Several specific methods or one generic method? - c++

this is my first question after long time checking on this marvelous webpage.
Probably my question is a little silly but I want to know others opinion about this. What is better, to create several specific methods or, on the other hand, only one generic method? Here is an example...
unsigned char *Method1(CommandTypeEnum command, ParamsCommand1Struct *params)
{
if(params == NULL) return NULL;
// Construct a string (command) with those specific params (params->element1, ...)
return buffer; // buffer is a member of the class
}
unsigned char *Method2(CommandTypeEnum command, ParamsCommand2Struct *params)
{
...
}
unsigned char *Method3(CommandTypeEnum command, ParamsCommand3Struct *params)
{
...
}
unsigned char *Method4(CommandTypeEnum command, ParamsCommand4Struct *params)
{
...
}
or
unsigned char *Method(CommandTypeEnum command, void *params)
{
switch(command)
{
case CMD_1:
{
if(params == NULL) return NULL;
ParamsCommand1Struct *value = (ParamsCommand1Struct *) params;
// Construct a string (command) with those specific params (params->element1, ...)
return buffer;
}
break;
// ...
default:
break;
}
}
The main thing I do not really like of the latter option is this,
ParamsCommand1Struct *value = (ParamsCommand1Struct *) params;
because "params" could not be a pointer to "ParamsCommand1Struct" but a pointer to "ParamsCommand2Struct" or someone else.
I really appreciate your opinions!

General Answer
In Writing Solid Code, Steve Macguire's advice is to prefer distinct functions (methods) for specific situations. The reason is that you can assert conditions that are relevant to the specific case, and you can more easily debug because you have more context.
An interesting example is the standard C run-time's functions for dynamic memory allocation. Most of it is redundant, as realloc can actually do (almost) everything you need. If you have realloc, you don't need malloc or free. But when you have such a general function, used for several different types of operations, it's hard to add useful assertions and it's harder to write unit tests, and it's harder to see what's happening when debugging. Macquire takes it a step farther and suggests that, not only should realloc just do _re_allocation, but it should probably be two distinct functions: one for growing a block and one for shrinking a block.
While I generally agree with his logic, sometimes there are practical advantages to having one general purpose method (often when operations is highly data-driven). So I usually decide on a case by case basis, with a bias toward creating very specific methods rather than overly general purpose ones.
Specific Answer
In your case, I think you need to find a way to factor out the common code from the specifics. The switch is often a signal that you should be using a small class hierarchy with virtual functions.
If you like the single method approach, then it probably should be just a dispatcher to the more specific methods. In other words, each of those cases in the switch statement simply call the appropriate Method1, Method2, etc. If you want the user to see only the general purpose method, then you can make the specific implementations private methods.

Generally, it's better to offer separate functions, because they by their prototype names and arguments communicate directly and visibly to the user that which is available; this also leads to more straightforward documentation.
The one time I use a multi-purpose function is for something like a query() function, where a number of minor query functions, rather than leading to a proliferation of functions, are bundled into one, with a generic input and output void pointer.
In general, think about what you're trying to communicate to the API user by the API prototypes themselves; a clear sense of what the API can do. He doesn't need excessive minutae; he does need to know the core functions which are the entire point of having the API in the first place.

First off, you need to decide which language you are using. Tagging the question with both C and C++ here makes no sense. I am assuming C++.
If you can create a generic function then of course that is preferable (why would you prefer multiple, redundant functions?) The question is; can you? However, you seem to be unaware of templates. We need to see what you have omitted here to tell if you if templates are suitable however:
// Construct a string (command) with those specific params (params->element1, ...)
In the general case, assuming templates are appropriate, all of that turns into:
template <typename T>
unsigned char *Method(CommandTypeEnum command, T *params) {
// more here
}
On a side note, how is buffer declared? Are you returning a pointer to dynamically allocated memory? Prefer RAII type objects and avoid dynamically allocating memory like that if so.

