1. A method for performing runtime checking operations in a compiled programming development environment, comprising the steps of: a) compiling a source code file into executable object code comprising machine language instructions, wherein said source code file includes aggregate data items and pointers and also includes expressions which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers, wherein said step of compiling comprises: creating data structures for aggregate data items and pointers in the source code file; and inserting calls to runtime checking functions for one or more expressions in the source code file which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers; and b) executing the executable object code, wherein said step of executing comprises: executing one or more of said runtime checking functions to determine if invalid operations occur in said expressions which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers; and reporting an error to the user if an invalid operation is found to occur after said step of executing one or more of said runtime checking functions.
1. A method for performing runtime checking operations in a compiled programming development environment, comprising the steps of: a) compiling a source code file into executable object code comprising machine language instructions, wherein said source code file includes aggregate data items and pointers and also includes expressions which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers, wherein said step of compiling comprises: creating data structures for aggregate data items and pointers in the source code file; and inserting calls to runtime checking functions for one or more expressions in the source code file which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers; and b) executing the executable object code, wherein said step of executing comprises: executing one or more of said runtime checking functions to determine if invalid operations occur in said expressions which manipulate said aggregate data items and pointers; and reporting an error to the user if an invalid operation is found to occur after said step of executing one or more of said runtime checking functions. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more data structures associated with respective one or more pointers include information regarding the type of object to which said respective pointer points; wherein said step of executing said runtime checking functions comprises: determining if said object type information in said data structure associated with said pointer corresponds to the type of said pointer; determining if said pointer points to an object other than a non-aggregate data item; and determining if said pointer points two bytes beyond or one byte before said non-aggregate object if said pointer points to an object other than a non-aggregate data item; wherein said step of reporting an error includes reporting an error if said pointer points two bytes beyond or one byte before said non-aggregate object.