Callbacks to decouple API usage - c++

I'm trying to create a simple static class library to decouple WebSocket usage from the rest of my code. Creating this will allow me to easily switch the WebSocket library (I'm currently using cpprestsdk) without the need to change my code (or its underlying logic), based on benchmark tests that will be performed in the near future.
In the below code, I'm trying to have a callback for openConnection():
class WebSocket
{
websocket_callback_client wsClient;
void openConnection(void (*ptr)(std::string response),std::string _url)
{
wsClient.connect(_url).then([](){ });
wsClient.set_message_handler([](websocket_incoming_message msg)
{
ptr(msg.extract_string().get());
});
}
};
This looks obviously wrong, as the compiler throws an error:
'ptr' is not captured
But this is what I'm trying to achieve.
How can I do this?

As the compiler says, you have not captured ptr in the lambda that is trying to use it. That is because you are setting the lambda's capture list to be empty. You need to specify ptr in the lambda's capture list:
wsClient.set_message_handler(
[ptr](websocket_incoming_message msg)
{
ptr(msg.extract_string().get());
});
Or, let the lambda figure out for itself that ptr needs to be captured:
wsClient.set_message_handler(
[=](websocket_incoming_message msg)
{
ptr(msg.extract_string().get());
});

Related

Error invalid use of void expression. Trying to pass a parameter through to the function

I am trying to initialize a server to look as specific inputs based on the request it gets. there are a lot of them so I want to initialize it with a loop as follows:
void serverInit() {
for (int i = 1; i <= qty; i++) {
String s = "/readBatt" + i;
server.on(s, runTest(i));
}
server.begin();
Serial.println("Server started.");
}
It's telling me that server.on(s, runTest(i)); is an invalid use of void expression. I know it wants it formatted as server.on(s, runTest) but the function runTest(int n) takes a parameter. How can i pass this parameter through to the function?
It seems you are using the WebServer class from the ESP32 Arduino libraries. As you have gleaned already, the callback specified in the on() method does not accept any arguments.
You have an alternative, however. You can specify a 'placeholder' in the URL path - using curly brackets - {}. In the callback, then, the corresponding argument can be retrieved by using the pathArg() method - which accepts the argument index as parameter.
Example ...
You could define your API endpoint as /readBatt/<battery number>. To configure the server to handle requests to this endpoint, then, you would use something like
#include <uri/UriBraces.h>
server.on(UriBraces("/readBatt/{}"), runTest);
In your callback, you would retrieve the first argument as follows ...
static void runTest() {
String batteryNumber = server.pathArg(0);
Serial.println("Request to read battery");
String response = "You attempted to read battery " + batteryNumber;
response += ".\nThis endpoint is a placeholder. Check again soon!";
server.send(200, "text/plain", response);
}
Finally ... Suppose your ESP8266 was running on local IP address 192.168.1.9. You could access your new API endpoint by opening
http://192.168.1.9/readBatt/1
in your browser. (Replace 1 with the relevant battery number.)
I don't think there are versions of the pathArg() which return an integer, unfortunately, so you may have to perform a conversion at some point.
You can use what's called a "closure". A closure lets you compose a function which retains access to variables outside of its scope.
A closure is written using a "lambda expression" - basically an anonymous function. C++'s syntax for lambda expressions looks like this:
[capture variable list](argument list) { body}
The capture variable list is a list of variables you want to be made available inside the body. The argument list is the normal function argument list that would get passed in by the caller. You'd write the lambda expression you need like this:
[i]() { runTest(i); }
and use it like this:
server.on(s, [i]() { runTest(i); });
To be clear, #David Collins' answer is the better way to write the web server. Using a parameter in the URL is better than creating several URLs with the parameter embedded in them. I'm just answering the question of how to pass a parameter to a function that gets called without arguments. If you write the web server code the better way, you won't need to do this (although I would do a bounds check on the value passed in the URL to make sure you're getting a valid battery number).

