Can someone explain how to use result_of within template? - c++

I'm trying to create a delayable call object. Something along the lines of (pseudo-code):
template <class FN>
struct delayable_call
{
return-type-of-FN call(); // <-- I'd like to use result_of here.
template<class ArgTypes...>
delayable_call(FN* pFn, ArgTypes... args);
FN* fn;
args-saving-struct;
};
I tried using result_of::type for the return type of call, but get errors during instantiation of the template because apparently the argument types need to be specified separately.
Instantiation:
int foo(bool, double); // function prototype.
delayable_call<int(bool, double)> delayable_foo(foo, false, 3.14); // instantiation
The error messages and documentation I've read about result_of seem to indicate that the argument types must also be specified. So instead of result_of<FN>::type, I'd need to specify result_of<FN(bool, double)>::type. This does actually fix the compilation problem I'm having, but breaks the generality of the template.
So, how can I use result_of with a template parameter when the template parameter represents the function signature?

template <class FN> struct delayable_call;
template<class R, class...Args> delayable_call<R(Args...)>{
typedef R(*)(Args...) pFN;
replace your delayable_call with a specialization, and you will extrace both R and Args.... You need Args... anyhow to store the parameters.
However, a library-strength delayable call will end up using type erasure. The easiest way is a simple std::function<R()> where you shove a lambda into it:
int foo(double);
double x = 7;
std::function<int()> delayed_foo = [x]{ return foo(x); }
and capture by value unless you really, really mean it to capture by reference.
You could deduce R via:
template<typename Fn, typename... Args>
std::function< typename std::result_of<Fn(Args...)>::type()>
make_delayed_call( Fn&& fn, Args&&... args ) {
return [=]{ return fn(std::move(args)...); }
}
which should deduce your R from the callable object and the arguments. This captures everything by copy -- capture by move requires either more boilerplate, or C++14.

Related

How to auto deduct argument and return type of lambda with std::function?

This code:
template<typename Arg, typename Ret>
Ret fun(std::function<Ret(Arg)> fun){
Arg x=0;
return fun(x);
};
auto f=[](int x){return x;};
fun(f); //compilation failed.
doesn't work. I want to get the argument and return type of lambda in fun.
I think the argument type has already known at comile time, why the compilier can't deduct it automaticall?
The problem here is that the lambda is not an std::function, so you're asking the compiler to do a deduction (find the type of Arg AND Ret) and a convertion i.e. convert the lambda to an std::function. The combination causes a conflict.
If you want to still use std::function as argument type for fun, then the easier thing to do is to make a utility that identifies what std::function to cast your callable to, e.g.:
#include <functional>
using namespace std;
template<typename T>
struct memfun_type
{
using type = void;
};
template<typename Ret, typename Class, typename... Args>
struct memfun_type<Ret(Class::*)(Args...) const>
{
using type = std::function<Ret(Args...)>;
};
template<typename F>
typename memfun_type<decltype(&std::decay_t<F>::operator())>::type
function_from(F&& func)
{
return std::forward<F>(func);
}
which you'd use as
fun(function_from(f)); // Auto-detect <Ret(Args...)> types.
Demo
After showing the mechanics of how auto-detection works, note that from C++17 onwards the CTAD feature does this for you. So in newer compilers this also works:
fun(std::function(f)); // Again no types specified.
Alternatively, you can make your f a bit more generic and use just the argument deduction, like:
template <class F>
auto fun(F &&fun)
{
int x=0;
return std::invoke(std::forward<F>(fun), x);
};
fun(f); // Call directly with your lambda
Demo
Using c++20 concepts, this version can be restricted to the argument and input function types that you want.

How do I resolve an overloaded function by it's signature as a template parameter?

