for pointers and values.

Also do not map to `String?`:
- pointers to 8-bit integers;
- pointers to non-const chars.

Interop/Indexer/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/native/interop/indexer/Indexer.kt

@@ -45,25 +45,23 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
 
     override val macroConstants = mutableListOf<ConstantDef>()
 
-    private fun getDeclarationId(cursor: CXCursor): DeclarationID = memScoped {
-        val usr = clang_getCursorUSR(cursor, memScope).convertAndDispose()
-        DeclarationID(usr)
+    private fun getDeclarationId(cursor: CValue<CXCursor>): DeclarationID {
+        val usr = clang_getCursorUSR(cursor).convertAndDispose()
+        return DeclarationID(usr)
     }
 
-    private fun getStructDeclAt(cursor: CXCursor): StructDeclImpl {
+    private fun getStructDeclAt(cursor: CValue<CXCursor>): StructDeclImpl {
         val declId = getDeclarationId(cursor)
 
         return structById.getOrPut(declId) {
-            memScoped {
-                val cursorType = clang_getCursorType(cursor, memScope)
-                val typeSpelling = clang_getTypeSpelling(cursorType, memScope).convertAndDispose()
+            val cursorType = clang_getCursorType(cursor)
+            val typeSpelling = clang_getTypeSpelling(cursorType).convertAndDispose()
 
-                StructDeclImpl(typeSpelling)
-            }
+            StructDeclImpl(typeSpelling)
         }
     }
 
-    private fun getEnumDefAt(cursor: CXCursor): EnumDefImpl {
+    private fun getEnumDefAt(cursor: CValue<CXCursor>): EnumDefImpl {
         if (clang_isCursorDefinition(cursor) == 0) {
             TODO("support enum forward declarations")
         }
@@ -71,19 +69,17 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
         val declId = getDeclarationId(cursor)
 
         return enumById.getOrPut(declId) {
-            memScoped {
-                val cursorType = clang_getCursorType(cursor, memScope)
-                val typeSpelling = clang_getTypeSpelling(cursorType, memScope).convertAndDispose()
+            val cursorType = clang_getCursorType(cursor)
+            val typeSpelling = clang_getTypeSpelling(cursorType).convertAndDispose()
 
-                val baseType = convertType(clang_getEnumDeclIntegerType(cursor, memScope)) as PrimitiveType
+            val baseType = convertType(clang_getEnumDeclIntegerType(cursor)) as PrimitiveType
 
-                EnumDefImpl(typeSpelling, baseType)
-            }
+            EnumDefImpl(typeSpelling, baseType)
         }
     }
 
-    private fun builtinVaListType(type: CXType, name: String, underlying: Type): Type {
-        assert (type.kind.value == CXType_Typedef)
+    private fun builtinVaListType(type: CValue<CXType>, name: String, underlying: Type): Type {
+        assert (type.kind == CXType_Typedef)
         val declarationId = DeclarationID("c:@T@$name")
 
         val structDeclaration = structById.getOrPut(declarationId) {
@@ -100,11 +96,11 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
         return ConstArrayType(RecordType(structDeclaration), 1)
     }
 
-    fun getTypedef(type: CXType): Type = memScoped {
-        val declCursor = clang_getTypeDeclaration(type, memScope)
+    fun getTypedef(type: CValue<CXType>): Type {
+        val declCursor = clang_getTypeDeclaration(type)
         val name = getCursorSpelling(declCursor)
 
-        val underlying = convertType(clang_getTypedefDeclUnderlyingType(declCursor, memScope))
+        val underlying = convertType(clang_getTypedefDeclUnderlyingType(declCursor))
 
         if (name == "__builtin_va_list") {
             // On some platforms (e.g. macOS) libclang reports `__builtin_va_list` to be defined as array using
@@ -136,8 +132,8 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
     /**
      * Computes [StructDef.hasNaturalLayout] property.
      */
-    fun structHasNaturalLayout(structDefCursor: CXCursor): Boolean {
-        val defKind = structDefCursor.kind.value
+    fun structHasNaturalLayout(structDefCursor: CValue<CXCursor>): Boolean {
+        val defKind = structDefCursor.kind
 
         when (defKind) {
 
@@ -161,23 +157,22 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
         }
     }
 
-    private fun convertCursorType(cursor: CXCursor) = memScoped {
-        convertType(clang_getCursorType(cursor, memScope))
-    }
+    private fun convertCursorType(cursor: CValue<CXCursor>) =
+        convertType(clang_getCursorType(cursor))
 
-    fun convertType(type: CXType): Type = memScoped {
+    fun convertType(type: CValue<CXType>): Type {
         val primitiveType = convertUnqualifiedPrimitiveType(type)
         if (primitiveType != UnsupportedType) {
             return primitiveType
         }
 
-        val kind = type.kind.value
+        val kind = type.kind
         return when (kind) {
-            CXType_Elaborated -> convertType(clang_Type_getNamedType(type, memScope))
+            CXType_Elaborated -> convertType(clang_Type_getNamedType(type))
 
             CXType_Unexposed -> {
-                val canonicalType = clang_getCanonicalType(type, memScope)
-                if (canonicalType.kind.value != CXType_Unexposed) {
+                val canonicalType = clang_getCanonicalType(type)
+                if (canonicalType.kind != CXType_Unexposed) {
                     convertType(canonicalType)
                 } else {
                     throw NotImplementedError()
@@ -188,19 +183,27 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
 
             CXType_Typedef -> getTypedef(type)
 
-            CXType_Record -> RecordType(getStructDeclAt(clang_getTypeDeclaration(type, memScope)))
-            CXType_Enum -> EnumType(getEnumDefAt(clang_getTypeDeclaration(type, memScope)))
+            CXType_Record -> RecordType(getStructDeclAt(clang_getTypeDeclaration(type)))
+            CXType_Enum -> EnumType(getEnumDefAt(clang_getTypeDeclaration(type)))
 
-            CXType_Pointer -> PointerType(convertType(clang_getPointeeType(type, memScope)))
+            CXType_Pointer -> {
+                val pointeeType = clang_getPointeeType(type)
+                val canonicalPointeeType = clang_getCanonicalType(pointeeType)
+                if (clang_isConstQualifiedType(canonicalPointeeType) != 0) {
+                    PointerToConstType(convertType(pointeeType))
+                } else {
+                    PointerType(convertType(pointeeType))
+                }
+            }
 
             CXType_ConstantArray -> {
-                val elemType = convertType(clang_getArrayElementType(type, memScope))
+                val elemType = convertType(clang_getArrayElementType(type))
                 val length = clang_getArraySize(type)
                 ConstArrayType(elemType, length)
             }
 
             CXType_IncompleteArray -> {
-                val elemType = convertType(clang_getArrayElementType(type, memScope))
+                val elemType = convertType(clang_getArrayElementType(type))
                 IncompleteArrayType(elemType)
             }
 
@@ -208,10 +211,10 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
                 if (clang_isFunctionTypeVariadic(type) != 0) {
                     UnsupportedType
                 } else {
-                    val returnType = convertType(clang_getResultType(type, memScope))
+                    val returnType = convertType(clang_getResultType(type))
                     val numArgs = clang_getNumArgTypes(type)
                     val paramTypes = (0..numArgs - 1).map {
-                        convertType(clang_getArgType(type, it, memScope))
+                        convertType(clang_getArgType(type, it))
                     }
                     FunctionType(paramTypes, returnType)
                 }
@@ -221,12 +224,11 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
         }
     }
 
