Switch template type - c++

Question

I want to make some storage for my game. Now the code looks like:
class WorldSettings
{
private:
std::map<std::string, int> mIntegerStorage;
std::map<std::string, float> mFloatStorage;
std::map<std::string, std::string> mStringStorage;
public:
template <typename T>
T Get(const std::string &key) const
{
// [?]
}
};
So, I have a few associative containers which stores the exact type of data. Now I want to add into settings some value: settings.Push<int>("WorldSize", 1000); and get it: settings.Get<int>("WorldSize");. But how to switch need map due to passed type into template?
Or, maybe, you know a better way, thanks.

Answer 1

If your compiler supports this1, you can use template function specialisations:
class WorldSettings
{
private:
std::map<std::string, int> mIntegerStorage;
std::map<std::string, float> mFloatStorage;
std::map<std::string, std::string> mStringStorage;
public:
template <typename T>
T Get(const std::string &key); // purposely left undefined
};
...
template<>
int WorldSettings::Get<int>(const std::string& key) {
return mIntegerStorage[key];
}
template<>
float WorldSettings::Get<float>(const std::string& key) {
return mFloatStorage[key];
}
// etc
Notice that the methods are not const because map<>::operator[] is not const.
Also, if someone tries to use the template with a type other than one you have provided a specialisation for, they will get linker errors, so your code won't misbehave or anything. Which is optimal.
1 If not, see #gwiazdorrr's answer

Answer 2

First of all, since prior to C++11 you can't specialise functions, your member functions must differ in signature - return type does not count. From my experience on some compilers you can do without it, but as usual - you should keep your code as close to standard as possible.
That said you can add a dummy paramater that won't affect performance and the way you call function:
public:
template <typename T>
T Get(const std::string &key) const
{
return GetInner(key, (T*)0);
}
private:
int GetInner(const std::string& key, int*) const
{
// return something from mIntegerStorage
}
float GetInner(const std::string& key, float*) const
{
// return something from mFloatStorage
}
And so on. You get the idea.

Answer 3

Seth's answer is ideal, but if you don't have access to a C++11 compiler, then you can use template class specialization and do this instead. It's much more verbose, but keeps the same functionality.
class WorldSettings
{
template<class T>
struct Selector;
template<class T>
friend struct Selector;
private:
std::map<std::string, int> mIntegerStorage;
std::map<std::string, float> mFloatStorage;
std::map<std::string, std::string> mStringStorage;
public:
template <typename T>
T Get(const std::string &key)
{
return Selector<T>::Get(*this)[key];
}
};
template<>
struct WorldSettings::Selector<int>
{
static std::map<std::string, int> & Get(WorldSettings &settings)
{
return settings.mIntegerStorage;
}
};
template<>
struct WorldSettings::Selector<float>
{
static std::map<std::string, float> & Get(WorldSettings &settings)
{
return settings.mFloatStorage;
}
};
// etc.

Answer 4

In C++03 I would recommend the use of ‘boost::any‘ in the type of the container, and the. You need a single accessor:
std::map<std::string,boost::any> storage;
template <typename T> getValue( std::string const & key ) {
return boost::any_cast<T>( storage[key] );
}
This is a rough sketch, as a member function It would be const, and it should use ‘map::find‘ not to modify the container when searching, it should deal with invalid joeys, and probably remap the boost exceptions into your own application exceptions.