Using preprocess hook on specific node type in Drupal 8

I've had success using preprocess page hooks such as:
function mytheme_preprocess_page__node_front(&$variables) {
...
}
and
function mytheme_preprocess_page__node_12(&$variables) {
...
}
which correlate with custom templates named page--front.html.twig and page--12.html.twig, respectively.
I'm trying to implement the same hook and template pairing for a content type called Video. I understand that there is a difference in that my examples have been custom templates for specific pages while my goal is a custom template for an entire content type, but I got a custom template called node--video.html.twig that works as a template for all video pages. However when I try to write a hook based on this template name:
function mytheme_preprocess_node__video(&$variables) {
...
}
this does not work. I think that I either can't define a hook like this, or I'm just naming it incorrectly. I found a couple threads somewhat relating to this such as this that seem to imply that I need to define a hook for all nodes and then write an if statement that handles each type separately.
So.......
Final Question: Can I define a hook for an entire content type, and if so what am I doing wrong?
Use condition within the preprocessor to get the node type and then either do your logic within, or invoke another function.
function mytheme_preprocess_node(&$variables) {
switch ($variables['node']->getType()) {
case "video":
// ...
break;
case "something_else":
// ...
break;
}
}
You could in theory emulate what you are trying to achieve by trying to invoke a function named mytheme_preprocess_node__" . $variables['node']->getType() if it exists, but is too much fuss without a clear benefit.
In drupal 7 from zen template I used to use this generic solution. I think it is still a viable solution on drupal 8:
function mytheme_preprocess_node(&$variables) {
...
// Add global modification that works for all node type
$function = __FUNCTION__ . '__' . $variables['node']->getType();
// Each node type can have its own specific function
if (function_exists($function)) {
$function($variables, $hook);
}
...
}
You can then now add preprocess function that will only works for you node type.
function mytheme_preprocess_node__video(&$variables) {
...
}
Instead of having one big function, each node type's preprocess logic has its own function. It's better for maintainability.

Avoiding downcasts in a Swift 3 completion handler with Google Drive REST API

I'm using the Google Drive REST API in a Swift 3 app. Queries are executed using the executeQuery method of GTLRDriveService. This method takes a completion block of type GTLRServiceCompletionHandler?, which in turn is declared as
public typealias GTLRServiceCompletionHandler = (GTLRServiceTicket, Any?, Error?) -> Swift.Void
Because of this declaration, the second parameter must be downcast to the appropriate type inside the block. For instance:
let createPermissionQuery = GTLRDriveQuery_PermissionsCreate.query(
withObject: permission, fileId: toShare.id)
...
driveService.executeQuery(createPermissionQuery) { (ticket, result, error) in
if (error == nil) {
// need to downcast result to GTLRDrive_Permission
let permission = result as! GTLRDrive_Permission
...
}
}
The second parameter is always of a specific type that is completely determined by the particular query passed to executeQuery. For instance, if one passes an instance of GTLRDriveQuery_PermissionsCreate, then the second parameter (if the query succeeds) will always be of type GTLRDrive_Permission. However, if I try to declare result to be of any type other than Any?, the code won't compile.
In Objective C, the completion block can be specified with a type that's specific to the query. For instance (adapted from here):
GTLRDriveQuery_PermissionsCreate *createPermissionQuery =
[GTLRDriveQuery_PermissionsCreate queryWithObject:permission
fileId:fileId];
...
[driveService executeQuery:createPermissionQuery
completionHandler:^((GTLRServiceTicket *ticket,
GTLRDrive_Permission *permission,
NSError *error) {
if (error == nil) {
// work directly with permission
...
}
}];
Is there any way to avoid this downcast? (I'm asking out of ignorance; I'm somewhat of a newbie to Swift.) If I was writing my own library, I'd design the method signatures differently, but this is Google's library and am kind of stuck with what they supply. Perhaps some sort of extension or layer on top of Google's code?
You might be able to specify an extension that wraps the Google execute method, takes a generic and casts to your generic type in the block. This would basically just be a pretty abstraction of what you're doing already, but for all types your extension would be designed to cover.