I'm writing a delegate library and stubled upon this problem: Let's say I have overloaded functions named foo like this:
int foo(double d);
double foo(int d);
How would I write my template argument list if I want to resolve which function is meant by specifying a signature as a template parameter. I basically want this syntax (yet it shall work with any signature):
Delegate d = make_delegate<&foo,int(double)>(); // "Delegate" is automatically deduced as Delegate<int(double)>
I managed to resolve it by using the following helper template, but it only works if I write the parameter types of the function signature manually. I struggle to forward the variadic parameter pack Args... (which is encoded in the Args_pack specialization) to the function signature.
template<typename... Args>
struct Args_pack {}
template<typename Signature>
struct Identify_signature_type;
template<typename Return, typename... Args>
struct Identify_signature_type<Return(Args...)> {
using T_return = Return;
using Args_pack = Args_pack<Args...>;
};
template<auto Signature> using Identify_signature = Identify_signature_type<decltype(Signature)>;
template<typename Signature, typename Identify_signature_type<Signature>::T_return Function(double /* important magic needed here */)>
auto make_delegate()
{...}
Delegate d = make_delegate<int(double), &foo>(); // Works. However, it would be nice if the template parameters could exchange places.
You can add a * to the signature to get the right function pointer type.
template<typename Signature, Signature* fptr>
auto make_delegate()
{...}

Lambda is deduced to std::function if template has no variadic arguments

template<typename ReturnT, typename... ParamT>
void foo(std::function<ReturnT(ParamT...)> callback)
{}
template<typename ReturnT, typename ParamT>
void bar(std::function<ReturnT(ParamT)> callback)
{}
main()
{
foo<int, int>([](int x){ return x; }); // no instance of function
// template matches argument list
bar<int, int>([](int x){ return x; }); // OK
}
The only difference between foo and bar is that foo has variadic arguments. Somehow the compiler is able to convert the lambda to a std::function in bar.
To my understanding, template type deduction doesn't consider type conversions. So shouldn't both fail?
You don't have any deduction for the type parameters of bar, they are fully specified.
You still have the tail of the pack to deduce in foo, and that fails because the lambda isn't a std::function.
template<typename ReturnT, typename... ParamT>
void foo(std::function<ReturnT(ParamT...)> callback)
{}
now, foo<int,int> is foo<ReturnT=int, ParamsT starts with {int}>.
It does not fully specify ParamT. In fact, there is no way to fully specify ParamT.
As an incompletely specified template, deduction occurs, and fails. It doesn't try "what if I just assume the pack doesn't go any further".
You can fix this with:
template<typename ReturnT, typename... ParamT>
void foo(block_deduction<std::function<ReturnT(ParamT...)>> callback)
{}
where block_deduction looks like:
template<class T>
struct block_deduction_helper { using type=T; }:
template<class T>
using block_deduction = typename block_deduction_helper<T>::type;
now deduction is blocked on foo's first argument.
And your code works.
Of course, if you pass in a std::function it will no longer auto-deduce arguments.
Note that deducing the type of a a type erasure type like std::function is usually code smell.
Replace both with:
template<class F>
void bar(F callback)
{}
if you must get arguments, use function traits helpers (there are many on SO). If you just need return value, there are std traits that already work that out.
In c++17 you can do this:
tempate<class R, class...Args>
void bar( std::function<R(Args...)> f ) {}
template<class F>
void bar( F f ) {
std::function std_f = std::move(f);
bar(std_f);
}
using the c++17 deduction guides feature.

Getting the type of lambda arguments [duplicate]

