C++ command pattern - c++

I'm trying to implement something like a command pattern to control serveral components with the same interface. Every component must implement the following interface.
class ComponentInterface {
public:
virtual int start() = 0;
virtual int stop() = 0;
};
Every derived component will implement some specific methods.
class Led : public ComponentInterface {
public:
/**
* Implements Interface methods
*/
int start() { return 0; }
int stop() { return 0; }
private:
int setIntensity(int attrs[], int returns[]) {
printf( "Set intensity called" );
return 1;
}
};
The main idea is that every subclass store the callable member functions in an array of pointers and in the ComponentInterface class will be implemented a methods that can call this functions based on the index of the command.
class ComponentInterface {
public:
...
// for storing the pointers
int (ComponentInterface::*commandsArray[10])(int[], int[]);
// to call the member functions
int command(int commandId, int attrsList[], int responseList[]) {
return (this->*commandsArray[commandId])(attrsList, responseList);
}
}
class Led : public ComponentInterface {
public:
Led(float* ledIntensity) {
// store the command in the array
this->commandsArray[0] = (&Led::setIntensity);
}
// redefine the array for pointers of this subclass
int (Led::*commandsArray[5])(int[], int[]);
};
I'm not familiar with C++ and I don't understand why it doesn't work, I have problems when calling the stored functions.
When testing with devC++, I get a segmentation fault. When i tried to test it in Visual Studio 2013 (Visual C++) and with the debugger it seems that in this row
(this->*commandsArray[commandId])(attrsList, responseList);
, the this object is pointing to the ComponentInterface object instead of the Led object.

Two things are immediately wrong in your code:
You can't "override a base class variable" and this line doesn't quite make sense in your derived class
// redefine the array for pointers of this subclass
int (Led::*commandsArray[5])(int[], int[]);
This cast is wrong
this->commandsArray[0] = (&Led::setIntensity);
it should rather be
this->commandsArray[0] = static_cast<int (ComponentInterface::*)(int*,int*)>(&Led::setIntensity);
Anyway a cleaner and safer way to achieve what you want is the following:
(Disclaimer: heavy stripping ahead, ignoring everything that doesn't immediately matter in the discussion)
class ComponentInterface {
..
std::vector<std::function<int (int[], int[])>> commandsArray;
}
Live Example
You could then store member functions with different signatures (bound to the right object) and just use the ComponentInterface container in your components.