If you are using C++ then I would avoid using void* as you don't really need to. There is nothing wrong with having multiple methods. Note that you don't actually have to rename the function in your first set of examples - you can just overload a function using different parameters so that there is a separate function signature for each type. Ultimately, this kind of question is very subjective and there are a number of ways of doing things. Looking at your functions of the first type, you would perhaps be well served by looking into the use of templated functions

You could create a struct. That's what I use to handle console commands.
typedef int (* pFunPrintf)(const char*,...);
typedef void (CommandClass::*pKeyFunc)(char *,pFunPrintf);
struct KeyCommand
{
const char * cmd;
unsigned char cmdLen;
pKeyFunc pfun;
const char * Note;
long ID;
};
#define CMD_FORMAT(a) a,(sizeof(a)-1)
static KeyCommand Commands[]=
{
{CMD_FORMAT("one"), &CommandClass::CommandOne, "String Parameter",0},
{CMD_FORMAT("two"), &CommandClass::CommandTwo, "String Parameter",1},
{CMD_FORMAT("three"), &CommandClass::CommandThree, "String Parameter",2},
{CMD_FORMAT("four"), &CommandClass::CommandFour, "String Parameter",3},
};
#define AllCommands sizeof(Commands)/sizeof(KeyCommand)
And the Parser function
void CommandClass::ParseCmd( char* Argcommand )
{
unsigned int x;
for ( x=0;x<AllCommands;x++)
{
if(!memcmp(Commands[x].cmd,Argcommand,Commands[x].cmdLen ))
{
(this->*Commands[x].pfun)(&Argcommand[Commands[x].cmdLen],&::printf);
break;
}
}
if(x==AllCommands)
{
// Unknown command
}
}
I use a thread safe printf pPrintf, so ignore it.

I don't really know what you want to do, but in C++ you probably should derive multiple classes from a Formatter Base class like this:
class Formatter
{
virtual void Format(unsigned char* buffer, Command command) const = 0;
};
class YourClass
{
public:
void Method(Command command, const Formatter& formatter)
{
formatter.Format(buffer, command);
}
private:
unsigned char* buffer_;
};
int main()
{
//
Params1Formatter formatter(/*...*/);
YourClass yourObject;
yourObject.Method(CommandA, formatter);
// ...
}
This removes the resposibility to handle all that params stuff from your class and makes it closed for changes. If there will be new commands or parameters during further development you don't have to modifiy (and eventually break) existing code but add new classes that implement the new stuff.

While not full answer this should guide you in correct direction: ONE FUNCTION ONE RESPONSIBILITY. Prefer the code where it is responsible for one thing only and does it well. The code whith huge switch statement (which is not bad by itself) where you need cast void * to some other type is a smell.
By the way I hope you do realise that according to standard you can only cast from void * to <type> * only when the original cast was exactly from <type> * to void *.

Related

prevent string literals from being converted to bool versus std::string

Similar questions have been asked before, such as String literal matches bool overload instead of std::string.
But what I want to know is what should C++ developers do to prevent this from happening? As someone who writes C++ libraries for others to consume, what should I do to ensure this doesn't happen? Here is the example I ran into today, where a library had 2 initialize() methods:
void initialize(bool someflag) { /* ... */ }
void initialize(const std::string & name) { /* ... */ }
Now the problematic code was in the application that wanted to utilize this functionality and which called it in a manner similar to this:
initialize("robert");
At first glance you'd think that this would call initialize(string) but it actually calls the first initialize(bool) with a boolean flag set to true!
Yes, I know it can be fixed with this:
initialize( std::string("robert") );
But this puts the onus on the caller.
Edit for #zdan: I didn't consider the "solutions" in the other linked question to be great solutions since 1) I was hoping not to have to add a const char * version of every method that takes a bool or string, and 2) the template solution increases the maintainability of the code significantly for affected methods, renders them almost unreadable.
what should I do to ensure this doesn't happen?
One possibility is to create an overload that accepts a char const* and make it a pass through to the overload that accepts a std::string.
void initialize(char const* name) { initialize(std::string(name)); }

