How to count number of macro execution? - c++

Question

I have two macros that declares class properties:
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_LONG(name)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_STRING(name)
I want to count number of calls of this macros inside of my class and init
static const size_t paramsCount
with that number like this:
class MyClass {
...
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_LONG(param1)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_STRING(param2)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_STRING(param3)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_LONG(param4)
static const size_t paramsCount = PARAMS_COUNT; // 4 in this case
...
};
Is this ever possible?

Answer 1

There would be a solution, rather complicated:
All your parameters will have a fixed name (say param)
You need to create one header file per type
You shall need boost
So here is the header creation file:
// file declare_int.h
#include BOOST_PP_UPDATE_COUNTER()
int stringize(param,BOOST_PP_COUNTER) ;
and the class file:
//file declare_auto.cpp
#include <boost/preprocessor/slot/counter.hpp>
#define _stringize(a,b) a##b
#define stringize(a,b) _stringize(a,b)
// reset counter
#if defined(BOOST_PP_COUNTER)
#undef BOOST_PP_COUNTER
#endif
class A {
public:
#include "declare_int.h"
#include "declare_int.h"
#include "declare_int.h"
#include "declare_int.h"
static const int nbParams = BOOST_PP_COUNTER ;
};
and finally the output of:
g++ -E -P -c declare_auto.cpp -IPATH_TO_BOOST
is
class A {
public:
int param1 ;
int param2 ;
int param3 ;
int param4 ;
static const int nbParams = 4 ;
};

Answer 2

You can at least count number of lines in the following way:
class MyClass
{
static const int line_1 = __LINE__;
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_LONG(param1)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_STRING(param2)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_STRING(param3)
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAM_LONG(param4)
static const int line_2 = __LINE__;
static const int macro_calls = line_2 - line_1 - 1;
public:
MyClass()
{
cout << macro_calls << endl;
}
};
But I think you'll need C++11 to do that. And You cannot have empty lines within those two __LINE__s. Otherwise, you'll have to count those empty lines as well.

Answer 3

As such no.
What you are asking for would require some form of introspection, which is not natively supported by C++.
You can improve the macro though, if you had:
DECLARE_QUERY_PARAMS(((LONG , param1))
((STRING, param2))
((STRING, param3))
((LONG , param4)))
then you could do what you want.
You can have a look at Boost.Preprocessor to learn how to obfuscate your sources this way.
Note: this uses a Sequence, in boost parlance.

Answer 4

I don't think there's a standard way to do this, but the DevStudio compiler has this preprocessor macro:
__COUNTER__
Expands to an integer starting with 0 and incrementing by 1 every time it is used in a compiland. __COUNTER__ remembers its state when using precompiled headers. If the last __COUNTER__ value was 4 after building a precompiled header (PCH), it will start with 5 on each PCH use.
__COUNTER__ lets you generate unique variable names. You can use token pasting with a prefix to make a unique name. For example:
// pre_mac_counter.cpp
#include <stdio.h>
#define FUNC2(x,y) x##y
#define FUNC1(x,y) FUNC2(x,y)
#define FUNC(x) FUNC1(x,__COUNTER__)
int FUNC(my_unique_prefix);
int FUNC(my_unique_prefix);

Answer 5

No. Macro's don't respect scope at all, and don't understand that they're inside a class.

Answer 6

No. Macros aren't executed, they're expanded and not even by compiler, but by preprocessor.