-    fun indexDeclaration(info: CXIdxDeclInfo): Unit = memScoped {
-        val cursor = info.cursor
+    fun indexDeclaration(info: CXIdxDeclInfo): Unit {
+        val cursor = info.cursor.readValue()
         val entityInfo = info.entityInfo.pointed!!
-        val entityName = entityInfo.name.value?.asCString()?.toString()
+        val entityName = entityInfo.name.value?.toKString()
         val kind = entityInfo.kind.value
-
         when (kind) {
             CXIdxEntity_Field -> {
                 val name = entityName!!
@@ -234,14 +236,14 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
                 val offset = clang_Cursor_getOffsetOfField(cursor)
 
                 val container = info.semanticContainer.pointed!!
-                val structDef = getStructDeclAt(container.cursor).def!!
+                val structDef = getStructDeclAt(container.cursor.readValue()).def!!
                 structDef.fields.add(Field(name, type, offset))
             }
 
             CXIdxEntity_Struct, CXIdxEntity_Union -> {
                 val structDecl = getStructDeclAt(cursor)
                 if (clang_isCursorDefinition(cursor) != 0) {
-                    val type = clang_getCursorType(cursor, memScope)
+                    val type = clang_getCursorType(cursor)
                     val size = clang_Type_getSizeOf(type)
                     val align = clang_Type_getAlignOf(type).toInt()
                     val hasNaturalLayout = structHasNaturalLayout(cursor)
@@ -251,17 +253,17 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
 
             CXIdxEntity_Function -> {
                 val name = entityName!!
-                val returnType = convertType(clang_getCursorResultType(cursor, memScope))
+                val returnType = convertType(clang_getCursorResultType(cursor))
                 val argNum = clang_Cursor_getNumArguments(cursor)
                 val args = (0 .. argNum - 1).map {
-                    val argCursor = clang_Cursor_getArgument(cursor, it, memScope)
+                    val argCursor = clang_Cursor_getArgument(cursor, it)
                     val argName = getCursorSpelling(argCursor)
                     val type = convertCursorType(argCursor)
                     Parameter(argName, type)
                 }
 
                 val binaryName = when (language) {
-                    Language.C -> clang_Cursor_getMangling(cursor, memScope).convertAndDispose()
+                    Language.C -> clang_Cursor_getMangling(cursor).convertAndDispose()
                 }
 
                 functionByName[name] = FunctionDecl(name, args, returnType, binaryName)
@@ -274,9 +276,9 @@ internal class NativeIndexImpl(val language: Language) : NativeIndex() {
             CXIdxEntity_EnumConstant -> {
                 val container = info.semanticContainer.pointed!!
                 val name = entityName!!
-                val value = clang_getEnumConstantDeclValue(info.cursor)
+                val value = clang_getEnumConstantDeclValue(info.cursor.readValue())
 
-                val constants = getEnumDefAt(container.cursor).constants
+                val constants = getEnumDefAt(container.cursor.readValue()).constants
                 val existingConstant = constants.find { it.name == name }
                 if (existingConstant == null) {
                     val constant = EnumConstant(name, value, isExplicitlyDefined = !cursor.isLeaf())

Interop/Indexer/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/native/interop/indexer/MacroConstants.kt

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package org.jetbrains.kotlin.native.interop.indexer
 
 import clang.*
-import kotlinx.cinterop.memScoped
+import kotlinx.cinterop.CValue
 import java.io.File
 
 /**
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ internal fun findMacroConstants(library: NativeLibrary, nativeIndex: NativeIndex
     nativeIndex.macroConstants.addAll(constants)
 }
 
-private typealias TypeConverter = (CXType) -> Type
+private typealias TypeConverter = (CValue<CXType>) -> Type
 
 /**
  * For each name expands the macro with this name declared in the library,
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ private fun processCodeSnippet(
     var longValue: Long? = null
     var doubleValue: Double? = null
 
-    val visitor: CursorVisitor = { cursor: CXCursor, parent: CXCursor ->
-        val kind = cursor.kind.value
+    val visitor: CursorVisitor = { cursor, parent ->
+        val kind = cursor.kind
         when {
             state == VisitorState.EXPECT_VARIABLE && kind == CXCursorKind.CXCursor_VarDecl -> {
                 state = VisitorState.EXPECT_VARIABLE_VALUE
@@ -144,10 +144,7 @@ private fun processCodeSnippet(
 
             state == VisitorState.EXPECT_VARIABLE_VALUE && clang_isExpression(kind) != 0 -> {
                 state = VisitorState.EXPECT_ENUM
-                type = memScoped {
-                    val cursorType = clang_getCursorType(cursor, memScope)
-                    typeConverter(cursorType)
-                }
+                type = typeConverter(clang_getCursorType(cursor))
                 CXChildVisitResult.CXChildVisit_Continue
             }
 
@@ -204,7 +201,7 @@ private fun collectMacroConstantsNames(library: NativeLibrary): List<String> {
         val translationUnit = library.parse(index, options).ensureNoCompileErrors()
         try {
             visitChildren(translationUnit) { cursor, parent ->
-                if (cursor.kind.value == CXCursorKind.CXCursor_MacroDefinition && canMacroBeConstant(cursor)) {
+                if (cursor.kind == CXCursorKind.CXCursor_MacroDefinition && canMacroBeConstant(cursor)) {
                     val spelling = getCursorSpelling(cursor)
                     result.add(spelling)
                 }
@@ -221,7 +218,7 @@ private fun collectMacroConstantsNames(library: NativeLibrary): List<String> {
     return result.toList()
 }
 
-private fun canMacroBeConstant(cursor: CXCursor): Boolean {
+private fun canMacroBeConstant(cursor: CValue<CXCursor>): Boolean {
 
     if (clang_Cursor_isMacroFunctionLike(cursor) != 0) {
         return false

Interop/Indexer/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/native/interop/indexer/NativeIndex.kt

@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ interface PrimitiveType : Type
 
 object VoidType : Type
 
+object CharType : PrimitiveType
+
 object Int8Type : PrimitiveType
 object UInt8Type : PrimitiveType
 
@@ -116,7 +118,14 @@ data class RecordType(val decl: StructDecl) : Type
 
 data class EnumType(val def: EnumDef) : Type
 
-data class PointerType(val pointeeType : Type) : Type
+open class PointerType(val pointeeType : Type) : Type
+
+/**
+ * The type of pointer that can't be used to modify pointed data.
+ *
+ * TODO: refactor type representation and support type modifiers more generally.
+ */
+class PointerToConstType(pointeeType: Type) : PointerType(pointeeType)
 
 data class FunctionType(val parameterTypes: List<Type>, val returnType: Type) : Type
 

Interop/Indexer/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/native/interop/indexer/Utils.kt

@@ -4,23 +4,28 @@ import clang.*
 import kotlinx.cinterop.*
 import java.io.File
 
-internal fun CXString.convertAndDispose(): String {
+internal val CValue<CXType>.kind: CXTypeKind get() = this.useContents { kind.value }
+
+internal val CValue<CXCursor>.kind: CXCursorKind get() = this.useContents { kind.value }
+
+internal fun CValue<CXString>.convertAndDispose(): String {
     try {
-        return clang_getCString(this)!!.asCString().toString()
+        return clang_getCString(this)!!.toKString()
     } finally {
         clang_disposeString(this)
     }
 }
 
-internal fun getCursorSpelling(cursor: CXCursor) = memScoped {
-    clang_getCursorSpelling(cursor, memScope).convertAndDispose()
-}
+internal fun getCursorSpelling(cursor: CValue<CXCursor>) =
+        clang_getCursorSpelling(cursor).convertAndDispose()
 
-internal fun convertUnqualifiedPrimitiveType(type: CXType): Type = when (type.kind.value) {
+internal fun convertUnqualifiedPrimitiveType(type: CValue<CXType>): Type = when (type.kind) {
     // TODO: is e.g. CXType_Int guaranteed to be int32_t?
 
