still no way to initialize private static field in .h files? - c++

I have Commons.h file that contains "general" structures and classes declarations. Among others it contains such class declaration (only static int nInstrument is important, you can ignore the rest):
class Instrument
{
public:
int Id() {
return _id;
}
int GateId() {
return _gateId;
}
const std::string& const ClassCode() const {
return _classCode;
}
const std::string& const Ticker() const {
return _ticker;
}
Instrument(int gateId_, std::string classCode_, std::string ticker_)
{
_gateId = gateId_;
_classCode = classCode_;
_ticker = ticker_;
_id = nInstrument;
std::cout << "New Instrument created << " << _ticker << " id = " << _id << std::endl;
++nInstrument;
}
private:
static int nInstrument;
int _id;
int _gateId;
std::string _classCode;
std::string _ticker;
};
I need to initialize static int nInstrument; with 0. It's easy If I have Commons.cpp file as answered in this question. But I don't ave Commons.cpp file and I don't want to create it just to put one line int Instrument::nInstrument = 0;
I want to double check that C++11 or future standart still doesn't have such feature? So I have to add cpp just to put one initialization line?

If want want to have a static variable into a header only, you may use the following in your class:
static int& nInstrument() { static int s_i = 0; return s_i; }

The C++11 has this kind of feature, but the most common compiler do not support it (yet). I tested that with XCode and VS2013. I got another solution, based on a question I already asked yesterday.
you have to form the attribute into a method:
class Instrument
{
// your stuff
static int getInstrument()
{
static int nInstrument=1234;
return nInstrument;
}
};
This is header only. You can even extend that, look at the answers at:
How to change a behavior for all instances of a class in a header only class

You can make a workaround using templates (which allow instantiating static members directly in a header file):
class Instrument
{
template<class T>
struct Counter { static int value; };
int _id;
public:
Instrument()
: _id(Counter<int>::value++)
{}
int id() { return _id; }
};
int Test::Counter<int>::value = 1;

Related

C++ : How to ensure that a class member variable is modifiable only within a certain method

I am using C++ 14 with clang on MacOS Sierra. I want to enforce a rule by design. Following is the rule.
I have a member variable in my class say:
unsigned int m_important_num;
There are 4 methods in my class.
fun1();
fun2();
fun3();
fun4();
Objective:
I want only fun2() to be able to change the value of m_important_num.
Question:
Is it possible to make it compiler error if any method other than fun2() changes the variable?
One possible way is to declare it const somehow empower fun2() to change const variables? Is this a good solution? Or are their any better solutions?
Secondary question:
Is it a wrong design to try do such a thing?
Sort of, with additional layer:
class S1 {
public:
void fun2() { /*Modify m_important_num */ }
unsigned int getImportantNum() const { return m_important_num;}
private:
unsigned int m_important_num;
};
class S2 : private S1
{
public:
void fun1();
using S1::fun2; // or void fun2() {S1::fun2();}
void fun3();
void fun4();
};
As Yakk commented, if func2 need access to S2 members, CRTP can solve that:
template <typename Derived>
class S1 {
public:
void fun2() { asDerived().foo3(); /*Modify m_important_num */ }
unsigned int getImportantNum() const { return m_important_num;}
private:
Derived& asDerived() { return stataic_cast<Derived&>(*this); }
private:
unsigned int m_important_num;
};
class S2 : private S1<S2>
{
// friend class S1<S2>; // If required.
public:
void fun1();
using S1::fun2; // or void fun2() {S1::fun2();}
void fun3();
void fun4();
};
Encapsulate it down. Put m_important_num in its own class. Aggregate it in your existing class. Have a getter for it. Then put fun2() as a member function of your inner class.
I little variant (if I understand correctly) of the Jeffrey solution: put the variable in an inner class and make it private; create a public getter and make func2() friend to the inner class.
I mean
struct foo
{
int f1 () { return b0.getVal(); }; // you can read `val` everywhere
void f2 () { b0.val = 42; }; // you can write `val` in f2()
void f3 () { /* b0.val = 42; ERROR ! */ }; // but only in f2()
class bar
{
private:
int val = 24;
public:
int getVal () { return val; }
friend void foo::f2 ();
};
bar b0;
};
In other words: friend is your friend.
If you want to prevent a method from modifying any member in the class you can use the trailing const identifier:
class something{
private:
unsigned int var;
public:
void fun1() const;
void fun2();
void fun3() const;
void fun4() const;
}
Here, only fun2() will be able to modify the variable.
I know there are lots of good answers, but there is also an option that you sort of alluded to in your question:
One possible way is to declare it const somehow empower fun2() to change const variables?
#include <iostream>
using uint = unsigned int;
class Test
{
const uint num;
public:
Test(uint _num)
:
num(_num)
{}
uint get_num() const
{
return num;
}
void can_change_num(uint _new_num)
{
uint& n(const_cast<uint&>(num));
n = _new_num;
}
void cant_change_num(uint _new_num)
{
// num = _new_num; // Doesn't compile
}
};
int main()
{
Test t(1);
std::cout << "Num is " << t.get_num() << "\n";
t.can_change_num(10);
std::cout << "Num is " << t.get_num() << "\n";
return 0;
}
Produces
Num is 1
Num is 10
You already got lots of good answers to your primary question. I'll try to address the secondary one.
Is it a wrong design to try do such a thing?
It's hard to say w/o knowing more about your design. In general anything like this detected during a code review would raise a big red flag. Such a protection makes sense in a case of a big class with convoluted logic/implementation. Otherwise why would you like to go an extra mile and make your code much more complicated? The fact you seek for this can indicate your class became unmanageable.
I'd recommend to consider splitting it to smaller parts with better defined logic where you won't worry such mistakes can happen easily.