Dynamic Function Args for Callback / RPC in C++

I need to register functions like the following in a list of functions with arguments.
void func1( int a , char* b ) {}
void func2( vec3f a , std::vector<float> b , double c) {}
...
And call them back when I receive data over network with proper arguments. I imagined va_list would solve, but it doesnt work :
void func1(int a, char* b)
{
printf("%d %s",a,b);
}
void prepare(...)
{
va_list argList;
int args = 2;
va_start(argList, args);
((void (*)(va_list))func1)(argList);
va_end(argList);
}
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
prepare(1, "huhu");
return 0;
}
What is the most elegant way to solve this ?
I know std::bind / std::function has similar abilities, but the internal data is hidden deep in std I assume. I just need a few basic data types, doesnt have to be for arbitrary types. If preprocessor tricks with ##VA_ARGS or using templates would solve, I am also OK with that. Priority is that it is most simple to use.
Edit1 : I found that assembly can solve ( How do I pass arguments to C++ functions when I call them from inline assembly ) - but I would prefer a more platform independent solution.
If your goal is to create your own, small and ad-hoc "rpc" solution, possibly one of the major drivers for making decisions should be: 1. Minimal amount of code 2. Easy as possible.
Keeping that in mind, it is paying off to ponder, what the difference is between the following 2 scenarios:
"Real" RPC: The handlers shall be as you wrote with rpc-method-specific signature.
"Message passing": The handlers receive messages of either "end point-determined type" or simply of a unified message type.
Now, what has to be done to get a solution of type 1?
Incoming byte streams/network packets need to get parsed to some sort of message with regards to some chosen protocol. Then, using some meta-info (contract), according to { serviceContract, serviceMethod }, a specific set of data items needs to be confirmed in the packet and if present, the respective, registered handler function needs to be called. Somewhere within that infrastructure you typically have a (likely code generated) function which does something like that:
void CallHandlerForRpcXYCallFoo( const RpcMessage*message )
{
uint32_t arg0 = message->getAsUint32(0);
// ...
float argN = message->getAsFloat(N);
Foo( arg0, arg1, ... argN );
}
All that can, of course also be packed into classes and virtual methods with the classes being generated from the service contract meta data. Maybe, there is also a way by means of some excessive template voodoo to avoid generating code and having a more generic meta-implementation. But, all that is work, real work. Way too much work to do it just for fun. Instead of doing that, it would be easier to use one of the dozens technologies which do that already.
Worth noting so far is: Somewhere within that piece of art, there is likely a (code generated) function which looks like the one given above.
Now, what has to be done to get a solution of type 2?
Less than for case 1. Why? Because you simply stop your implementation at calling those handler methods, which all take the RpcMessage as their single argument. As such, you can get away without generating the "make-it-look-like-a-function-call" layer above those methods.
Not only is it less work, it is also more robust in the presence of some scenarios where the contract changes. If one more data item is being added to the "rpc solution", the signature of the "rpc function" MUST change. Code re-generated, application code adapted. And that, whether or not the application needs that new data item. On the other hand, in approach 2, there are no breaking changes in the code. Of course, depending on your choices and the kind of changes in the contract, it still would break.
So, the most elegant solution is: Don't do RPC, do message passing. Preferably in a REST-ful way.
Also, if you prefer a "unified" rpc message over a number of rpc-contract specific message types, you remove another reason for code bloat.
Just in case, what I say seems a bit too abstract, here some mock-up dummy code, sketching solution 2:
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdint>
#include <map>
#include <vector>
#include <deque>
#include <functional>
// "rpc" infrastructure (could be an API for a dll or a lib or so:
// Just one way to do it. Somehow, your various data types need
// to be handled/represented.
class RpcVariant
{
public:
enum class VariantType
{
RVT_EMPTY,
RVT_UINT,
RVT_SINT,
RVT_FLOAT32,
RVT_BYTES
};
private:
VariantType m_type;
uint64_t m_uintValue;
int64_t m_intValue;
float m_floatValue;
std::vector<uint8_t> m_bytesValue;
explicit RpcVariant(VariantType type)
: m_type(type)
{
}
public:
static RpcVariant MakeEmpty()
{
RpcVariant result(VariantType::RVT_EMPTY);
return result;
}
static RpcVariant MakeUint(uint64_t value)
{
RpcVariant result(VariantType::RVT_UINT);
result.m_uintValue = value;
return result;
}
// ... More make-functions
uint64_t AsUint() const
{
// TODO: check if correct type...
return m_uintValue;
}
// ... More AsXXX() functions
// ... Some ToWire()/FromWire() functions...
};
typedef std::map<uint32_t, RpcVariant> RpcMessage_t;
typedef std::function<void(const RpcMessage_t *)> RpcHandler_t;
void RpcInit();
void RpcUninit();
// application writes handlers and registers them with the infrastructure.
// rpc_context_id can be anything opportune - chose uint32_t, here.
// could as well be a string or a pair of values (service,method) or whatever.
void RpcRegisterHandler(uint32_t rpc_context_id, RpcHandler_t handler);
// Then according to taste/style preferences some receive function which uses the registered information and dispatches to the handlers...
void RpcReceive();
void RpcBeginReceive();
void RpcEndReceive();
// maybe some sending, too...
void RpcSend(uint32_t rpc_context_id, const RpcMessage_t * message);
int main(int argc, const char * argv[])
{
RpcInit();
RpcRegisterHandler(42, [](const RpcMessage_t *message) { puts("message type 42 received."); });
RpcRegisterHandler(43, [](const RpcMessage_t *message) { puts("message type 43 received."); });
while (true)
{
RpcReceive();
}
RpcUninit();
return 0;
}
And if RpcMessage then is traded, while packed in a std::shared_ptr, you can even have multiple handlers or do some forwarding (to other threads) of the same message instance. This is one particularly annoying thing, which needs yet another "serializing" in the rpc approach. Here, you simply forward the message.