-    CXTypeKind.CXType_Char_U, CXTypeKind.CXType_UChar -> UInt8Type
-    CXTypeKind.CXType_Char_S, CXTypeKind.CXType_SChar -> Int8Type
+    CXTypeKind.CXType_Char_U, CXTypeKind.CXType_Char_S -> CharType
+
+    CXTypeKind.CXType_UChar -> UInt8Type
+    CXTypeKind.CXType_SChar -> Int8Type
 
     CXTypeKind.CXType_UShort -> UInt16Type
     CXTypeKind.CXType_Short -> Int16Type
@@ -71,9 +76,7 @@ internal fun getCompileErrors(translationUnit: CXTranslationUnit): Sequence<Stri
                 severity == CXDiagnosticSeverity.CXDiagnostic_Error ||
                         severity == CXDiagnosticSeverity.CXDiagnostic_Fatal
             }.map {
-                memScoped {
-                    clang_formatDiagnostic(it, clang_defaultDiagnosticDisplayOptions(), memScope).convertAndDispose()
-                }
+                clang_formatDiagnostic(it, clang_defaultDiagnosticDisplayOptions()).convertAndDispose()
             }
 }
 
@@ -82,24 +85,21 @@ internal fun CXTranslationUnit.ensureNoCompileErrors(): CXTranslationUnit {
     throw Error(firstError)
 }
 
-internal typealias CursorVisitor = (cursor: CXCursor, parent: CXCursor) -> CXChildVisitResult
+internal typealias CursorVisitor = (cursor: CValue<CXCursor>, parent: CValue<CXCursor>) -> CXChildVisitResult
 
-internal fun visitChildren(parent: CXCursor, visitor: CursorVisitor) {
+internal fun visitChildren(parent: CValue<CXCursor>, visitor: CursorVisitor) {
     val visitorPtr = StableObjPtr.create(visitor)
     val clientData = visitorPtr.value
     clang_visitChildren(parent, staticCFunction { cursor, parent, clientData ->
         val visitor = StableObjPtr.fromValue(clientData!!).get() as CursorVisitor
-        visitor(cursor, parent)
+        visitor(cursor.readValue(), parent.readValue())
     }, clientData)
 }
 
-internal fun visitChildren(translationUnit: CXTranslationUnit, visitor: CursorVisitor) {
-    memScoped {
-        visitChildren(clang_getTranslationUnitCursor(translationUnit, memScope), visitor)
-    }
-}
+internal fun visitChildren(translationUnit: CXTranslationUnit, visitor: CursorVisitor) =
+        visitChildren(clang_getTranslationUnitCursor(translationUnit), visitor)
 
-internal fun CXCursor.isLeaf(): Boolean {
+internal fun CValue<CXCursor>.isLeaf(): Boolean {
     var hasChildren = false
 
     visitChildren(this) { _, _ ->
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ internal fun CXCursor.isLeaf(): Boolean {
 
 internal fun List<String>.toNativeStringArray(placement: NativePlacement): CArray<CPointerVar<CInt8Var>> {
     return placement.allocArray(this.size) { index ->
-        this.value = this@toNativeStringArray[index].toCString(placement)!!.asCharPtr()
+        this.value = this@toNativeStringArray[index].cstr.getPointer(placement)
     }
 }
 

Interop/Runtime/src/jvm/kotlin/kotlinx/cinterop/JvmNativeMem.kt

@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ object nativeMemUtils {
         unsafe.copyMemory(source, baseOffset, null, dest.address, length.toLong())
     }
 
+    fun zeroMemory(dest: NativePointed, length: Int): Unit = unsafe.setMemory(dest.address, length.toLong(), 0)
+
     internal class NativeAllocated(override val rawPtr: NativePtr) : NativePointed
 
     fun alloc(size: Long, align: Int): NativePointed {

Interop/Runtime/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/cinterop/Types.kt

@@ -33,10 +33,49 @@ inline fun <reified T : NativePointed> NativePointed.reinterpret(): T = interpre
  */
 interface CPointed : NativePointed
 
+/**
+ * Represents a reference to (possibly empty) sequence of C values.
+ * It can be either a stable pointer [CPointer] or a sequence of immutable values [CValues].
+ *
+ * [CValuesRef] is designed to be used as Kotlin representation of pointer-typed parameters of C functions.
+ * When passing [CPointer] as [CValuesRef] to the Kotlin binding method, the C function receives exactly this pointer.
+ * Passing [CValues] has nearly the same semantics as passing by value: the C function receives
+ * the pointer to the temporary copy of these values, and the caller can't observe the modifications to this copy.
+ * The copy is valid until the C function returns.
+ */
+abstract class CValuesRef<T : CPointed> {
+    /**
+     * If this reference is [CPointer], returns this pointer.
+     * Otherwise copies the referenced values to [placement] and returns the pointer to the copy.
+     */
+    abstract fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement): CPointer<T>
+}
+
+/**
+ * The (possibly empty) sequence of immutable C values.
+ * It is self-contained and doesn't depend on native memory.
+ */
+abstract class CValues<T : CVariable> : CValuesRef<T>() {
+    /**
+     * Copies the values to [placement] and returns the pointer to the copy.
+     */
+    override abstract fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement): CPointer<T>
+}
+
+fun <T : CVariable> CValues<T>.placeTo(placement: NativePlacement) = this.getPointer(placement)
+
+/**
+ * The single immutable C value.
+ * It is self-contained and doesn't depend on native memory.
+ *
+ * TODO: consider providing an adapter instead of subtyping [CValues].
+ */
+abstract class CValue<T : CVariable> : CValues<T>()
+
 /**
  * C pointer.
  */
-class CPointer<T : CPointed> internal constructor(val rawValue: NativePtr) {
+class CPointer<T : CPointed> internal constructor(val rawValue: NativePtr) : CValuesRef<T>() {
 
     override fun equals(other: Any?): Boolean {
         if (this === other) {
@@ -51,6 +90,8 @@ class CPointer<T : CPointed> internal constructor(val rawValue: NativePtr) {
     }
 
     override fun toString() = this.cPointerToString()
+
+    override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement) = this
 }
 
 /**
@@ -69,7 +110,7 @@ inline val <reified T : CPointed> CPointer<T>.pointed: T
 
 // `null` value of `CPointer?` is mapped to `nativeNullPtr`
 val CPointer<*>?.rawValue: NativePtr
-    get() = this?.rawValue ?: nativeNullPtr
+    get() = if (this != null) this.rawValue else nativeNullPtr
 
 fun <T : CPointed> CPointer<*>.reinterpret(): CPointer<T> = interpretCPointer(this.rawValue)!!
 
@@ -217,7 +258,7 @@ typealias CPointerVar<T> = CPointerVarWithValueMappedTo<CPointer<T>>
 /**
  * The value of this variable.
  */
-inline var <reified P : CPointer<*>> CPointerVarWithValueMappedTo<P>.value: P?
+inline var <P : CPointer<*>> CPointerVarWithValueMappedTo<P>.value: P?
     get() = interpretCPointer<CPointed>(nativeMemUtils.getNativePtr(this)) as P?
     set(value) = nativeMemUtils.putNativePtr(this, value.rawValue)
 

Interop/Runtime/src/main/kotlin/kotlinx/cinterop/Utils.kt

@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@ class Arena(private val parent: NativeFreeablePlacement = nativeHeap) : NativePl
 
 }
 
-fun NativePlacement.alloc(size: Int, align: Int) = alloc(size.toLong(), align)
-
 /**
  * Allocates variable of given type.
  *
@@ -138,12 +136,9 @@ inline fun <reified T : CPointer<*>>
 }
 
 fun NativePlacement.allocArrayOf(elements: ByteArray): CArray<CInt8Var> {
-    val res = allocArray<CInt8Var>(elements.size)
-    var index = 0
-    for (byte in elements) {
-        res[index++].value = byte
-    }
-    return res
+    val result = allocArray<CInt8Var>(elements.size)
+    nativeMemUtils.putByteArray(elements, result, elements.size)
+    return result
 }
 
 fun NativePlacement.allocArrayOf(vararg elements: Float): CArray<CFloat32Var> {
@@ -157,56 +152,139 @@ fun NativePlacement.allocArrayOf(vararg elements: Float): CArray<CFloat32Var> {
 
 fun <T : CPointed> NativePlacement.allocPointerTo() = alloc<CPointerVar<T>>()
 