how to turn this piece of code into static polymophism?

I am trying to study static polymophism and I implemented the following code. Thanks to the comments from StackOverflow members, I came to understand that what I just wrote is not static polymophism, but actually template-based policy-pattern.
Can anyone give any insight about how to turn this piece of code into static polymophism?
#include <iostream>
template<typename T>
class Interface {
T ex;
public:
double getData() {
return ex.getData(0);
}
};
class Extractor1 {
public:
double getData(const int a) {
return 1;
}
};
class Extractor2 {
public:
double getData(const int a) {
return 2;
}
};
int main() {
// here is the problem: the following 2 variables belong to different types. Therefore, I cannot create an array of pointers which point to the base class
Interface<Extractor1> e1;
Interface<Extractor2> e2;
std::cout<<"FE1 "<< e1.getData() <<" FE2 "<< e2.getData()<<std::endl;
return 0;
}
You can change your code like this to achieve static polymorphism:
#include <iostream>
template <typename T>
class Interface {
public:
double getData(int a) {
return static_cast<T *>(this)->getData(a);
}
};
class Extractor1 : public Interface<Extractor1> {
public:
double getData(int a) {
return 1;
}
};
class Extractor2 : public Interface<Extractor2> {
public:
double getData(int a) {
return 2;
}
};
int main() {
Interface<Extractor1> e1;
Interface<Extractor2> e2;
std::cout << e1.getData(1) << " " << e2.getData(2) << std::endl;
}
The advantage of using static polymorphism is you avoid paying the runtime cost of a vtable lookup like you would when using virtual functions. The drawback though, as I see you are running into based on your 'array' comment, is that you cannot place these different Extractor classes into an array or any other container, because they are both inheriting different base types. The only way around this, aside from using something like a tuple or a container filled with boost::any types, is creating a common base class for your Extractor classes.