c# programmer tries for events in c++

Hi all: I'm an experienced c# programmer trying to do some work in c++, and I'm not sure about the right way to do this:
I am authoring a class that needs to notify a consuming class that something has happened.
If I were writing this in c#, I would define an event on my class.
No events in c++, so I am trying to figure out what is the correct way to do this. I have thought about callback functions, but how do I handle a case where I want to execute a member function (not a static function).
More specifically, what I really need to do is to handle the event, but have access to member state within the object instance that is handling the event.
I have been looking at std::tr1:function, but I am having trouble getting it to work.
I don't suppose that anyone would want to translate the following example c# example into an example of the correct/best practice c++ (I need ANSI c++)?
(please bear in mind that I have almost no c++ experience -- don't assume that I know any long-established c++ conventions -- I don't ;);
A simple c# console app (works on my machine):
using System;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
public class EventSource
{
public event EventHandler<EchoEventArgs> EchoEvent;
public void RaiseEvent(int echoId)
{
var echoEvent = this.EchoEvent;
if (echoEvent != null)
echoEvent(this, new EchoEventArgs() {EchoId = echoId});
}
}
public class EchoEventArgs : EventArgs
{
public int EchoId { get; set; }
}
public class EventConsumer
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public EventConsumer(EventSource source)
{
source.EchoEvent += OnEcho;
}
private void OnEcho(object sender, EchoEventArgs args)
{
// handle the echo, and use this.Id to prove that the correct instance data is present.
Console.WriteLine("Echo! My Id: {0} Echo Id: {1}", this.Id, args.EchoId);
}
}
internal class Program
{
private static void Main(string[] args)
{
var source = new EventSource();
var consumer1 = new EventConsumer(source) { Id = 1 };
var consumer2 = new EventConsumer(source) { Id = 2 };
source.RaiseEvent(1);
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
}
The basic idea is to take function objects, e.g., something like std::function<Signature> as the callbacks. These aren't function pointers but can be called. The standard C++ library (for C++ 2011) contains a number of class and functions, e.g., std::mem_fn() and std::bind() which allow using functions, including member functions, to be used as function objects.
The part what is missing is something supporting multiple events be registered: std::function<Signature> represents one function. However, it is easy to put them, e.g., into a std::vector<std::function<Signature>>. What becomes more interesting (and requires variadic templates to be done easily) is creating an event class which encapsulates the abstraction of multiple events begin registered, potentially unregistered, and called.
C++ has a concept of functor: a callable object. You need to read about them.
Think about an object that has overwritten operator(). You pass an instance of such an object. After that you can call it like a regular function. And it can maintain a state.
There's also Signals2 library in Boost, which provides an API very close to real C# events, at least in idiomatic sense.
Qt has something that might help you called Signals and Slots: http://qt-project.org/doc/qt-4.8/signalsandslots.html
It lets you specify what the signals (the events that you want to listen to) and the slots (the receiving side) an object has, and then you can connect them. More than one object can listen to a signal like you mention you needed.
Qt is a large app framework, so I'm not sure how to use only the signals & slots part of it. But if you're building an entire GUI application the rest of the Qt might benefit you too (a lot of the ui event stuff is based on signals and slots).