+fun <T : CVariable> zeroValue(size: Int, align: Int): CValue<T> = object : CValue<T>() {
+    override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement): CPointer<T> {
+        val result = placement.alloc(size, align)
+        nativeMemUtils.zeroMemory(result, size)
+        return interpretCPointer(result.rawPtr)!!
+    }
+}
+
+inline fun <reified T : CVariable> zeroValue(): CValue<T> =
+        zeroValue<T>(sizeOf<T>().toInt(), alignOf<T>())
+
+private fun <T : CPointed> NativePlacement.placeBytes(bytes: ByteArray, align: Int): CPointer<T> {
+    val result = this.alloc(size = bytes.size, align = align)
+    nativeMemUtils.putByteArray(bytes, result, bytes.size)
+    return interpretCPointer(result.rawPtr)!!
+}
+
+fun <T : CVariable> CPointed.readValues(size: Int, align: Int): CValues<T> {
+    val bytes = ByteArray(size)
+    nativeMemUtils.getByteArray(this, bytes, size)
+
+    return object : CValues<T>() {
+        override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement): CPointer<T> = placement.placeBytes(bytes, align)
+    }
+}
+
+inline fun <reified T : CVariable> T.readValues(count: Int): CValues<T> =
+        this.readValues<T>(size = count * sizeOf<T>().toInt(), align = alignOf<T>())
+
+fun <T : CVariable> CPointed.readValue(size: Int, align: Int): CValue<T> {
+    val bytes = ByteArray(size)
+    nativeMemUtils.getByteArray(this, bytes, size)
+    return object : CValue<T>() {
+        override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement): CPointer<T> = placement.placeBytes(bytes, align)
+    }
+}
+
+// Note: can't be declared as property due to possible clash with a struct field.
+// TODO: find better name.
+inline fun <reified T : CStructVar> T.readValue(): CValue<T> = this.readValue(sizeOf<T>().toInt(), alignOf<T>())
+
 /**
- * The zero-terminated string.
+ * Calls the [block] with temporary copy if this value as receiver.
  */
-class CString(override val rawPtr: NativePtr) : CPointed {
+inline fun <reified T : CStructVar, R> CValue<T>.useContents(block: T.() -> R): R = memScoped {
+    this@useContents.placeTo(memScope).pointed.block()
+}
 
-    companion object {
-        fun fromArray(array: CArray<CInt8Var>) = array.reinterpret<CString>()
-    }
+inline fun <reified T : CStructVar> CValue<T>.copy(modify: T.() -> Unit): CValue<T> = useContents {
+    this.modify()
+    this.readValue()
+}
 
-    fun length(): Int {
-        val array = reinterpret<CArray<CInt8Var>>()
+inline fun <reified T : CStructVar> cValue(initialize: T.() -> Unit): CValue<T> =
+    zeroValue<T>().copy(modify = initialize)
 
-        var res = 0
-        while (array[res].value != 0.toByte()) {
-            ++res
+inline fun <reified T : CVariable> createValues(count: Int, initializer: T.(index: Int) -> Unit) = memScoped {
+    val array = allocArray<T>(count, initializer)
+    array[0].readValues(count)
+}
+
+fun cValuesOf(vararg elements: Byte): CValues<CInt8Var> = object : CValues<CInt8Var>() {
+    override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement) = placement.allocArrayOf(elements)[0].ptr
+}
+
+// TODO: optimize other [cValuesOf] methods:
+
+fun cValuesOf(vararg elements: Short): CValues<CInt16Var> =
+        createValues(elements.size) { index -> this.value = elements[index] }
+
+fun cValuesOf(vararg elements: Int): CValues<CInt32Var> =
+        createValues(elements.size) { index -> this.value = elements[index] }
+
+fun cValuesOf(vararg elements: Long): CValues<CInt64Var> =
+        createValues(elements.size) { index -> this.value = elements[index] }
+
+fun cValuesOf(vararg elements: Float): CValues<CFloat32Var> = object : CValues<CFloat32Var>() {
+    override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement) = placement.allocArrayOf(*elements)[0].ptr
+}
+
+fun cValuesOf(vararg elements: Double): CValues<CFloat64Var> =
+        createValues(elements.size) { index -> this.value = elements[index] }
+
+fun <T : CPointed> cValuesOf(vararg elements: CPointer<T>?): CValues<CPointerVar<T>> =
+        createValues(elements.size) { index -> this.value = elements[index] }
+
+fun ByteArray.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+fun ShortArray.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+fun IntArray.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+fun LongArray.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+fun FloatArray.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+fun DoubleArray.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+fun <T : CPointed> Array<CPointer<T>?>.toCValues() = cValuesOf(*this)
+
+fun <T : CPointed> List<CPointer<T>?>.toCValues() = this.toTypedArray().toCValues()
+
+/**
+ * TODO: should the name of the function reflect the encoding?
+ *
+ * @return the value of zero-terminated UTF-8-encoded C string constructed from given [kotlin.String].
+ */
+val String.cstr: CValues<CInt8Var>
+    get() {
+        val bytes = encodeToUtf8(this)
+
+        return object : CValues<CInt8Var>() {
+            override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement): CPointer<CInt8Var> {
+                val result = placement.allocArray<CInt8Var>(bytes.size + 1)
+                nativeMemUtils.putByteArray(bytes, result, bytes.size)
+                result[bytes.size].value = 0.toByte()
+                return result[0].ptr
+            }
         }
-        return res
     }
 
-    override fun toString(): String {
-        val array = reinterpret<CArray<CInt8Var>>()
+/**
+ * TODO: should the name of the function reflect the encoding?
+ *
+ * @return the [kotlin.String] decoded from given zero-terminated UTF-8-encoded C string.
+ */
+fun CPointer<CInt8Var>.toKString(): String {
+    val nativeBytes = this.reinterpret<CArray<CInt8Var>>().pointed
 
-        val len = this.length()
-        val bytes = ByteArray(len)
-
-        nativeMemUtils.getByteArray(array[0], bytes, len)
-        return decodeFromUtf8(bytes) // TODO: encoding
+    var length = 0
+    while (nativeBytes[length].value != 0.toByte()) {
+        ++length
     }
 
-    fun asCharPtr() = reinterpret<CInt8Var>().ptr
+    val bytes = ByteArray(length)
+    nativeMemUtils.getByteArray(nativeBytes, bytes, length)
+    return decodeFromUtf8(bytes)
 }
 
-fun CString.Companion.fromString(str: String?, placement: NativePlacement): CString? {
-    if (str == null) {
-        return null
-    }
-
-    val bytes = encodeToUtf8(str) // TODO: encoding
-    val len = bytes.size
-    val nativeBytes = placement.allocArray<CInt8Var>(len + 1)
-
-    nativeMemUtils.putByteArray(bytes, nativeBytes[0], len)
-    nativeBytes[len].value = 0
-
-    return CString.fromArray(nativeBytes)
-}
-
-fun CPointer<CInt8Var>.asCString() = CString.fromArray(this.reinterpret<CArray<CInt8Var>>().pointed)
-fun String.toCString(placement: NativePlacement) = CString.fromString(this, placement)
-
 class MemScope : NativePlacement {
 
     private val arena = Arena()

Interop/Runtime/src/native/kotlin/kotlinx/cinterop/NativeMem.kt

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ object nativeMemUtils {
     @Intrinsic external fun getNativePtr(mem: NativePointed): NativePtr
     @Intrinsic external fun putNativePtr(mem: NativePointed, value: NativePtr)
 
+    // TODO: optimize
     fun getByteArray(source: NativePointed, dest: ByteArray, length: Int) {
         val sourceArray: CArray<CInt8Var> = source.reinterpret()
         for (index in 0 .. length - 1) {
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ object nativeMemUtils {
         }
     }
 
+    // TODO: optimize
     fun putByteArray(source: ByteArray, dest: NativePointed, length: Int) {
         val destArray: CArray<CInt8Var> = dest.reinterpret()
         for (index in 0 .. length - 1) {
@@ -44,6 +46,14 @@ object nativeMemUtils {
         }
     }
 
