How to check for static member variable template? - c++

Question

I need to define a class, foo, with a static member variable template, foo::static_variable_template<T>. This member should only exist when T fulfills certain requirements. For example, when the constexpr static function T::constexpr_static_function() exists. Otherwise, foo::static_variable_template<T> should not exist. Moreover, I would like to be able to test for the existence of foo::static_variable_template<T> at compile-time via SFINAE.
Here is an approximation of what I would like to do:
#include <iostream>
struct foo
{
template<class T>
static constexpr int static_variable_template =
T::constexpr_static_function();
// XXX this works but requires a second defaulted template parameter
// template<class T, int = T::constexpr_static_function()>
// static constexpr int static_variable_template =
// T::constexpr_static_function();
};
struct has_constexpr_static_function
{
static constexpr int constexpr_static_function() { return 42; }
};
struct hasnt_constexpr_static_function
{
};
template<class T, class U,
int = T::template static_variable_template<U>>
void test_for_static_variable_template(int)
{
std::cout << "yes it has\n";
}
template<class T, class U>
void test_for_static_variable_template(...)
{
std::cout << "no it hasn't\n";
}
int main()
{
test_for_static_variable_template<foo, has_constexpr_static_function>(0);
test_for_static_variable_template<foo, hasnt_constexpr_static_function>(0);
}
This approximation nearly works, but only if foo::static_variable_template has a second, defaulted template parameter. Because this second parameter is an implementation detail, I'd like to hide it from the public interface of foo::static_variable_template.
Is this possible in C++17?

Answer 1

I am not sure if your intent is to initialise foo::static_variable_template with 0 if T::constexpr_static_function() is missing or you want to disable it entirely. In case of the former, this might be useful. For example, this (clunky) solution works (requires C++17 for if constexpr; note that your variable is now a function):
#include <iostream>
template <typename T>
class has_func
{
typedef char does;
typedef long doesnt;
template <typename C> static does test( decltype(&C::constexpr_static_function) );
template <typename C> static doesnt test(...);
public:
static constexpr bool value()
{
return sizeof(test<T>(0)) == sizeof(char);
}
};
struct foo
{
template<class T>
static constexpr int static_variable_template()
{
if constexpr (has_func<T>::value())
{
return T::constexpr_static_function();
}
return 0;
}
// XXX this works but requires a second defaulted template parameter
// template<class T, int = T::constexpr_static_function()>
// static constexpr int static_variable_template =
// T::constexpr_static_function();
};
struct has_constexpr_static_function
{
static constexpr int constexpr_static_function() { return 42; }
};
struct hasnt_constexpr_static_function
{
};
template<class T, class U>
void test_for_static_variable_template(...)
{
if constexpr (has_func<U>::value())
{
std::cout << "yes it has\n";
}
else
{
std::cout << "no it hasn't\n";
}
}
int main()
{
std::cout << foo::static_variable_template<has_constexpr_static_function>() << "\n";
std::cout << foo::static_variable_template<hasnt_constexpr_static_function>() << "\n";
/// Original test
test_for_static_variable_template<foo, has_constexpr_static_function>(0);
test_for_static_variable_template<foo, hasnt_constexpr_static_function>(0);
}
Prints
42
0
yes it has
no it hasn't
Tested with clang 5.0.1.
In case you want to disable foo::static_variable_template entirely, you might need to use std::enable_if:
#include <iostream>
template <typename T>
class has_func
{
typedef char does;
typedef long doesnt;
template <typename C> static does test( decltype(&C::constexpr_static_function) );
template <typename C> static doesnt test(...);
public:
static constexpr bool value()
{
return sizeof(test<T>(0)) == sizeof(char);
}
};
struct foo
{
template<class T, typename std::enable_if<has_func<T>::value()>::type ...>
static constexpr int static_variable_template()
{
if constexpr (has_func<T>::value())
{
return T::constexpr_static_function();
}
return 0;
}
// XXX this works but requires a second defaulted template parameter
// template<class T, int = T::constexpr_static_function()>
// static constexpr int static_variable_template =
// T::constexpr_static_function();
};
struct has_constexpr_static_function
{
static constexpr int constexpr_static_function() { return 42; }
};
struct hasnt_constexpr_static_function
{
};
template<class T, class U>
void test_for_static_variable_template(...)
{
if constexpr (has_func<U>::value())
{
std::cout << "yes it has\n";
}
else
{
std::cout << "no it hasn't\n";
}
}
int main()
{
std::cout << foo::static_variable_template<has_constexpr_static_function>() << "\n";
// We can't print this because it doesn't exist.
// std::cout << foo::static_variable_template<hasnt_constexpr_static_function>() << "\n";
/// Original test
test_for_static_variable_template<foo, has_constexpr_static_function>(0);
test_for_static_variable_template<foo, hasnt_constexpr_static_function>(0);
}
In this line of thought, I am not sure if you can disable a static template variable with std::enable_if. To quote the great Riemann, "I have for the time being, after some fleeting vain attempts, provisionally put aside the search for this..."