Bad practice to call static function from external file via function pointer?

Consider the following code:
file_1.hpp:
typedef void (*func_ptr)(void);
func_ptr file1_get_function(void);
file1.cpp:
// file_1.cpp
#include "file_1.hpp"
static void some_func(void)
{
do_stuff();
}
func_ptr file1_get_function(void)
{
return some_func;
}
file2.cpp
#include "file1.hpp"
void file2_func(void)
{
func_ptr function_pointer_to_file1 = file1_get_function();
function_pointer_to_file1();
}
While I believe the above example is technically possible - to call a function with internal linkage only via a function pointer, is it bad practice to do so? Could there be some funky compiler optimizations that take place (auto inline, for instance) that would make this situation problematic?
There's no problem, this is fine. In fact , IMHO, it is a good practice which lets your function be called without polluting the space of externally visible symbols.
It would also be appropriate to use this technique in the context of a function lookup table, e.g. a calculator which passes in a string representing an operator name, and expects back a function pointer to the function for doing that operation.
The compiler/linker isn't allowed to make optimizations which break correct code and this is correct code.
Historical note: back in C89, externally visible symbols had to be unique on the first 6 characters; this was relaxed in C99 and also commonly by compiler extension.
In order for this to work, you have to expose some portion of it as external and that's the clue most compilers will need.
Is there a chance that there's a broken compiler out there that will make mincemeat of this strange practice because they didn't foresee someone doing it? I can't answer that.
I can only think of false reasons to want to do this though: Finger print hiding, which fails because you have to expose it in the function pointer decl, unless you are planning to cast your way around things, in which case the question is "how badly is this going to hurt".
The other reason would be facading callbacks - you have some super-sensitive static local function in module m and you now want to expose the functionality in another module for callback purposes, but you want to audit that so you want a facade:
static void voodoo_function() {
}
fnptr get_voodoo_function(const char* file, int line) {
// you tagged the question as C++, so C++ io it is.
std::cout << "requested voodoo function from " << file << ":" << line << "\n";
return voodoo_function;
}
...
// question tagged as c++, so I'm using c++ syntax
auto* fn = get_voodoo_function(__FILE__, __LINE__);
but that's not really helping much, you really want a wrapper around execution of the function.
At the end of the day, there is a much simpler way to expose a function pointer. Provide an accessor function.
static void voodoo_function() {}
void do_voodoo_function() {
// provide external access to voodoo
voodoo_function();
}
Because here you provide the compiler with an optimization opportunity - when you link, if you specify whole program optimization, it can detect that this is a facade that it can eliminate, because you let it worry about function pointers.
But is there a really compelling reason not just to remove the static from infront of voodoo_function other than not exposing the internal name for it? And if so, why is the internal name so precious that you would go to these lengths to hide that?
static void ban_account_if_user_is_ugly() {
...;
}
fnptr do_that_thing() {
ban_account_if_user_is_ugly();
}
vs
void do_that_thing() { // ban account if user is ugly
...
}
--- EDIT ---
Conversion. Your function pointer is int(*)(int) but your static function is unsigned int(*)(unsigned int) and you don't want to have to cast it.
Again: Just providing a facade function would solve the problem, and it will transform into a function pointer later. Converting it to a function pointer by hand can only be a stumbling block for the compiler's whole program optimization.
But if you're casting, lets consider this:
// v1
fnptr get_fn_ptr() {
// brute force cast because otherwise it's 'hassle'
return (fnptr)(static_fn);
}
int facade_fn(int i) {
auto ui = static_cast<unsigned int>(i);
auto result = static_fn(ui);
return static_cast<int>(result);
}
Ok unsigned to signed, not a big deal. And then someone comes along and changes what fnptr needs to be to void(int, float);. One of the above becomes a weird runtime crash and one becomes a compile error.