Using std::function, we can get the type of an argument using the argument_type, second_argument_type etc. typedefs, but I can't see a way to do the same thing with lambdas. Is it possible? (I'm using VS2010)
Say I want something like the following in my deserialization system used to read an object and pass it to a setter function:
template<typename F>
static void forward(F f)
{
// Create an object of the type of the first
// parameter to the function object F
typedef typename F::argument_type T;
T t;
//...do something with 't' here (deserialize in my case)
// Forward the object to the function
f(t);
}
It can be used like this and everything works fine:
std::function<void(int)> f = [](int i) -> void { setValue(i); };
forward(f);
But it will not work directly with lambdas:
forward([](int i) -> void { setValue(i); });
//error C2039: 'argument_type' : is not a
//member of '`anonymous-namespace'::<lambda1>'
Is there a way to access the parameter types in a way that will work for both lambdas and std::function objects? Maybe a way to get the std::function type of a lambda first, and then the argument_type from that?
Following on from the answer below, a version that works with lambdas and std::function is:
template<typename T, typename F>
static void forward(F f)
{
T t;
//...do something with 't' here (deserialize in my case)
f(t);
}
forward<int>([](int i) -> void { setValue(i); });
Since int is repeated here I was hoping to get rid of it - not so bad for int but more annoying for long-named types in a couple of namespaces. C'est la vie!
It's not desirable in the general case. (Note that it's quite easy for std::function<T(A)> to specify what e.g. argument_type is: it's just A! It's available in the type definition.)
It would be possible to require each and every function object type to specify its argument types, and in turn mandate that the closure types generated from lambda expression do so. In fact, pre-C++0x features like adaptable functors would only work for such types.
However, we're moving from that with C++0x and for good reasons. The simplest of which is simply overloading: a functor type with a templated operator() (a.k.a a polymorphic functor) simply takes all kind of arguments; so what should argument_type be? Another reason is that generic code (usually) attempts to specify the least constraints on the types and objects it operates on in order to more easily be (re)used.
In other words, generic code is not really interested that given Functor f, typename Functor::argument be int. It's much more interesting to know that f(0) is an acceptable expression. For this C++0x gives tools such as decltype and std::declval (conveniently packaging the two inside std::result_of).
The way I see it you have two choices: require that all functors passed to your template use a C++03-style convention of specifying an argument_type and the like; use the technique below; or redesign. I'd recommend the last option but it's your call since I don't know what your codebase looks like or what your requirements are.
For a monomorphic functor type (i.e. no overloading), it is possible to inspect the operator() member. This works for the closure types of lambda expressions.
So we declare these helpers
template<typename F, typename Ret, typename A, typename... Rest>
A
helper(Ret (F::*)(A, Rest...));
template<typename F, typename Ret, typename A, typename... Rest>
A
helper(Ret (F::*)(A, Rest...) const);
// volatile or lvalue/rvalue *this not required for lambdas (phew)
that accept a pointer to member function taking at least one argument. And now:
template<typename F>
struct first_argument {
typedef decltype( helper(&F::operator()) ) type;
};
[ an elaborate trait could successively query the lvalue-rvalue/const/volatile overloads and expose the first argument if it's the same for all overloads, or use std::common_type.]
#Luc's answer is great but I just came across a case where I also needed to deal with function pointers:
template<typename Ret, typename Arg, typename... Rest>
Arg first_argument_helper(Ret(*) (Arg, Rest...));
template<typename Ret, typename F, typename Arg, typename... Rest>
Arg first_argument_helper(Ret(F::*) (Arg, Rest...));
template<typename Ret, typename F, typename Arg, typename... Rest>
Arg first_argument_helper(Ret(F::*) (Arg, Rest...) const);
template <typename F>
decltype(first_argument_helper(&F::operator())) first_argument_helper(F);
template <typename T>
using first_argument = decltype(first_argument_helper(std::declval<T>()));
This can be used on both functors and function pointers:
void function(float);
struct functor {
void operator() (int);
};
int main() {
std::cout << std::is_same<first_argument<functor>, int>::value
<< ", "
<< std::is_same<first_argument<decltype(&function)>, int>::value
<< std::endl;
return 0;
}

Can we get the type of a lambda argument?