+    // TODO: optimize
+    fun zeroMemory(dest: NativePointed, length: Int): Unit {
+        val destArray: CArray<CInt8Var> = dest.reinterpret()
+        for (index in 0 .. length - 1) {
+            destArray[index].value = 0
+        }
+    }
+
     private class NativeAllocated(override val rawPtr: NativePtr) : NativePointed
 
     fun alloc(size: Long, align: Int): NativePointed {

Interop/StubGenerator/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/native/interop/gen/jvm/StubGenerator.kt

@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ class StubGenerator(
         return when (this) {
 
             is VoidType -> "void"
-            is Int8Type -> "char"
+            is CharType -> "char"
+            is Int8Type -> "signed char"
             is UInt8Type -> "unsigned char"
             is Int16Type -> "short"
             is UInt16Type -> "unsigned short"
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ class StubGenerator(
     val PrimitiveType.kotlinType: String
         get() = when (this) {
 
-            is Int8Type, is UInt8Type -> "Byte"
+            is CharType, is Int8Type, is UInt8Type -> "Byte"
             is Int16Type, is UInt16Type -> "Short"
             is Int32Type, is UInt32Type -> "Int"
             is IntPtrType, is UIntPtrType, // TODO: 64-bit specific
@@ -326,7 +327,7 @@ class StubGenerator(
 
     private fun mirror(type: PrimitiveType): TypeMirror.ByValue {
         val varTypeName = when (type) {
-            is Int8Type, is UInt8Type -> "CInt8Var"
+            is CharType, is Int8Type, is UInt8Type -> "CInt8Var"
             is Int16Type, is UInt16Type -> "CInt16Var"
             is Int32Type, is UInt32Type -> "CInt32Var"
             is IntPtrType, is UIntPtrType, // TODO: 64-bit specific
@@ -439,11 +440,52 @@ class StubGenerator(
         )
     }
 
+    fun representCFunctionParameterAsValuesRef(type: Type): Type? {
+        val pointeeType = when (type) {
+            is PointerType -> type.pointeeType
+            is ArrayType -> type.elemType
+            else -> return null
+        }
+
+        val unwrappedPointeeType = pointeeType.unwrapTypedefs()
+        if (unwrappedPointeeType is VoidType || unwrappedPointeeType is FunctionType) {
+            // Passing `void`s or function by value is not very sane:
+            return null
+        }
+
+        return pointeeType
+    }
+
+    fun representCFunctionParameterAsString(type: Type): Boolean {
+        val unwrappedType = type.unwrapTypedefs()
+        return unwrappedType is PointerToConstType && unwrappedType.pointeeType.unwrapTypedefs() == CharType
+    }
+
     fun getCFunctionParamBinding(type: Type): OutValueBinding {
-        if (treatCFunctionParameterAsString(type)) {
+        if (representCFunctionParameterAsString(type)) {
             return OutValueBinding(
-                    kotlinType = "String?",
-                    kotlinConv = { name -> "$name?.toCString(memScope).rawPtr" },
+                    kotlinType = "String?", // TODO: mention the C type (e.g. with annotation).
+                    kotlinConv = { name -> "$name?.cstr?.getPointer(memScope).rawValue" },
+                    memScoped = true,
+                    kotlinJniBridgeType = "NativePtr"
+            )
+        }
+
+        representCFunctionParameterAsValuesRef(type)?.let {
+            val pointeeMirror = mirror(it)
+            return OutValueBinding(
+                    kotlinType = "CValuesRef<${pointeeMirror.pointedTypeName}>?",
+                    kotlinConv = { name -> "$name?.getPointer(memScope).rawValue" },
+                    memScoped = true,
+                    kotlinJniBridgeType = "NativePtr"
+            )
+        }
+        if (type.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType) {
+            // TODO: this case should probably be handled more generally.
+            val typeMirror = mirror(type)
+            return OutValueBinding(
+                    kotlinType = "CValue<${typeMirror.pointedTypeName}>",
+                    kotlinConv = { name -> "$name.getPointer(memScope).rawValue" }, // TODO: eliminate this copying
                     memScoped = true,
                     kotlinJniBridgeType = "NativePtr"
             )
@@ -452,8 +494,6 @@ class StubGenerator(
         return getOutValueBinding(type)
     }
 
-    private fun treatCFunctionParameterAsString(type: Type) = type is PointerType && type.pointeeType is Int8Type
-
     fun getCallbackRetValBinding(type: Type): OutValueBinding {
         if (type.unwrapTypedefs() is VoidType) {
             return OutValueBinding(
@@ -484,12 +524,21 @@ class StubGenerator(
         )
     }
 
-    fun getCFunctionRetValBinding(type: Type): InValueBinding {
-        when (type.unwrapTypedefs()) {
-            is VoidType -> return InValueBinding("Unit")
+    fun getCFunctionRetValBinding(func: FunctionDecl): InValueBinding {
+        when {
+            func.returnsVoid() -> return InValueBinding("Unit")
+            func.returnsRecord() -> {
+                // TODO: this case should probably be handled more generally.
+                val typeMirror = mirror(func.returnType)
+                return InValueBinding(
+                        kotlinJniBridgeType = "NativePtr",
+                        conv = { name -> "interpretPointed<${typeMirror.pointedTypeName}>($name).readValue()" },
+                        kotlinType = "CValue<${typeMirror.pointedTypeName}>"
+                )
+            }
         }
 
-        return getInValueBinding(type)
+        return getInValueBinding(func.returnType)
     }
 
     fun getCallbackParamBinding(type: Type): InValueBinding {
@@ -637,7 +686,10 @@ class StubGenerator(
     /**
      * Constructs [InValueBinding] for return value of Kotlin binding for given C function.
      */
-    private fun retValBinding(func: FunctionDecl) = getCFunctionRetValBinding(func.returnType)
+    private fun retValBinding(func: FunctionDecl) = getCFunctionRetValBinding(func)
+
+    private fun FunctionDecl.returnsRecord(): Boolean = this.returnType.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType
+    private fun FunctionDecl.returnsVoid(): Boolean = this.returnType.unwrapTypedefs() is VoidType
 
     /**
      * Constructs [OutValueBinding]s for parameters of Kotlin binding for given C function.
@@ -647,13 +699,10 @@ class StubGenerator(
             getCFunctionParamBinding(param.type)
         }.toMutableList()
 
-        val retValType = func.returnType
-        if (retValType.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType) {
-            val retValMirror = mirror(retValType)
-
+        if (func.returnsRecord()) {
             paramBindings.add(OutValueBinding(
-                    kotlinType = "NativePlacement",
-                    kotlinConv = { name -> "$name.alloc<${retValMirror.pointedTypeName}>().rawPtr" },
+                    kotlinType = "should not be used",
+                    kotlinConv = { throw UnsupportedOperationException() },
                     kotlinJniBridgeType = "NativePtr"
             ))
         }
@@ -674,7 +723,7 @@ class StubGenerator(
             }
         }.toMutableList()
 
-        if (func.returnType.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType) {
+        if (func.returnsRecord()) {
             paramNames.add("retValPlacement")
         }
 
@@ -685,7 +734,14 @@ class StubGenerator(
      * Produces to [out] the definition of Kotlin binding for given C function.
      */
     private fun generateKotlinBindingMethod(func: FunctionDecl) {
-        val paramNames = paramNames(func)
+        val paramNames = paramNames(func).toList().let {
+            if (func.returnsRecord()) {
+                // The last parameter should be present only in C adapter.
+                it.dropLast(1)
+            } else {
+                it
+            }
+        }
         val paramBindings = paramBindings(func)
         val retValBinding = retValBinding(func)
 