Trying to figure out an alternative method for switch statements

I am currently trying to figure out an alternative method for switch statements as the program I have the switch statements are getting really long and confusing. Therefore I thought it would be a good idea to use array of pointers to functions. I am using c++ and qt. But when I try and implement, I am getting the following error.
cannot convert 'CheckPl::comA' from type 'void (CheckPl::)()' to type 'void (*)()'
It would be much appreciated if someone would help me out with this or at least point me to correct direction.
[...] alternative method for switch statements as the program I have the switch statements are getting really long and confusing.
Extract each case block into a separate function; This way, the switch changes from a 10km long function to a dispatch function:
void dispatch_function()
{
switch(x)
{
case 1: do_case_1(); break;
...
case n: do_case_n(); break;
}
}
Therefore I thought it would be a good idea to use array of pointers to functions.
It's not a good idea (especially, not in the way you went about it - you are solving the xy problem). In C++, when you have a requirement for multiple functions that are called in similar conditions, you have the requirements for an abstract interface.
Your resulting client code should look like this:
std::vector<handlers> handlers; // filled with handler instances, one for each case
for(const auto& h: handlers) // replaces switch
if(h.fits_case(x)) // replaces case statement
{
h.do_case(x); // replaces case block
break;
}
It follows that your handler classes should inherit from a base class like this:
class handler_base
{
virtual bool fits_case(int x) = 0;
virtual void do_case(int x) = 0;
}
This is easy to understand (in both implementation and client code), it is modular, testable (you can test each case separately) and extensible (if you need a new case you only add the case and add it to the vector); It also doesn't use any pointers.
A pointer to a member function has to be stored in a variable of the appropriate type. A pointer to a member function is not compatible with a pointer to a function.
void (CheckPl::*mptr)() = &CheckPl::comA;
A pointer to a member function requires an instance to an object for invocation.
CheckPl c;
CheckPl *cp = &c;
(c.*mptr)();
(cp->*mptr)();
The hardest thing to remember about the above syntax is that the extra set of parentheses is required.