C++ declare derived class object inside of if-else and use it outside

I have a (parent) class named Alma with the (virtual) function Getwidth() and two derived class of Alma, named Birs (with the special function Getheight()) and Citrom (with the special function Getdepth()). I want to declare an object - named Attila - which type is Birs or Citrom depending on a bool. Later, I want to use the common function Getwidth() and also the special functions (depending the bool mentioned).
My (not working) code:
/*...*/
/*Classes*/
class Alma{
public: virtual int Getwidth() = 0;
/*ect...*/
}
class Birs: public Alma{
int Getwidth(){return 1;}
public: int Getheight(){return 2;}
/*ect...*/
}
class Citrom: public Alma{
int Getwidth(){return 3;}
public: int Getdepth(){return 4;}
/*ect...*/
}
/*...*/
/*Using them*/
void Useobjects(){
/*Create object depending on bool*/
if(b00lvar){
Birs Andor();
std::cout<<Andor.Getwidth()<<" "<<Andor.Getheight()<<std::endl;
}else{
Citrom Andor();
std::cout<<Andor.Getwidth()<<" "<<Andor.Getdepth()<<std::endl;
}
/*Using the common part of object*/
std::cout<<Andor.Getwidth()<<std::endl;
/*Using the special part of object*/
if(b00lvar){
std::cout<<Andor.Getheight()<<std::endl;
}else{
std::cout<<Andor.Getdepth()<<std::endl;
}
/*ect...*/
}
This is a classic case of polymorphic object handling. Just make sure you are familiar with that concept as well with pointers and references.
What you need is something looking like:
Alma* Andor;
if(b00lvar){
Andor = new Birs();
std::cout<<Andor->Getwidth()<<" "<<Andor->Getheight()<<std::endl;
}else{
Andor = new Citrom();
std::cout<<Andor->Getwidth()<<" "<<Andor->Getdepth()<<std::endl;
}
Next use dynamic_cast to get back to the derived types and finally of course do not forget to delete the object. But first read about those concepts.
You cannot define a single object whose type is this or that, depending on something else. C++ doesn't work this way. C++ is a statically-typed language. This means that the type of every object is determined at compile time. Other languages, like Perl, or Javascript, are dynamically-typed, where the type of an object is determined at runtime, and a single object can be one thing, at one point, and something else at a different point.
But C++ does not work this way.
To do something like what you're trying to do, you have to refactor the code, and work with the virtual superclass. Something like this:
void UseObject(Alma &andor)
{
/*Using the common part of object*/
std::cout<<andor.Getwidth()<<std::endl;
/*Using the special part of object*/
/* This part is your homework assignment */
}
void Useobjects(){
/*Create object depending on bool*/
if(b00lvar){
Birs andor;
std::cout<<Andor.Getwidth()<<" "<<Andor.Getheight()<<std::endl;
UseObject(andor);
}else{
Citrom andor;
std::cout<<Andor.Getwidth()<<" "<<Andor.Getdepth()<<std::endl;
UseObject(andor);
}
}
Another approach would be to use two pointers, in this case passing two pointers to UseObject(). One of the two pointers will always be a nullptr, and the other one a pointer to the instantiated object, with UseObject() coded to deal with whatever object is passed in.
That's also possible, but will result in ugly code, and if I was an instructor teaching C++, I would mark down anyone who handed in code that did that.
If the type of the object (Alma or Citrom) is decided at the startup, then it's a classic polymorphism, as other answers described:
https://stackoverflow.com/a/36218884/185881
What're you missing from your design is, to name the common ancestor with common behaviors (e.g. Gyumolcs).
If the object should once act as Alma and other times as Citrom, you should implement a single class, which have a flag or enum (ACT_AS_CITROM, ACT_AS_ALMA), or, if the behavior is limited to one method, then it should have a parameter, which tells which action to perform (alma-like or citrom-like).
You can do this with pointer semantic and type introspection with dynamic_cast. I extended your example to show how I would approach it.
Here is the Demo
#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
using namespace std;
class Alma{
public:
virtual int Getwidth() = 0;
};
class Birs: public Alma{
public:
int Getwidth() { return 1; }
int Getheight() { return 2; }
};
class Citrom: public Alma{
public:
int Getwidth() { return 3; }
int Getdepth() { return 4; }
};
shared_ptr<Alma> make_attila(bool birs)
{
if (birs)
return make_shared<Birs>();
else
return make_shared<Citrom>();
}
void test_attila(shared_ptr<Alma> attila)
{
cout << "width: " << attila->Getwidth() << "\n";
if (auto as_birs = dynamic_pointer_cast<Birs>(attila))
cout << "height: " << as_birs->Getheight() << "\n";
else if (auto as_citrom = dynamic_pointer_cast<Citrom>(attila))
cout << "depth: " << as_citrom->Getdepth() << "\n";
}
int main() {
shared_ptr<Alma> attila = make_attila(true);
test_attila(attila);
attila = make_attila(false);