@@ -716,7 +772,13 @@ class StubGenerator(
 
                 externalParamName
 
+            }.toMutableList()
+
+            if (func.returnsRecord()) {
+                val retValMirror = mirror(func.returnType)
+                arguments.add("alloc<${retValMirror.pointedTypeName}>().rawPtr")
             }
+
             val callee = when (platform) {
                 KotlinPlatform.JVM -> "externals.${func.name}"
                 KotlinPlatform.NATIVE -> func.kotlinExternalName
@@ -741,7 +803,7 @@ class StubGenerator(
         }
 
         block(header) {
-            val memScoped = paramBindings.any { it.memScoped }
+            val memScoped = paramBindings.any { it.memScoped } || func.returnsRecord()
             if (memScoped) {
                 block("return memScoped") {
                     generateBody(true)
@@ -782,7 +844,8 @@ class StubGenerator(
     private fun getFfiType(type: Type): String {
         return when(type) {
             is VoidType -> "Void"
-            is Int8Type -> "SInt8"
+            is CharType, is Int8Type -> "SInt8"
+            // TODO: libffi has separate representation for char type.
             is UInt8Type -> "UInt8"
             is Int16Type -> "SInt16"
             is UInt16Type -> "UInt16"
@@ -829,8 +892,12 @@ class StubGenerator(
             return true
         }
 
-        return this.parameters.any { treatCFunctionParameterAsString(it.type) } ||
-                this.returnType.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType
+        return this.returnsRecord() ||
+                this.parameters.map { it.type }.any {
+                    it.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType ||
+                            representCFunctionParameterAsString(it) ||
+                            representCFunctionParameterAsValuesRef(it) != null
+                }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -842,8 +909,8 @@ class StubGenerator(
             return true
         }
 
-        val parameterTypes = this.parameters.map { it.type }
-        return (parameterTypes + returnType).any { it.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType }
+        return this.returnsRecord() ||
+                this.parameters.map { it.type }.any { it.unwrapTypedefs() is RecordType }
     }
 
     private fun FunctionType.requiresAdapterOnNative(): Boolean {
@@ -1187,7 +1254,6 @@ class StubGenerator(
      * Produces to [out] the implementation of JNI function used in Kotlin binding for given C function.
      */
     private fun generateCJniFunction(func: FunctionDecl) {
-        val funcReturnType = func.returnType.unwrapTypedefs()
         val paramNames = paramNames(func)
         val paramBindings = paramBindings(func)
         val retValBinding = retValBinding(func)
@@ -1241,8 +1307,8 @@ class StubGenerator(
 
             if (cReturnType == "void") {
                 out("$callExpr;")
-            } else if (funcReturnType is RecordType) {
-                out("*(${funcReturnType.decl.spelling}*)retValPlacement = $callExpr;")
+            } else if (func.returnsRecord()) {
+                out("*(${func.returnType.getStringRepresentation()}*)retValPlacement = $callExpr;")
                 out("return ($cReturnType) retValPlacement;")
             } else {
                 out("return ($cReturnType) ($callExpr);")

InteropExample/src/main/kotlin/main.kt

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ fun main(args: Array<String>) = memScoped {
     }
     val error = errorRef.value
     if (error != null) {
-        println(error.asCString().toString())
+        println(error.toKString())
         return
     }
 

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/CodeGenerator.kt

@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ internal class CodeGenerator(override val context: Context) : ContextUtils {
     private var cleanupLandingpad: LLVMBasicBlockRef? = null
 
     fun setName(value: LLVMValueRef, name: String) = LLVMSetValueName(value, name)
-    fun getName(value: LLVMValueRef) = LLVMGetValueName(value)?.asCString().toString()
+    fun getName(value: LLVMValueRef) = LLVMGetValueName(value)?.toKString()
 
     fun plus  (arg0: LLVMValueRef, arg1: LLVMValueRef, name: String = ""): LLVMValueRef = LLVMBuildAdd (builder, arg0, arg1, name)!!
     fun mul   (arg0: LLVMValueRef, arg1: LLVMValueRef, name: String = ""): LLVMValueRef = LLVMBuildMul (builder, arg0, arg1, name)!!
@@ -221,10 +221,7 @@ internal class CodeGenerator(override val context: Context) : ContextUtils {
     }
 
     fun gep(base: LLVMValueRef, index: LLVMValueRef): LLVMValueRef {
-        memScoped {
-            val args = allocArrayOf(index)
-            return LLVMBuildGEP(builder, base, args[0].ptr, 1, "")!!
-        }
+        return LLVMBuildGEP(builder, base, cValuesOf(index), 1, "")!!
     }
 
     fun updateReturnRef(value: LLVMValueRef, address: LLVMValueRef) {
@@ -277,30 +274,28 @@ internal class CodeGenerator(override val context: Context) : ContextUtils {
 
     private fun callRaw(llvmFunction: LLVMValueRef, args: List<LLVMValueRef>,
              lazyLandingpad: () -> LLVMBasicBlockRef?): LLVMValueRef {
-        memScoped {
-            val rargs = allocArrayOf(args)[0].ptr
 
-            if (LLVMIsAFunction(llvmFunction) != null /* the function declaration */ &&
-                    (LLVMGetFunctionAttr(llvmFunction) and LLVMNoUnwindAttribute) != 0) {
+        val rargs = args.toCValues()
+        if (LLVMIsAFunction(llvmFunction) != null /* the function declaration */ &&
+                (LLVMGetFunctionAttr(llvmFunction) and LLVMNoUnwindAttribute) != 0) {
 
-                return LLVMBuildCall(builder, llvmFunction, rargs, args.size, "")!!
-            } else {
-                val landingpad = lazyLandingpad()
+            return LLVMBuildCall(builder, llvmFunction, rargs, args.size, "")!!
+        } else {
+            val landingpad = lazyLandingpad()
 
-                if (landingpad == null) {
-                    // When calling a function that is not marked as nounwind (can throw an exception),
-                    // it is required to specify a landingpad to handle exceptions properly.
-                    // Runtime C++ function can be marked as non-throwing using `RUNTIME_NOTHROW`.
-                    val functionName = getName(llvmFunction)
-                    val message = "no landingpad specified when calling function $functionName without nounwind attr"
-                    throw IllegalArgumentException(message)
-                }
-
-                val success = basicBlock()
-                val result = LLVMBuildInvoke(builder, llvmFunction, rargs, args.size, success, landingpad, "")!!
-                positionAtEnd(success)
-                return result
+            if (landingpad == null) {
+                // When calling a function that is not marked as nounwind (can throw an exception),
+                // it is required to specify a landingpad to handle exceptions properly.
+                // Runtime C++ function can be marked as non-throwing using `RUNTIME_NOTHROW`.
+                val functionName = getName(llvmFunction)
+                val message = "no landingpad specified when calling function $functionName without nounwind attr"
+                throw IllegalArgumentException(message)
             }
+
+            val success = basicBlock()
+            val result = LLVMBuildInvoke(builder, llvmFunction, rargs, args.size, success, landingpad, "")!!
+            positionAtEnd(success)
+            return result
         }
     }
 
@@ -312,10 +307,10 @@ internal class CodeGenerator(override val context: Context) : ContextUtils {
 
     fun addPhiIncoming(phi: LLVMValueRef, vararg incoming: Pair<LLVMBasicBlockRef, LLVMValueRef>) {
         memScoped {
-            val incomingValues = allocArrayOf(incoming.map { it.second })
-            val incomingBlocks = allocArrayOf(incoming.map { it.first })
+            val incomingValues = incoming.map { it.second }.toCValues()
+            val incomingBlocks = incoming.map { it.first }.toCValues()
 
-            LLVMAddIncoming(phi, incomingValues[0].ptr, incomingBlocks[0].ptr, incoming.size)
+            LLVMAddIncoming(phi, incomingValues, incomingBlocks, incoming.size)
         }
     }
 