Using std::function, we can get the type of an argument using the argument_type, second_argument_type etc. typedefs, but I can't see a way to do the same thing with lambdas. Is it possible? (I'm using VS2010)
Say I want something like the following in my deserialization system used to read an object and pass it to a setter function:
template<typename F>
static void forward(F f)
{
// Create an object of the type of the first
// parameter to the function object F
typedef typename F::argument_type T;
T t;
//...do something with 't' here (deserialize in my case)
// Forward the object to the function
f(t);
}
It can be used like this and everything works fine:
std::function<void(int)> f = [](int i) -> void { setValue(i); };
forward(f);
But it will not work directly with lambdas:
forward([](int i) -> void { setValue(i); });
//error C2039: 'argument_type' : is not a
//member of '`anonymous-namespace'::<lambda1>'
Is there a way to access the parameter types in a way that will work for both lambdas and std::function objects? Maybe a way to get the std::function type of a lambda first, and then the argument_type from that?
Following on from the answer below, a version that works with lambdas and std::function is:
template<typename T, typename F>
static void forward(F f)
{
T t;
//...do something with 't' here (deserialize in my case)
f(t);
}
forward<int>([](int i) -> void { setValue(i); });
Since int is repeated here I was hoping to get rid of it - not so bad for int but more annoying for long-named types in a couple of namespaces. C'est la vie!
It's not desirable in the general case. (Note that it's quite easy for std::function<T(A)> to specify what e.g. argument_type is: it's just A! It's available in the type definition.)
It would be possible to require each and every function object type to specify its argument types, and in turn mandate that the closure types generated from lambda expression do so. In fact, pre-C++0x features like adaptable functors would only work for such types.
However, we're moving from that with C++0x and for good reasons. The simplest of which is simply overloading: a functor type with a templated operator() (a.k.a a polymorphic functor) simply takes all kind of arguments; so what should argument_type be? Another reason is that generic code (usually) attempts to specify the least constraints on the types and objects it operates on in order to more easily be (re)used.
In other words, generic code is not really interested that given Functor f, typename Functor::argument be int. It's much more interesting to know that f(0) is an acceptable expression. For this C++0x gives tools such as decltype and std::declval (conveniently packaging the two inside std::result_of).
The way I see it you have two choices: require that all functors passed to your template use a C++03-style convention of specifying an argument_type and the like; use the technique below; or redesign. I'd recommend the last option but it's your call since I don't know what your codebase looks like or what your requirements are.
For a monomorphic functor type (i.e. no overloading), it is possible to inspect the operator() member. This works for the closure types of lambda expressions.
So we declare these helpers
template<typename F, typename Ret, typename A, typename... Rest>
A
helper(Ret (F::*)(A, Rest...));
template<typename F, typename Ret, typename A, typename... Rest>
A
helper(Ret (F::*)(A, Rest...) const);
// volatile or lvalue/rvalue *this not required for lambdas (phew)
that accept a pointer to member function taking at least one argument. And now:
template<typename F>
struct first_argument {
typedef decltype( helper(&F::operator()) ) type;
};
[ an elaborate trait could successively query the lvalue-rvalue/const/volatile overloads and expose the first argument if it's the same for all overloads, or use std::common_type.]
#Luc's answer is great but I just came across a case where I also needed to deal with function pointers:
template<typename Ret, typename Arg, typename... Rest>
Arg first_argument_helper(Ret(*) (Arg, Rest...));
template<typename Ret, typename F, typename Arg, typename... Rest>
Arg first_argument_helper(Ret(F::*) (Arg, Rest...));
template<typename Ret, typename F, typename Arg, typename... Rest>
Arg first_argument_helper(Ret(F::*) (Arg, Rest...) const);
template <typename F>
decltype(first_argument_helper(&F::operator())) first_argument_helper(F);
template <typename T>
using first_argument = decltype(first_argument_helper(std::declval<T>()));
This can be used on both functors and function pointers:
void function(float);
struct functor {
void operator() (int);
};
int main() {
std::cout << std::is_same<first_argument<functor>, int>::value
<< ", "
<< std::is_same<first_argument<decltype(&function)>, int>::value
<< std::endl;
return 0;
}