C++ std::string and NULL const char*

I am working in C++ with two large pieces of code, one done in "C style" and one in "C++ style".
The C-type code has functions that return const char* and the C++ code has in numerous places things like
const char* somecstylefunction();
...
std::string imacppstring = somecstylefunction();
where it is constructing the string from a const char* returned by the C style code.
This worked until the C style code changed and started returning NULL pointers sometimes. This of course causes seg faults.
There is a lot of code around and so I would like to most parsimonious way fix to this problem. The expected behavior is that imacppstring would be the empty string in this case. Is there a nice, slick solution to this?
Update
The const char* returned by these functions are always pointers to static strings. They were used mostly to pass informative messages (destined for logging most likely) about any unexpected behavior in the function. It was decided that having these return NULL on "nothing to report" was nice, because then you could use the return value as a conditional, i.e.
if (somecstylefunction()) do_something;
whereas before the functions returned the static string "";
Whether this was a good idea, I'm not going to touch this code and it's not up to me anyway.
What I wanted to avoid was tracking down every string initialization to add a wrapper function.
Probably the best thing to do is to fix the C library functions to their pre-breaking change behavior. but maybe you don't have control over that library.
The second thing to consider is to change all the instances where you're depending on the C lib functions returning an empty string to use a wrapper function that'll 'fix up' the NULL pointers:
const char* nullToEmpty( char const* s)
{
return (s ? s : "");
}
So now
std::string imacppstring = somecstylefunction();
might look like:
std::string imacppstring( nullToEmpty( somecstylefunction());
If that's unacceptable (it might be a lot of busy work, but it should be a one-time mechanical change), you could implement a 'parallel' library that has the same names as the C lib you're currently using, with those functions simply calling the original C lib functions and fixing the NULL pointers as appropriate. You'd need to play some tricky games with headers, the linker, and/or C++ namespaces to get this to work, and this has a huge potential for causing confusion down the road, so I'd think hard before going down that road.
But something like the following might get you started:
// .h file for a C++ wrapper for the C Lib
namespace clib_fixer {
const char* somecstylefunction();
}
// .cpp file for a C++ wrapper for the C Lib
namespace clib_fixer {
const char* somecstylefunction() {
const char* p = ::somecstylefunction();
return (p ? p : "");
}
}
Now you just have to add that header to the .cpp files that are currently calling calling the C lib functions (and probably remove the header for the C lib) and add a
using namespace clib_fixer;
to the .cpp file using those functions.
That might not be too bad. Maybe.
Well, without changing every place where a C++ std::string is initialized directly from a C function call (to add the null-pointer check), the only solution would be to prohibit your C functions from returning null pointers.
In GCC compiler, you can use a compiler extension "Conditionals with Omitted Operands" to create a wrapper macro for your C function
#define somecstylefunction() (somecstylefunction() ? : "")
but in general case I would advise against that.
I suppose you could just add a wrapper function which tests for NULL, and returns an empty std::string. But more importantly, why are your C functions now returning NULL? What does a NULL pointer indicate? If it indicates a serious error, you might want your wrapper function to throw an exception.
Or to be safe, you could just check for NULL, handle the NULL case, and only then construct an std::string.
const char* s = somecstylefunction();
if (!s) explode();
std::string str(s);
For a portable solution:
(a) define your own string type. The biggest part is a search and replace over the entire project - that can be simple if it's always std::string, or big one-time pain. (I'd make the sole requriement that it's Liskov-substitutable for a std::string, but also constructs an empty string from an null char *.
The easiest implementation is inheriting publicly from std::string. Even though that's frowned upon (for understandable reasons), it would be ok in this case, and also help with 3rd party libraries expecting a std::string, as well as debug tools. Alternatively, aggegate and forward - yuck.
(b) #define std::string to be your own string type. Risky, not recommended. I wouldn't do it unless I knew the codebases involved very well and saves you tons of work (and I'd add some disclaimers to protect the remains of my reputation ;))
(c) I've worked around a few such cases by re-#define'ing the offensive type to some utility class only for the purpose of the include (so the #define is much more limited in scope). However, I have no idea how to do that for a char *.
(d) Write an import wrapper. If the C library headers have a rather regular layout, and/or you know someone who has some experience parsing C++ code, you might be able to generate a "wrapper header".
(e) ask the library owner to make the "Null string" value configurable at least at compile time. (An acceptable request since switching to 0 can break compatibility as well in other scenarios) You might even offer to submit the change yourself if that's less work for you!
You could wrap all your calls to C-stlye functions in something like this...
std::string makeCppString(const char* cStr)
{
return cStr ? std::string(cStr) : std::string("");
}
Then wherever you have:
std::string imacppstring = somecstylefunction();
replace it with:
std::string imacppstring = makeCppString( somecystylefunction() );
Of course, this assumes that constructing an empty string is acceptable behavior when your function returns NULL.
I don't generally advocate subclassing standard containers, but in this case it might work.
class mystring : public std::string
{
// ... appropriate constructors are an exercise left to the reader
mystring & operator=(const char * right)
{
if (right == NULL)
{
clear();
}
else
{
std::string::operator=(right); // I think this works, didn't check it...
}
return *this;
}
};
Something like this should fix your problem.
const char *cString;
std::string imacppstring;
cString = somecstylefunction();
if (cString == NULL) {
imacppstring = "";
} else {
imacppstring = cString;
}
If you want, you could stick the error checking logic in its own function. You'd have to put this code block in fewer places, then.