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/ContextUtils.kt

@@ -193,11 +193,9 @@ internal class Llvm(val context: Context, val llvmModule: LLVMModuleRef) {
     }
 
     private fun importMemset() : LLVMValueRef {
-        memScoped {
-            val parameterTypes = allocArrayOf(int8TypePtr, int8Type, int32Type, int32Type, int1Type)
-            val functionType = LLVMFunctionType(LLVMVoidType(), parameterTypes[0].ptr, 5, 0)
-            return LLVMAddFunction(llvmModule, "llvm.memset.p0i8.i32", functionType)!!
-        }
+        val parameterTypes = cValuesOf(int8TypePtr, int8Type, int32Type, int32Type, int1Type)
+        val functionType = LLVMFunctionType(LLVMVoidType(), parameterTypes, 5, 0)
+        return LLVMAddFunction(llvmModule, "llvm.memset.p0i8.i32", functionType)!!
     }
 
     internal fun externalFunction(name: String, type: LLVMTypeRef): LLVMValueRef {

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/HashUtils.kt

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public fun base64Encode(data: ByteArray): String {
         val bytes = allocArrayOf(data)
         EncodeBase64(bytes.ptr, data.size, result.ptr, resultSize)
         // TODO: any better way to do that without two copies?
-        return CString.fromArray(result).toString()
+        return result[0].ptr.toKString()
     }
 }
 

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/IrToBitcode.kt

@@ -276,12 +276,10 @@ internal class CodeGeneratorVisitor(val context: Context) : IrElementVisitorVoid
     // Creates static struct InitNode $nodeName = {$initName, NULL};
 
     fun createInitNode(initFunction: LLVMValueRef, nodeName: String): LLVMValueRef {
-        memScoped {
-            val nextInitNode = LLVMConstNull(pointerType(kNodeInitType))                    // Set InitNode.next = NULL.
-            val argList      = allocArrayOf(initFunction, nextInitNode)[0].ptr              // Allocate array of args.
-            val initNode     = LLVMConstNamedStruct(kNodeInitType, argList, 2)!!            // Create static object of class InitNode.
-            return context.llvm.staticData.placeGlobal(nodeName, constPointer(initNode)).llvmGlobal     // Put the object in global var with name "nodeName".
-        }
+        val nextInitNode = LLVMConstNull(pointerType(kNodeInitType))                    // Set InitNode.next = NULL.
+        val argList      = cValuesOf(initFunction, nextInitNode)                        // Construct array of args.
+        val initNode     = LLVMConstNamedStruct(kNodeInitType, argList, 2)!!            // Create static object of class InitNode.
+        return context.llvm.staticData.placeGlobal(nodeName, constPointer(initNode)).llvmGlobal     // Put the object in global var with name "nodeName".
     }
 
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------//
@@ -1334,13 +1332,10 @@ internal class CodeGeneratorVisitor(val context: Context) : IrElementVisitorVoid
         val fieldInfo = context.llvmDeclarations.forField(value)
 
         val typePtr = pointerType(fieldInfo.classBodyType)
-        memScoped {
-            val args = allocArrayOf(kImmOne)
-            val objectPtr = LLVMBuildGEP(codegen.builder, thisPtr,  args[0].ptr, 1, "")
-            val typedObjPtr = codegen.bitcast(typePtr, objectPtr!!)
-            val fieldPtr = LLVMBuildStructGEP(codegen.builder, typedObjPtr, fieldInfo.index, "")
-            return fieldPtr!!
-        }
+        val objectPtr = LLVMBuildGEP(codegen.builder, thisPtr, cValuesOf(kImmOne), 1, "")
+        val typedObjPtr = codegen.bitcast(typePtr, objectPtr!!)
+        val fieldPtr = LLVMBuildStructGEP(codegen.builder, typedObjPtr, fieldInfo.index, "")
+        return fieldPtr!!
     }
 
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------//
@@ -1893,21 +1888,23 @@ internal class CodeGeneratorVisitor(val context: Context) : IrElementVisitorVoid
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------//
     // Create type { i32, void ()*, i8* }
 
-    val kCtorType = memScoped {
-        val ctorType = LLVMPointerType(kVoidFuncType, 0)
-        val typeList = allocArrayOf(LLVMInt32Type(), ctorType, kInt8Ptr)[0].ptr
-        LLVMStructType(typeList, 3, 0)
-    }!!
+    val kCtorType = LLVMStructType(
+            cValuesOf(
+                    LLVMInt32Type(),
+                    LLVMPointerType(kVoidFuncType, 0),
+                    kInt8Ptr
+            ),
+            3, 0)!!
 
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------//
     // Create object { i32, void ()*, i8* } { i32 1, void ()* @ctorFunction, i8* null }
 
-    fun createGlobalCtor(ctorFunction: LLVMValueRef) = memScoped {
+    fun createGlobalCtor(ctorFunction: LLVMValueRef): ConstPointer {
         val priority = kImmInt32One
         val data     = kNullInt8Ptr
-        val argList  = allocArrayOf(priority, ctorFunction, data)[0].ptr
+        val argList  = cValuesOf(priority, ctorFunction, data)
         val ctorItem = LLVMConstNamedStruct(kCtorType, argList, 3)!!
-        constPointer(ctorItem)
+        return constPointer(ctorItem)
     }
 
     //-------------------------------------------------------------------------//

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/LlvmDeclarations.kt

@@ -123,14 +123,12 @@ private fun ContextUtils.getDeclaredFields(classDescriptor: ClassDescriptor): Li
 }
 
 private fun ContextUtils.createClassBodyType(name: String, fields: List<PropertyDescriptor>): LLVMTypeRef {
-    val fieldTypes = fields.map { getLLVMType(if (it.isDelegated) context.builtIns.nullableAnyType else it.type) }.toTypedArray()
+    val fieldTypes = fields.map { getLLVMType(if (it.isDelegated) context.builtIns.nullableAnyType else it.type) }
 
     val classType = LLVMStructCreateNamed(LLVMGetModuleContext(context.llvmModule), name)!!
 
-    memScoped {
-        val fieldTypesNativeArrayPtr = allocArrayOf(*fieldTypes)[0].ptr
-        LLVMStructSetBody(classType, fieldTypesNativeArrayPtr, fieldTypes.size, 0)
-    }
+    LLVMStructSetBody(classType, fieldTypes.toCValues(), fieldTypes.size, 0)
+
     return classType
 }
 

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/LlvmUtils.kt

@@ -31,24 +31,15 @@ internal fun constPointer(value: LLVMValueRef) = object : ConstPointer {
 }
 
 private class ConstGetElementPtr(val pointer: ConstPointer, val index: Int) : ConstPointer {
-    override val llvm = memScoped {
-        // TODO: squash multiple GEPs
-        val indices = intArrayOf(0, index).map { Int32(it).llvm }
-        val indicesArray = allocArrayOf(indices)
-        LLVMConstInBoundsGEP(pointer.llvm, indicesArray[0].ptr, indices.size)!!
-    }
+    override val llvm = LLVMConstInBoundsGEP(pointer.llvm, cValuesOf(Int32(0).llvm, Int32(index).llvm), 2)!!
+    // TODO: squash multiple GEPs
 }
 
 internal fun ConstPointer.bitcast(toType: LLVMTypeRef) = constPointer(LLVMConstBitCast(this.llvm, toType)!!)
 
 internal class ConstArray(val elemType: LLVMTypeRef?, val elements: List<ConstValue>) : ConstValue {
 
-    override val llvm = memScoped {
-        val values = elements.map { it.llvm }.toTypedArray()
-
-        val valuesNativeArrayPtr = allocArrayOf(*values)[0].ptr
-        LLVMConstArray(elemType, valuesNativeArrayPtr, values.size)!!
-    }
+    override val llvm = LLVMConstArray(elemType, elements.map { it.llvm }.toCValues(), elements.size)!!
 }
 
 internal open class Struct(val type: LLVMTypeRef?, val elements: List<ConstValue>) : ConstValue {
@@ -57,11 +48,7 @@ internal open class Struct(val type: LLVMTypeRef?, val elements: List<ConstValue
 
     constructor(vararg elements: ConstValue) : this(structType(elements.map { it.llvmType }), *elements)
 
