Enforcing Compile-time Constraints

Enforcing Compile-time Constraints

eneric containers and algorithms often impose certain restrictions on the objects that they manipulate. For example, the std::sort() algorithm requires that the elements on which it operates shall define the < operator. Enforcing this constraint is easy: the compiler tries to invoke this operator for the given type. If such an operator doesn't exist, you get a compilation error:

#include struct S{}; //doesn't define operator 

However, not all constraints can be expressed and enforced that easily. More abstract constraints such as "must have a base class" or "must be a POD type" require more code maneuvers and resourcefulness from the programmer. The following sections will demonstrate how to implement such constraints in a generic fashion.


How can you enforce compile-time constraints on objects in a generic fashion?


Use "constraint templates" to automate the enforcement of compile-time constraints.

Presenting the Problem
Suppose your app needs to interface with a non-C++ module written in C or SQL. To do so, you need to ensure that all objects passed to the non-C++ module have POD types. Alas, the definition of a POD type is rather evasive:

struct S1 { int x;};  class S2 { public: void func(); };  union S3 { struct { int x, y; } t; char c[4];};struct S4 : S1, S2 {}; 

The above are all POD types. However, the following aren't:

struct C1 {  virtual void func(); //has a virtual function};  struct C2 {  struct T{ int x, y; };  ~C2(); //has a destructor};  struct C3 : virtual S1 {} ; //has a virtual base class

Several programming idioms rely on the distinction between POD and non-POD types. The standard macro offsetof() (defined in ) is an example. The following expression:

size_t nbytes = offsetof (S, mem);

returns the offset in bytes of the member mem. According to the C++ standard, S must be a POD class, struct, or union. Otherwise, the results are undefined. Your task is therefore to write a constraint that automatically distinguishes between POD and non-POD types at compile-time. When the "must be POD type" constraint is violated, the compiler should issue an intelligible error message.

Implementing a Constraint
A constraint is essentially an expression or declaration within a member function of a class template. When the constraint is violated, the said expression triggers a compilation error. The challenging part is to find the right compile-time expression(s) that will fire when the constraint is violated. Familiarity with the C++ standard certainly wouldn't hurt here. Fortunately, the standard states in clause 9.5 that a non-POD object shall not be a member of a union. Eureka! Take advantage of this restriction by creating a union whose sole member is the object you want to test:

template  struct POD_test{ POD_test() {  union   {   T t; //T must be a POD type  } u; }};

Compilers generate code only for member functions that are actually called, either implicitly or explicitly. Therefore, implementing the constraint inside the constructor or destructor of a class template will guarantee its compile-time evaluation in every instance (later we will see how to improve this design).

To test the code, instantiate as many specializations as you like using diverse template arguments:

//the following three pass compilationPOD_test  pi;POD_test  ps1;POD_test  ps4;//these ones failPOD_test  pstr;POD_test  pc1;POD_test  pc2;

As expected, the compiler issues error messages for the last three instances because their template arguments aren't POD objects.

Design Improvements
Does a constraint incur runtime and space overhead? If it's checked at compile-time, you certainly don't want it to remain in the executable. Modern IDEs are clever enough to optimize away code that isn't needed in the executable. To help the compiler out, move the constraint into a separate static member function constraints() (or any other name you like). Remember to declare this member private so that other clients can't call it:

template  struct POD_test{ POD_test(){constraints();} //forces compile-time                             //evaluation private: static void constraints() {  union{ T t;} u; }};

At Your Beck And Call
Notice that constraints() actually does nothing; it only declares a local union. Since the union isn't used, the compiler may elide the constraints() call in the constructor, thereby avoiding its overhead.

"must be POD" is only one example of the numerous constraints you can enforce. Another common constraint is "must be T." Implementing this constraint is almost trivial:

//checks whether T1 is-a T2template  struct is_a_T2{ is_a_T2() {constraints();} static void constraints() {  T1 t1;  T2& ref=t1; //error if t1 is not a T2 }};

This constraint may be useful for example in MFC-style frameworks where all classes must be derived from a common base class. Let's test it:

is_a_T2  t1; //ok, C3 is-a S1is_a_T2  t2; //okis_a_T2  t3; //erroris_a_T2  t4; //error is_a_T2  t5; //error

Here's another constraint: "must be an integral type." This one is also easy and can be implemented in many ways. One technique uses the object as an array's index. Since C++ requires that indexes shall be integral types, using any other type will cause a compilation error. I leave the implementation as an exercise to the reader.

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