test_attila(attila);
return 0;
}
Next step would be to make make_attila a template function taking the Derived class as a template parameter instead of a bool.
template <class Derived>
shared_ptr<Alma> make_attila()
{
return make_shared<Derived>();
}
Two things:
If you want to use it outside the if, you will have to declare it outside the if.
You need references or pointers for this kind of polymorphism.
unique_ptr<Alma> Andor;
if (b00lvar) {
Andor = make_unique<Birs>();
} else {
Andor = make_unique<Citrom>();
}
std::cout << Andor->Getwidth() << std::endl;
Some other answer suggested using shared_ptr but that's overkill here. 99% of the time unique_ptr is sufficient.
Polymorphism isn't always the way to go if an object is known to be either a B or a C. In this case, a boost::variant is often more succinct.
Having said this, if you want to go down the polymorphic route it's important to remember something that will guide the design.
Polymorphic means runtime polymorphic. I.e. the program cannot know the real type of the object. It also cannot know the full set of possible types the object could be, since another developer could manufacture a type that your module's code knows nothing about. Furthermore, when using the Alma interface, the code should not need to know anything more. Invoking magic such as "I know it'll be a Citrom because the bool is true" is laying the foundations for a code maintenance nightmare a few weeks or months down the line. When done in commercial, production code, it results in expensive and embarrassing bug-hunts. Don't do that.
This argues that all relevant information about any object of type Alma must be available in the Alma interface.
In our case, the relevant information is whether it has the concept of height and/or depth.
In this case, we should probably include these properties in the base interface plus provide functions so that the program can query whether the property is valid before using it.
Here is something like your example written this way:
#include <iostream>
#include <memory>
#include <typeinfo>
#include <string>
#include <exception>
#include <stdexcept>
// separating out these optional properties will help me to reduce clutter in Alma
struct HeightProperty
{
bool hasHeight() const { return impl_hasHeight(); }
int getHeight() const { return impl_getHeight(); }
private:
// provide default implementations
virtual bool impl_hasHeight() const { return false; }
virtual int impl_getHeight() const { throw std::logic_error("getHeight not implemented for this object"); }
};
struct DepthProperty
{
bool hasDepth() const { return impl_hasDepth(); }
int getDepth() const { return impl_getDepth(); }
private:
virtual bool impl_hasDepth() const { return false; }
virtual int impl_getDepth() const { throw std::logic_error("getDepth not implemented for this object"); }
};
class Alma : public HeightProperty, public DepthProperty
{
public:
Alma() = default;
virtual ~Alma() = default;
// note: nonvirtual interface defers to private virtual implementation
// this is industry best practice
int getWidth() const { return impl_getWidth(); }
const std::string& type() const {
return impl_getType();
}
private:
virtual int impl_getWidth() const = 0;
virtual const std::string& impl_getType() const = 0;
};
class Birs: public Alma
{
private:
// implement the mandatory interface
int impl_getWidth() const override { return 1; }
const std::string& impl_getType() const override {
static const std::string type("Birs");
return type;
}
// implement the HeightProperty optional interface
bool impl_hasHeight() const override { return true; }
int impl_getHeight() const override { return 2; }
};
class Citrom: public Alma
{
private:
// implement the mandatory interface
int impl_getWidth() const override { return 3; }
const std::string& impl_getType() const override {
static const std::string type("Citrom");
return type;
}
// implement the DepthProperty optional interface
bool impl_hasDepth() const override { return true; }
int impl_getDepth() const override { return 4; }
};
/*...*/
/*Using them*/
// generate either a Birs or a Citrom, but return the Alma interface
std::unique_ptr<Alma> make_alma(bool borc)
{
if (borc) {
return std::make_unique<Birs>();
}
else {
return std::make_unique<Citrom>();
}
}
void Useobjects()
{
for (bool b : { true, false })
{
std::unique_ptr<Alma> pa = make_alma(b);
std::cout << "this object's typeid name is " << pa->type() << std::endl;
std::cout << "it's width is : " << pa->getWidth() << std::endl;
if(pa->hasHeight()) {
std::cout << "it's height is: " << pa->getHeight() << std::endl;
}
if(pa->hasDepth()) {
std::cout << "it's depth is: " << pa->getDepth() << std::endl;
}
}
}
int main()
{
Useobjects();
return 0;
}
expected output:
this object's typeid name is Birs
it's width is : 1
it's height is: 2
this object's typeid name is Citrom
it's width is : 3
it's depth is: 4