-    override val llvm = memScoped {
-        val values = elements.map { it.llvm }.toTypedArray()
-        val valuesNativeArrayPtr = allocArrayOf(*values)[0].ptr
-        LLVMConstNamedStruct(type, valuesNativeArrayPtr, values.size)!!
-    }
+    override val llvm = LLVMConstNamedStruct(type, elements.map { it.llvm }.toCValues(), elements.size)!!
 }
 
 internal class Int1(val value: Byte) : ConstValue {
@@ -143,9 +130,8 @@ internal fun pointerType(pointeeType: LLVMTypeRef) = LLVMPointerType(pointeeType
 
 internal fun structType(vararg types: LLVMTypeRef): LLVMTypeRef = structType(types.toList())
 
-internal fun structType(types: List<LLVMTypeRef>): LLVMTypeRef = memScoped {
-    LLVMStructType(allocArrayOf(types)[0].ptr, types.size, 0)!!
-}
+internal fun structType(types: List<LLVMTypeRef>): LLVMTypeRef =
+    LLVMStructType(types.toCValues(), types.size, 0)!!
 
 internal fun ContextUtils.numParameters(functionType: LLVMTypeRef) : Int {
     // Note that type is usually function pointer, so we have to dereference it.
@@ -192,20 +178,21 @@ internal fun ContextUtils.externalGlobal(name: String, type: LLVMTypeRef): LLVMV
 }
 
 internal fun functionType(returnType: LLVMTypeRef, isVarArg: Boolean = false, vararg paramTypes: LLVMTypeRef) =
-        memScoped {
-            val paramTypesPtr = allocArrayOf(*paramTypes)[0].ptr
-            LLVMFunctionType(returnType, paramTypesPtr, paramTypes.size, if (isVarArg) 1 else 0)!!
-        }
+        LLVMFunctionType(
+                returnType,
+                cValuesOf(*paramTypes), paramTypes.size,
+                if (isVarArg) 1 else 0
+        )!!
 
 
 fun llvm2string(value: LLVMValueRef?): String {
   if (value == null) return "<null>"
-  return LLVMPrintValueToString(value)!!.asCString().toString()
+  return LLVMPrintValueToString(value)!!.toKString()
 }
 
 fun llvmtype2string(type: LLVMTypeRef?): String {
     if (type == null) return "<null type>"
-    return LLVMPrintTypeToString(type)!!.asCString().toString()
+    return LLVMPrintTypeToString(type)!!.toKString()
 }
 
 fun getStructElements(type: LLVMTypeRef): List<LLVMTypeRef> {

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/MetadataGenerator.kt

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class MetadataReader(file: File) : Closeable {
             val errorRef = allocPointerTo<CInt8Var>()
             val res = LLVMCreateMemoryBufferWithContentsOfFile(file.toString(), bufRef.ptr, errorRef.ptr)
             if (res != 0) {
-                throw Error(errorRef.value?.asCString()?.toString())
+                throw Error(errorRef.value?.toKString())
             }
 
             llvmContext = LLVMContextCreate()!!
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class MetadataReader(file: File) : Closeable {
         memScoped { 
             val len = alloc<CInt32Var>()
             val str1 = LLVMGetMDString(node, len.ptr)!!
-            val str = str1.asCString().toString() 
+            val str = str1.toKString()
             return str
 
         }
@@ -117,10 +117,7 @@ class MetadataReader(file: File) : Closeable {
 internal class MetadataGenerator(override val context: Context): ContextUtils {
 
     private fun metadataNode(args: List<LLVMValueRef?>): LLVMValueRef {
-        memScoped {
-            val references = allocArrayOf(args)
-            return LLVMMDNode(references[0].ptr, args.size)!!
-        }
+        return LLVMMDNode(args.toCValues(), args.size)!!
     }
 
     private fun metadataFun(fn: LLVMValueRef, info: String): LLVMValueRef {

backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/llvm/Runtime.kt

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Runtime(private val bitcodeFile: String) {
 
             val res = LLVMCreateMemoryBufferWithContentsOfFile(bitcodeFile, bufRef.ptr, errorRef.ptr)
             if (res != 0) {
-                throw Error(errorRef.value?.asCString()?.toString())
+                throw Error(errorRef.value?.toKString())
             }
 
             val moduleRef = alloc<LLVMModuleRefVar>()
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ class Runtime(private val bitcodeFile: String) {
     val objHeaderType = getStructType("ObjHeader")
     val arrayHeaderType = getStructType("ArrayHeader")
 
-    val target = LLVMGetTarget(llvmModule)!!.asCString().toString()
+    val target = LLVMGetTarget(llvmModule)!!.toKString()
 
-    val dataLayout = LLVMGetDataLayout(llvmModule)!!.asCString().toString()
+    val dataLayout = LLVMGetDataLayout(llvmModule)!!.toKString()
 
     val targetData = LLVMCreateTargetData(dataLayout)!!
 

backend.native/tests/interop/basics/opengl_teapot.kt

@@ -65,16 +65,9 @@ fun initialize() {
     // specify implementation-specific hints
     glHint(GL_PERSPECTIVE_CORRECTION_HINT, GL_NICEST)
 
-    memScoped {
-        val ambLight: CArray<GLfloatVar> = allocArrayOf(0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 1.0f)
-        val diffuse: CArray<GLfloatVar> = allocArrayOf(0.6f, 0.6f, 0.6f, 1.0f)
-        val specular: CArray<GLfloatVar> = allocArrayOf(0.7f, 0.7f, 0.3f, 1.0f)
-
-        glLightModelfv(GL_LIGHT_MODEL_AMBIENT, ambLight[0].ptr)
-        glLightfv(GL_LIGHT0, GL_DIFFUSE, diffuse[0].ptr)
-        glLightfv(GL_LIGHT0, GL_SPECULAR, specular[0].ptr)
-    }
-
+    glLightModelfv(GL_LIGHT_MODEL_AMBIENT, cValuesOf(0.1f, 0.1f, 0.1f, 1.0f))
+    glLightfv(GL_LIGHT0, GL_DIFFUSE, cValuesOf(0.6f, 0.6f, 0.6f, 1.0f))
+    glLightfv(GL_LIGHT0, GL_SPECULAR, cValuesOf(0.7f, 0.7f, 0.3f, 1.0f))
 
     glEnable(GL_LIGHT0)
     glEnable(GL_COLOR_MATERIAL)

runtime/src/main/kotlin/konan/internal/InteropBoxing.kt

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class NativePointedBox(val value: NativePointed) {
 fun boxNativePointed(value: NativePointed?) = if (value != null) NativePointedBox(value) else null
 fun unboxNativePointed(box: NativePointedBox?) = box?.value
 
-class CPointerBox(val value: CPointer<*>) {
+class CPointerBox(val value: CPointer<CPointed>) : CValuesRef<CPointed>() {
     override fun equals(other: Any?): Boolean {
         if (other !is CPointerBox) {
             return false
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ class CPointerBox(val value: CPointer<*>) {
     override fun hashCode() = value.hashCode()
 
     override fun toString() = value.toString()
+
+    override fun getPointer(placement: NativePlacement) = value.getPointer(placement)
 }
 
-fun boxCPointer(value: CPointer<*>?) = if (value != null) CPointerBox(value) else null
+fun boxCPointer(value: CPointer<CPointed>?) = if (value != null) CPointerBox(value) else null
 fun unboxCPointer(box: CPointerBox?) = box?.value

samples/tetris/tetris.kt

@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ class Game(width: Int, height: Int, val visualizer: GameFieldVisualizer, val use
 
 }
 
-fun get_SDL_Error() = SDL_GetError()!!.asCString().toString()
+fun get_SDL_Error() = SDL_GetError()!!.toKString()
 
 class SDL_Visualizer(val width: Int, val height: Int): GameFieldVisualizer, UserInput {
     private val CELL_SIZE = 20