Related

C++ polymorphism: how to create derived class objects

I have an abstract base class called BaseStrategy. It contains one pure virtual function calculateEfficiency(). There are two classes ConvolutionStrategy and MaxPoolStrategy which derive from this base class and implement their own specific version of calculateEfficiency().
Here is some code:
class BaseStrategy {
public:
explicit BaseStrategy();
virtual ~BaseStrategy() = default;
private:
virtual double calculateEfficiency(mlir::Operation* op) = 0;
};
class ConvolutionStrategy : public BaseStrategy {
private:
double calculateEfficiency(mlir::Operation* op)
{
//some formula for convolution
return 1;
}
};
class MaxPoolStrategy : public BaseStrategy {
private:
double calculateEfficiency(mlir::Operation* op)
{
//some formula for MaxPool
return 1;
}
};
Now I have another class called StrategyAssigner. It has method calculateAllLayerEfficiencies() whose purpose is to iterate over all layers in a network. Depending on the type of layer there is a switch statement and should call the correct calculateEfficiency() depending on the layer type.
class StrategyAssigner final {
public:
explicit StrategyAssigner(){};
public:
void calculateAllLayerEfficiencies() {
// Logic to iterate over all layers in
// a network
switch (layerType) {
case Convolution:
// Call calculateEfficiency() for Convolution
break;
case MaxPool:
// Call calculateEfficiency() for MaxPool
break;
}
};
}
int main ()
{
StrategyAssigner assigner;
assigner.calculateAllLayerEfficiencies();
}
My question is, should I store references of objects Convolution and MaxPool in the class StrategyAssigner so that I can call the respective calculateEfficiency().
Or could you suggest a better way to call calculateEfficiency(). I don't really know how to create the objects (stupid as that sounds).
I can't make calculateEfficiency() static as I need them to be virtual so that each derived class can implemented its own formula.
If you included complete code I could give a more detailed answer, but you need to store BaseStrategy pointers that are initialized with derived class instances. Here's an example made from some of your code:
std::vector<std::unique_ptr<BaseStrategy>> strategies;
strategies.emplace_back(new ConvolutionStrategy);
strategies.emplace_back(new MaxPoolStrategy);
for (int i = 0; i < strategies.size(); ++i) {
std::unique_ptr<BaseStrategy>& pStrat = strategies[i];
pStrat->calculateEfficiency(...);
}
Note that this won't compile because I don't have enough details from the code you posted to make it so, but this shows how to exploit polymorphism in the way that you need.
Also, I used smart pointers for memory management; use these at your discretion.
You can indeed use runtime polymorphism here:
Declare ~BaseStrategy virtual (you are already doing it ;-)
If you are never going to instantiate a BaseStrategy, declare one of its methods as virtual pure, e.g. calculateEfficiency (you are already doing it as well!). I would make that method const, since it doesn't look it's going to modify the instance. And it will need to be public, because it will need to be accessed from StrategyAnalyser.
Declare calculateEfficiency as virtual and override in each of the subclasses. It could also be final if you don't want subclasses to override it.
I'd keep a std::vector of smart pointers to BaseStrategy at StrategyAssigner. You can use unique_ptrs if you think this class is not going to be sharing those pointers.
The key point now is that you create heap instances of the subclasses and assign them to a pointer of the base class.
class StrategyAssigner final {
public:
void addStrategy(std::unique_ptr<BaseStrategy> s) {
strategies_.push_back(std::move(s));
}
private:
std::vector<std::unique_ptr<BaseStrategy>> strategies_{};
};
int main()
{
StrategyAssigner assigner;
assigner.addStrategy(std::make_unique<ConvolutionStrategy>());
}
Then, when you call calculateEfficiency using any of those pointers to BaseStrategy, the runtime polymorphism will kick in and it will be the method for the subclass the one that will be actually called.
class ConvolutionStrategy : public BaseStrategy {
private:
virtual double calculateEfficiency() const override {
std::cout << "ConvolutionStrategy::calculateEfficiency()\n";
return 10;
}
};
class MaxPoolStrategy : public BaseStrategy {
private:
virtual double calculateEfficiency() const override {
std::cout << "MaxPoolStrategy::calculateEfficiency()\n";
return 20;
}
};
class StrategyAssigner final {
public:
void calculateAllLayerEfficiencies() {
auto sum = std::accumulate(std::cbegin(strategies_), std::cend(strategies_), 0,
[](auto total, const auto& strategy_up) {
return total + strategy_up->calculateEfficiency(); });
std::cout << "Sum of all efficiencies: " << sum << "\n";
};
};
int main()
{
StrategyAssigner assigner;
assigner.addStrategy(std::make_unique<ConvolutionStrategy>());
assigner.addStrategy(std::make_unique<MaxPoolStrategy>());
assigner.calculateAllLayerEfficiencies();
}
// Outputs:
//
// ConvolutionStrategy::calculateEfficiency()
// MaxPoolStrategy::calculateEfficiency()
// Sum of all efficiencies: 30
[Demo]

c++, In Child class, how can access Parent class's method without a object?

I think only the static method can do the following thing, but it can works.
can anybody tell me how it works? what's the principle behind this thing.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Parent {
protected:
unsigned char* buf;
unsigned int bufLenght;
public:
void Setup()
{
buf = nullptr;
bufLenght = 0;
cout << "in Parent class Setup()" << endl;
}
virtual void TearDown()
{
delete[] buf;
}
};
class Child : public Parent{
public:
virtual void Setup()
{
Parent::Setup(); // access Parent method without a parent's object?
cout << "in Child class Setup()" << endl;
}
};
int main(int argc, char const *argv[])
{
Child co;
co.Setup();
return 0;
}
run this code, the result is :
in Parent class Setup()
in Child class Setup()
I find the answer here:
How to call a parent class function from derived class function?
and in thinking in c++, I also find the same description:
However, when you’re redefining a function, you may still want to
call the base-class version. If, inside set( ), you simply call set( )
you’ll get the local version of the function – a recursive function
call. To call the base-class version, you must explicitly name the
base class using the scope resolution operator.
Each Child object is built on top of a Parent object. Whenever you have a Child you also have a Parent.
I can't seem to understand what you're trying to achieve. It appears that you've omitted the 'virtual' keyword on the base class method you're trying to override and hence receiving errors from the compiler.
Although your question is fairly unclear, here is my best attempt at demonstrating how to implement polymorphism in C++:
class A {
protected:
// You will not be able to access this in the
// other class unless you explicitly declare it as
// a 'friend' class.
int m_ProtectedVariable;
public:
// Let's define a virtual function that we can
// override in another class.
virtual void ClassMethod( ) {
printf( "[A::ClassMethod] Called!\n" );
}
}
class B : public A {
public:
// There is no need for the virtual/override keywords
// if you are overloading the function which is already defined
// in another class as 'virtual'. I prefer to keep them for
// pedantic reasons.
/* virtual */ void ClassMethod( ) /* override */ {
//
printf( "[B::ClassMethod] Called!\n" );
// Since the function is a virtual, we can always
// call the base class function.
A::ClassMethod( /* ... */ );
}
}
Hopefully you find this helpful in whatever you're trying to achieve :-)
EDIT: In your particular scenario, where you're supposed to allocate a buffer when you need it and destroy it afterwards - why are you not making use of the class constructor/destructor functionality?
It would be far more intuitive to let the compiler decide when to manage memory (in this case) as it will happen automatically once your object goes out of scope.

Namespace Functions within Class alternatives?

I'd like to be able to group similar functions in a class into a group so I don't need to append each name with what it's about.
I've seen this question which says that you can't have namespaces within classes. I've also seen this question which proposes using strongly typed enums. The problem here though, is that I'm not sure whether or not these enums can actually accomodate functions?
The problem contextualised:
class Semaphore
{
public:
void Set(bool State){Semaphore = State;}
bool Get(){return Semaphore;}
void Wait()
{
while (Semaphore)
{
//Wait until the node becomes available.
}
return;
}
private:
bool Semaphore = 0; //Don't operate on the same target simultaneously.
};
class Node : Semaphore
{
public:
unsigned long IP = 0; //IP should be stored in network order.
bool IsNeighbour = 0; //Single hop.
std::vector<int> OpenPorts;
//Rest of code...
};
Currently, NodeClass.Get() is how I can get the semaphore. However this introduces confusion as to what Get() actually gets. I'd like to have something akin to NodeClass.Semaphore::Get(). Otherwise I'd have to have the functions as SemaphoreSet(), SemaphoreGet(), and SemaphoreWait(), which isn't too well organised or nice looking.
I had thought of just having the Semaphore class on it's own, and instantiating it within the other classes, but if I could stick with the inheritance approach, that would be nicer.
So essentially, is it possible to access inherited methods like InheritedClass.Group::Function()?
If you really want to do this, you could force the user to call with the base class name by deleteing the member function in the subclass:
class Base {
public:
void Set(bool) { }
};
class Derived : public Base {
public:
void Set(bool) = delete;
};
int main() {
Derived d;
// d.Set(true); // compiler error
d.Base::Set(true);
}
However, if the semantics of calling Set on the subclass are significantly different than what you'd expect them to be when calling Set on the base class, you should probably use a data member and name a member function accordingly as you've described:
class Base {
public:
void Set(bool) { }
};
class Derived {
public:
void SetBase(bool b) {
b_.Set(b);
}
private:
Base b_;
};
int main() {
Derived d;
d.SetBase(true);
}

Whether using dynamic cast for providing input for derived class virtual function is recommended?

I read some of the answers in What is the proper use case for dynamic_cast.
The line which best matched my situation here is
#include<iostream>
class Shape
{
public:
virtual void draw()=0;
virtual ~Shape(){};
};
class Rectangle : public Shape
{
public:
int length;
int breath;
void draw()
{
std::cout<<"RECTANGE"<<std::endl;
}
};
class Circle : public Shape
{
public:
int diameter;
void draw()
{
std::cout<<"CIRCLE"<<std::endl;
}
};
/*Abstract Factory*/
Shape* getShapeObj(int type)
{
switch(type)
{
case 1:
return new Rectangle;
case 2:
return new Circle;
/* many types will be added here in future. */
}
return NULL;
};
void drawShapes(Shape *p_shape[],int len)
{
for(int i=0;i<len;i++)
p_shape[i]->draw();
}
int main()
{
Shape *l_shape[2];
l_shape[0]=getShapeObj(1);
l_shape[1]=getShapeObj(2);
Rectangle *l_rec=dynamic_cast<Rectangle*>(l_shape[0]);
if(l_rec)
{
l_rec->length=10;
l_rec->breath=20;
}
Circle *l_circle=dynamic_cast<Circle*>(l_shape[1]);
if(l_circle)
l_circle->diameter=25;
drawShapes(l_shape,2);
}
Essentially, virtual functions only work in some cases, not all of them.
My problem is to pass the input for the virtual function and inputs will vary from type to type. Whether using dynamic cast is recommended here?
The solution is perfect forwarding of function parameters, introduced in c++11.
template<typename ...CtorArgs>
Shape* getShapeObj(int type, CtorArgs&& ctor_args...)
{
switch(type)
{
case 1:
return new Rectangle(std::forward<CtorArgs>(ctor_args)...);
// many types will be added here in future.
}
return NULL;
}
Obviously making the function a template, defeats the purpose of hiding the hierarchy (as well as forcing rather strict requirements on the number of parameters to the constructors). But if the base contains a map of functions that do the construction, which each derived class updates with a pointer to function that constructs it, you can still have information hiding.
I have recently written an answer about storing type erased function pointers in a map, with some static type checking forwarded to run time.
In this particular case, looks like your main function is taking too much responsibility. What if you have Circle, Hexagon, MyFancyFigure types? All of them should be initialized in main in different branches?
It would be much better to move that "initialization" logic to a separate virtual function init in your classes (or even to the constructor). The code would look like this:
class Shape
{
public:
virtual void draw()=0;
virtual void init()=0;
virtual ~Shape(){};
};
class Rectangle : public Shape
{
public:
int length;
int breath;
void draw()
{
//Draw Rectangle
}
void init()
{
length = 10;
breath = 20;
}
};
int main()
{
Shape *l_shape=getShapeObj(1);
// Calls different code of "init" method depending on the actual object type
l_shape->init();
l_shape->draw();
delete l_shape;
}
Also, please note that this initialization logic may be place in some other place, like constructor of the class or the factory method. But main is definitely the wrong place.

How to properly use virtual member functions in c++

I am having a problem with the following code, the overriden virtual functions are not executing. Not sure i'm doing wrong here probably a silly mistake. Anyway this is a game project and I have an array of objects which looks like this (the core::array is an irrlicht array, similar to the vector array)
core::array<GameObject> gameTargets;
This is the GameObject and Zombie definition
class GameObject {
protected:
scene::ISceneNode* node;
public:
int ID;
int hitpoints;
GameObject() {
...
};
void setNode(scene::ISceneNode* inode) {
...
}
virtual void shot(int dmg) {
... [BREAKPOINT HERE]
}
scene::ISceneNode* getNode() {
return node;
}
};
class Zombie : public GameObject {
public:
static const enum Animation {
ZOMBIE_WALK,
ZOMBIE_HURT,
ZOMBIE_DIE,
ZOMBIE_TWITCH,
ZOMBIE_ATTACK,
ZOMBIE_IDLE
};
//We only want to accepted animated mesh nodes for this object
Zombie(int hp, scene::IAnimatedMeshSceneNode* inode) {
...
}
//Override the shot function
void shot(int dmg) {
... [BREAKPOINT HERE]
}
//Animate the zombie
void setAnimation(Animation anim) {
...
}
};
The member functions of the derived classes is never called, I am creating the objects like this
Zombie target(hp, (scene::IAnimatedMeshSceneNode*)node);
and calling the virtual function like this
for(int i = 0; (u32)i<level->gameTargets.size(); i++) {
if(selectedNode == level->gameTargets[i].getNode()) {
level->gameTargets[i].shot(b->damage);
}
}
where b is a pointer to a bullet with a int variable damage and gameTargets contains GameObject
I suspect that you're experiencing slicing because the gameTargets array contains values. I can't tell for sure because I don't know how the core::array template works. See What is object slicing? for a discussion about what slicing is.
To fix this problem, store either raw pointers as in
core::array<GameObject *> gameTargets;
Or use some sort of reference-counted pointer like
core::array<std::shared_ptr<GameObject>> gameTargets; // only available in C++11
array<GameObject> is a container of objects, not a container of pointers. Every object you add to it will be a GameObject and not one of the derived classes (if you add a derived class object, then it'll be "sliced").
Without knowing exactly what your core::array does, I suspect what you really intended to create is an array of std::unique_ptr<GameObject> (smart pointers) along the lines of
core::array< std::unique_ptr<GameObject> > gameTargets;
std::unique_ptr<GameObject> my_zombie(new Zombie);
gameTargets.push_back( my_zombie );
a quick solution would be to make those parent functions as pure virtual functions, as in:
virtual void shot(int dmg) { } = 0;
// edit
and use array of pointer as suggested by Frerich Raabe