Exception handling aware of execution flow

Edit:
For personn interested in a cleaner way to implemenent that, have a look to that answer.
In my job I often need to use third-made API to access remote system.
For instance to create a request and send it to the remote system:
#include "external_lib.h"
void SendRequest(UserRequest user_request)
{
try
{
external_lib::Request my_request;
my_request.SetPrice(user_request.price);
my_request.SetVolume(user_request.quantity);
my_request.SetVisibleVolume(user_request.quantity);
my_request.SetReference(user_request.instrument);
my_request.SetUserID(user_request.user_name);
my_request.SetUserPassword(user_request.user_name);
// Meny other member affectations ...
}
catch(external_lib::out_of_range_error& e)
{
// Price , volume ????
}
catch(external_lib::error_t& e)
{
// Here I need to tell the user what was going wrong
}
}
Each lib's setter do checks the values that the end user has provided, and may thow an exception when the user does not comply with remote system needs. For instance a specific user may be disallowed to send a too big volume. That's an example, and actually many times users tries does not comply: no long valid instrument, the prices is out of the limit, etc, etc.
Conseqently, our end user need an explicit error message to tell him what to modify in its request to get a second chance to compose a valid request. I have to provide hiim such hints
Whatever , external lib's exceptions (mostly) never specifies which field is the source
of aborting the request.
What is the best way, according to you, to handle those exceptions?
My first try at handling those exceptions was to "wrap" the Request class with mine. Each setters are then wrapped in a method which does only one thing : a try/catch block. The catch block then throws a new exceptions of mine : my_out_of_range_volume, or my_out_of_range_price depending on the setter. For instance SetVolume() will be wrapped this way:
My_Request::SetVolume(const int volume)
{
try
{
m_Request.SetVolume(volume);
}
catch(external_lib::out_range_error& e)
{
throw my_out_of_range_volume(volume, e);
}
}
What do you think of it? What do you think about the exception handling overhead it implies? ... :/
Well the question is open, I need new idea to get rid of that lib constraints!
If there really are a lot of methods you need to call, you could cut down on the code using a reflection library, by creating just one method to do the calling and exception handling, and passing in the name of the method/property to call/set as an argument. You'd still have the same amount of try/catch calls, but the code would be simpler and you'd already know the name of the method that failed.
Alternatively, depending on the type of exception object that they throw back, it may contain stack information or you could use another library to walk the stack trace to get the name of the last method that it failed on. This depends on the platform you're using.
I always prefer a wrapper whenever I'm using third party library.
It allows me to define my own exception handling mechanism avoiding users of my class to know about external library.
Also, if later the third party changes the exception handling to return codes then my users need not be affected.
But rather than throwing the exception back to my users I would implement the error codes. Something like this:
class MyRequest
{
enum RequestErrorCode
{
PRICE_OUT_OF_LIMIT,
VOLUME_OUT_OF_LIMIT,
...
...
...
};
bool SetPrice(const int price , RequestErrorCode& ErrorCode_out);
...
private:
external_lib::Request mRequest;
};
bool MyRequest::SetPrice(const int price , RequestErrorCode& ErrorCode_out)
{
bool bReturn = true;
try
{
bReturn = mRequest.SetPrice(price);
}
catch(external_lib::out_of_range_error& e)
{
ErrorCode_out = PRICE_OUT_OF_LIMIT;
bReturn = false;
}
return bReturn;
}
bool SendRequest(UserRequest user_request)
{
MyRequest my_request;
MyRequest::RequestErrorCode anErrorCode;
bool bReturn = my_request.SetPrice(user_request.price, anErrorCode);
if( false == bReturn)
{
//Get the error code and process
//ex:PRICE_OUT_OF_LIMIT
}
}
I think in this case I might dare a macro. Something like (not tested, backslashes omitted):
#define SET( ins, setfun, value, msg )
try {
ins.setfun( value );
}
catch( external::error & ) {
throw my_explanation( msg, value );
}
and in use:
Instrument i;
SET( i, SetExpiry, "01-01-2010", "Invalid expiry date" );
SET( i, SetPeriod, 6, "Period out of range" );
You get the idea.
Although this is not really the answer you are looking for, but i think that your external lib, or you usage of it, somehow abuses exceptions. An exception should not be used to alter the general process flow. If it is the general case, that the input does not match the specification, than it is up to your app to valid the parameter before passing it to the external lib. Exceptions should only be thrown if an "exceptional" case occurrs, and i think whenever it comes to doing something with user input, you usually have to deal with everything and not rely on 'the user has to provide the correct data, otherwise we handle it with exceptions'.
nevertheless, an alternative to Neil's suggestions could be using boost::lambda, if you want to avoid macros.
In your first version, you could report the number of operations that succeeded provided the SetXXX functions return some value. You could also keep a counter (which increases after every SetXXX call in that try block) to note what all calls succeeded and based on that counter value, return an appropriate error message.
The major problem with validating each and every step is, in a real-time system -- you are probably introducing too much latency.
Otherwise, your second option looks like the only way. Now, if you have to write a wrapper for every library function and why not add the validation logic, if you can, instead of making the actual call to the said library? This IMO, is more efficient.