C++: Monitoring multiple value types

I want to write a class that can monitor a bunch of different values for easy debugging. Imagine setting "watches" in a visual debugger. I'm picturing something like this:
struct Foo {
int x = 0;
std::string s = "bar";
};
int main() {
Foo f;
ValueMonitor::watch("number", &f.x);
ValueMonitor::watch("string", &f.s);
for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
++f.x;
if (i > 5) {
f.s = "new string";
}
// print the current value of the variable with the given key
// these should change as the loop goes on
ValueMonitor::print("number");
ValueMonitor::print("string");
// or
ValueMonitor::printAll();
// obviously this would be unnecessary in this example since I
// have easy access to f, but imagine monitoring different
// values from all over a much larger code base
}
}
Then these could be easily monitored somewhere in the application's GUI or whatever.
However, I don't know how to handle the different types that would be stored in this class. Ideally, I should be able to store anything that has a string representation. I have a few ideas but none of them really seem right:
Store pointers to a superclass that defines a toString function or operator<<, like Java's Object. But this would require me to make wrappers for any primitives I want to monitor.
Something like boost::any or boost::spirit::hold_any. I think any needs to be type casted before I can print it... I guess I could try/catch casting to a bunch of different types, but that would be slow. hold_any requires defined stream operators, which would be perfect... but I can't get it to work with pointers.
Anyone have any ideas?
I found a solution somewhere else. I was pretty blown away, so might as well post it here for future reference. It looks something like this:
class Stringable
{
public:
virtual ~Stringable() {};
virtual std::string str() const = 0;
using Ptr = std::shared_ptr<Stringable>;
};
template <typename T>
class StringableRef : public Stringable
{
private:
T* _ptr;
public:
StringableRef(T& ref)
: _ptr(&ref) {}
virtual ~StringableRef() {}
virtual std::string str() const
{
std::ostringstream ss;
ss << *_ptr;
return ss.str();
}
};
class ValueMonitor
{
private:
static std::map<std::string, Stringable::Ptr> _values;
public:
ValueMonitor() {}
~ValueMonitor() {}
template <typename T>
static void watch(const std::string& label, T& ref)
{
_values[label] = std::make_shared<StringableRef<T>>(ref);
}
static void printAll()
{
for (const auto& valueItr : _values)
{
const String& name = valueItr.first;
const std::shared_ptr<Stringable>& value = valueItr.second;
std::cout << name << ": " << value->str() << std::endl;
}
}
static void clear()
{
_values.clear();
}
};
std::map<std::string, Stringable::Ptr> ValueMonitor::_values;
.
int main()
{
int i = 5;
std::string s = "test"
ValueMonitor::watch("number", i);
ValueMonitor::watch("string", s);
ValueMonitor::printAll();
i = 10;
s = "new string";
ValueMonitor::printAll();
return 0;
}

how to define an extensible C++ enum system

I have encounter a problem in my project on enums.
In EventDef.h,
enum EventDef {
EVT1 = 0,
EVT2,
EVT3,
EVT_NUM,
}
In this way, I can extend the EventDef system in another header UIEventDef.h by
#include "EventDef.h"
enum UIEventDef {
UIEVT1 = EVT_NUM,
UIEVT2,
UIEVT3,
}
But, there is a limitation that i can not do this in NetEvent.h the same way.
#include "EventDef.h"
enum NetEventDef {
NETEVT1 = EVT_NUM,
NETEVT2, //wrong: this will have the same value as UIEVT2
NETEVT3,
}
Is there a better compile time solution in C++ such as templates that can help ?
The idea of extensible enums is not inherently "bad design". In other languages there is a history of them, even if c++ does not support them directly. There are different kinds of extensibility.
Things that extensible enums would be useful for
error codes
message types
device identification (OIDs are a hierarchical enum like system)
Examples of enum extensibility
Objective Modula Two has enums that are extensible with a class like inheritance.
The Extensible Enum Pattern in Java, which can be implemented in c++.
Java enums are extensible in that extra data and methods can be a part of an enum.
In c++, the typeid operator is essentially a compiler generated enum with attached values.
The kind of extensibility you showed in your sample code does not have an elegant implementation in unaided c++. In fact, as you pointed out, it easily leads to problems.
Think about how you are wanting to use an extensible enum. Perhaps a set/map of immutable singleton objects will meet your needs.
Another way to have extensible enums in c++ is to use a code generator. Every compilation unit that wants to add to an extensible enum, records the ids in its own, separate, .enum file. At build time, before compilation, a script (ie perl, bash, ...) looks for all .enum files, reads them, assigns numeric values to each id, and writes out a header file, which is included like any other.
Why do you want your event enums to be declared like that? What do you gain by having them 'linked' if you will, they way you describe?
I would make them completely independent enums. Secondly, I recommend you not use the old style enums anymore. c++11 is here and available in gcc. You should use enum classes:
enum class EventDef : unsigned { Evt1 = 0, Evt2, Evt3, ... LastEvt }
enum class NetEvtDef : unsigned { NetEvt1 = 0, NetEvt2, NetEvt3, ... NetLastEvt }
If you are switching you can do this:
void doSwitch(EventDef evt_def)
{
switch(evt_def)
{
case EventDef::Evt1
{
// Do something;
break;
}
default:
// Do something;
};
}
void doSwitch(NetEvtDef net_def)
{
switch(net_def)
{
case NetEvtDef::NetEvt1
{
// Do something;
break;
}
default:
// Do something;
};
}
By creating an overloaded function for doSwitch you segregate all your enum types. Having them in separate categories is a benefit not a problem. It provides you the flexibility to deal with each event enum type differently.
Chaining them together as you describe needlessly complicates the problem.
I hope that helps.
I find the following a useful compromise between complexity, features, and type safety. It uses global variables of a custom class that has a default constructor to make initialisation easy. The example below is an extendable set of error codes. You might want to enclose within a name space also (but I typically don't bother).
//
// ErrorCodes.h
// ExtendableEnum
//
// Created by Howard Lovatt on 10/01/2014.
//
#ifndef ErrorCodes_h
#define ErrorCodes_h
#include <string>
class ErrorCodes {
public:
static int nextValue_;
explicit ErrorCodes(std::string const name) : value_{nextValue_++}, name_{name} {}
ErrorCodes() : ErrorCodes(std::to_string(nextValue_)) {}
int value() const { return value_; }
std::string name() const { return name_; }
private:
int const value_;
std::string const name_;
ErrorCodes(const ErrorCodes &);
void operator=(const ErrorCodes &);
};
int ErrorCodes::nextValue_ = 0; // Weird syntax, does not declare a variable but rather initialises an existing one!
ErrorCodes first;
ErrorCodes second;
// ...
#endif
//
// ExtraErrorCodes.h
// ExtendableEnum
//
// Created by Howard Lovatt on 10/01/2014.
//
#ifndef ExtraErrorCodes_h
#define ExtraErrorCodes_h
#include "ErrorCodes.h"
ErrorCodes extra{"Extra"};
#endif
//
// ExtraExtraExtraCodes.h
// ExtendableEnum
//
// Created by Howard Lovatt on 10/01/2014.
//
#ifndef ExtendableEnum_ExtraExtraCodes_h
#define ExtendableEnum_ExtraExtraCodes_h
#include "ErrorCodes.h"
ErrorCodes extraExtra{"ExtraExtra"};
#endif
//
// main.cpp
// ExtendableEnum
//
// Created by Howard Lovatt on 10/01/2014.
//
#include <iostream>
#include "ErrorCodes.h"
#include "ExtraErrorCodes.h"
#include "ExtraExtraErrorCodes.h"
// Need even more error codes
ErrorCodes const localExtra;
int main(int const notUsed, const char *const notUsed2[]) {
std::cout << first.name() << " = " << first.value() << std::endl;
std::cout << second.name() << " = " << second.value() << std::endl;
std::cout << extra.name() << " = " << extra.value() << std::endl;
std::cout << extraExtra.name() << " = " << extraExtra.value() << std::endl;
std::cout << localExtra.name() << " = " << localExtra.value() << std::endl;
return 0;
}
The output is:
0 = 0
1 = 1
Extra = 2
ExtraExtra = 3
4 = 4
If you have multiple compilation units then you need to use a variation on the singleton pattern:
class ECs {
public:
static ErrorCode & first() {
static ErrorCode instance;
return instance;
}
static ErrorCode & second() {
static ErrorCode instance;
return instance;
}
private:
ECs(ECs const&);
void operator=(ECs const&);
};
We can construct an extensible “enum” in C++ as follows:
struct Last {};
struct D
{
using Next = Last;
static const char* name = “D”;
};
struct C
{
using Next = D;
static const char* name = “C”;
};
struct B
{
using Next = C;
static const char* name = “B”;
};
using First = B;
We can iterate thru the above using these constructs:
void Process(const B&)
{
// do something specific for B
cout << “Call me Ishmael” << endl;
}
template <class T>
void Process(const T&)
{
// do something generic
cout << “Call me “ << T::name << endl;
}
template <class T>
struct IterateThru
{
static void iterate()
{
Process(T());
IterateThru<T::Next>::iterate();
}
};
template <>
struct IterateThru<Last>
{
static void iterate()
{
// end iteration
}
};
To iterate through the “enumeration”:
IterateThru<First>::iterate();
To extend the “enumeration”:
struct A
{
using Next = B;
static const char* name = “A”;
}:
using First = A: