Topic: Switching on user-defined types
Author: rick@longbowgames.com
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:31:17 -0800 (PST)
Raw View
------=_Part_46_25989840.1354127477426
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Breaking off from the safe switch discussion, I've been thinking about how
one would design a feature to allow switching on user defined types. This
is a pretty common stumbling block for new users when they try to switch on
strings:
string s = "eenie";
switch(s)
{
case "eenie":
cout << "catch a" << endl;
break;
case "meenie":
cout << "tiger" << endl;
break;
case "minie":
cout << "by the" << endl;
break;
case "moe":
cout << "toe" << endl;
break;
}
That obviously doesn't work right now, but it's one of those examples where
adding a new feature makes the language simpler.
If C++ were to support switching on user-defined types, the naive solution
would be to unwind it into an if/else block, like so:
if(s == "eenie")
cout << "catch a" << endl;
else if(s == "meenie")
cout << "tiger" << endl;
else if(s == "minie")
cout << "by the" << endl;
else if(s == "moe")
cout << "toe" << endl;
That only relies on operator==, so it would be very easily defined, but it
ignores the other benefit of a switch, which is that switches offer an
optimization hint to the compiler. In particular, the naive solution is
slower than searching a std::map, which is a shame when you have full
knowledge of what strings you expect.
Doing a binary search would certainly be more optimal, and the unwound code
would look something like this:
if(s < "meenie")
{
if(s < "eenie")
{
// Do nothing
}
else if("eenie" < s)
{
// Do nothing
}
else
{
cout << "catch a" << endl;
}
}
else if("meenie" < s)
{
if(s < "moe")
{
if(s < "minie")
{
// Do nothing
}
else if("minie" < s)
{
// Do nothing
}
else
{
cout << "by the" << endl;
}
}
else if("moe" < s)
{
// Do nothing
}
else
{
cout << "toe" << end;
}
}
else
{
cout << "tiger" << endl;
}
This puts a bit more weight on the library writer, since now you need at
least three comparison operators:
template <>
constexpr bool case_compare<string>(const char* left, const char* right)
{
return *left < *right
? true
: *left > *right
? false
: *left == '\0'
? false
: case_compare<string>(left+1, right+1);
}
bool operator<(const string& left, const char* right)
{
return left < string(right);
}
bool operator<(const char* left, const string& right)
{
return string(left) < right;
}
Notice that the first one is a constexpr; that's because the compiler needs
to be able to sort the string literals at compile-time. The latter two
functions are necessary for doing the runtime comparisons.
The reason three comparison operators are necessary is because we're
comparing a std::string against a list of char*s. If we were working with
POD types and comparing them against the same type, I believe one constexpr
would be enough.
That's fairly optimal, and generic enough to work on just about any type,
or to allow the user to use things like using hash values. But it's still
not the most optimal way to compare against a known-list of strings. You
could do it in a single pass, like so:
char* c = s.c_str();
if(*c < 'm')
{
if(strcmp(c, "eenie") == 0)
{
cout << "catch a" << endl;
}
}
else if('m' < *c)
{
// Do nothing
}
else
{
++c;
if(*c < 'i')
{
if(strcmp(c, "eenie") == 0)
{
cout << "tiger" << endl;
}
}
else if('i' < *c)
{
if(strcmp(c, "oe") == 0)
{
cout << "toe" << endl;
}
}
else
{
if(strcmp(c, "inie") == 0)
{
cout << "by the" << endl;
}
}
}
Unfortunately, that requires a lot of internal knowledge of the data
structure, so I'm not sure how to make that generic.
It's also plausible that some user-defined types can be mapped to a small
range of numbers, in which case a traditional branch table would be the
most efficient solution, and the comparison solution (code block 3)
wouldn't support that very well either.
Thoughts?
--
------=_Part_46_25989840.1354127477426
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Breaking off from the safe switch discussion, I've been thinking about how =
one would design a feature to allow switching on user defined types. This i=
s a pretty common stumbling block for new users when they try to switch on =
strings:<br><br><div class=3D"prettyprint" style=3D"background-color: rgb(2=
50, 250, 250); border-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-style: solid; borde=
r-width: 1px; word-wrap: break-word;"><code class=3D"prettyprint"><div clas=
s=3D"subprettyprint"><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">string</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=
s </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span =
style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"eenie"</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br><br></span><span style=3D"color=
: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">switch</span><span style=3D"color: #6=
60;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify">s</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
>{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>&nbs=
p; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify">case</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pr=
ettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"=
eenie"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">:</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &n=
bsp; cout </span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"catch a"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify"><br> </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">break</span><span st=
yle=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </=
span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">case</span><=
span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"meenie"</span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">:</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>  =
; cout </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify">"tiger"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><&=
lt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</=
span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">break</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"color:=
#008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">case</span><span style=3D"color: #000;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">"minie"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">:</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"><br> cou=
t </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<=
</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><s=
pan style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"by the"</span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #00=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-pr=
ettify">break</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>&n=
bsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">case</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
>"moe"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">:</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &n=
bsp; cout </span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"toe"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"sty=
led-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
><br> </span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">break</span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span></div></code></div><br>That obviously do=
esn't work right now, but it's one of those examples where adding a new fea=
ture makes the language simpler.<br><br>If C++ were to support switching on=
user-defined types, the naive solution would be to unwind it into an if/el=
se block, like so:<br><br><div class=3D"prettyprint" style=3D"background-co=
lor: rgb(250, 250, 250); border-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-style: so=
lid; border-width: 1px; word-wrap: break-word;"><code class=3D"prettyprint"=
><div class=3D"subprettyprint"><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">s <=
/span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"eenie"</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> cout=
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<<=
/span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"catch a"</span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #00=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">s </s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</span>=
<span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"meenie"</span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> cout =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</=
span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"tiger"</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #=
660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</=
span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">s </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"minie"</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> cout </span><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"by the"</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color=
: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: =
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">s </span><span=
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"col=
or: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"moe"</span><span style=3D"color: #=
660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> cout </span><span=
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"toe"</span><span style=3D"color:=
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"><br></span></div></code></div><br>That only relies on operator=
=3D=3D, so it would be very easily defined, but it ignores the other benefi=
t of a switch, which is that switches offer an optimization hint to the com=
piler. In particular, the naive solution is slower than searching a std::ma=
p, which is a shame when you have full knowledge of what strings you expect=
..<br><br>Doing a binary search would certainly be more optimal, and the unw=
ound code would look something like this:<br><br><div class=3D"prettyprint"=
style=3D"background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); border-color: rgb(187, 187,=
187); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; word-wrap: break-word;"><cod=
e class=3D"prettyprint"><div class=3D"subprettyprint"><span style=3D"color:=
#008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">s </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"me=
enie"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">s </span><span style=3D=
"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"eenie"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"sty=
led-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify">// Do nothing</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pr=
ettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"=
color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color:=
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify">"eenie"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pr=
ettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&=
lt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> s</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{<=
/span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">// Do nothing</span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> <=
/span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &n=
bsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>=
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify"><br> cout <=
/span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span=
style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"catch a"</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: =
#660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #6=
60;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"meenie"</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> s</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"color:=
#008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">s </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"mo=
e"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span>=
<span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>=
</span><span style=
=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">s </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify">"minie"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br=
> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>  =
; </span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">// Do nothing</span><span style=3D=
"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"><br> </spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #080;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"minie"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"> s</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>&=
nbsp; </span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>  =
; </span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">// Do nothing</span><span style=3D=
"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"><br> </spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify"><br> &n=
bsp; cout </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"sty=
led-by-prettify">"by the"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;=
</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><span=
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D=
"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #0=
80;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"moe"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify"> s</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br=
> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"><br> </spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">// Do nothing</=
span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &=
nbsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
><br> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"col=
or: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>  =
; cout </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=
"toe"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span=
><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span st=
yle=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">end</span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #0=
00;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><s=
pan style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify"><br> cout </span><span style=3D"color: #660=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">"tiger"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span=
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span></div></cod=
e></div><br>This puts a bit more weight on the library writer, since now yo=
u need at least three comparison operators:<br><br><div class=3D"prettyprin=
t" style=3D"background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); border-color: rgb(187, 18=
7, 187); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; word-wrap: break-word;"><c=
ode class=3D"prettyprint"><div class=3D"subprettyprint"><span style=3D"colo=
r: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">template</span><span style=3D"color:=
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><></span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">constexpr</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify">bool</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"> case_compare</span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify"><string></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">const</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </=
span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">char</span><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> left</span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span style=3D"color: #0=
00;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify">const</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify">char</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> rig=
ht</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span>=
<span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span =
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"=
color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">return</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span =
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"=
color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">left </span><span style=3D"color=
: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify">right<br> &n=
bsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">?</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span =
style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">true</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">:</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">lef=
t </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">></sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span =
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"=
color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">right<br> &n=
bsp; </span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">?</span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #00=
8;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">false</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &=
nbsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">:</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">left </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
>=3D=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </=
span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">'\0'</span><=
span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
 =
; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify">?</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">false=
</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
&nbs=
p; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">:</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify"> case_compare</span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"><string></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify">left</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">+</span><span style=3D"color: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">1</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> right</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">+</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">1</span><span style=3D"color: #660;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">);</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify"><br><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify">bool</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">operator=
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><(</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">const</span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">string</span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> left</span><span style=3D"color: #66=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify">const</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
>char</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> right</span><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #00=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">return</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> left </span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">string</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">right</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify">);</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=
}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br><br><=
/span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">bool</span>=
<span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">operator</span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><(</span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">const</span><span style=3D"color:=
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify">char</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"> left</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify">,</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">const</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span=
style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">string</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&</span><span style=3D=
"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> right</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"color=
: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">return</span><span style=3D"color: #0=
00;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify">string</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify">left</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </=
span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><=
span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> right</span><span=
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D=
"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color=
: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span></div></code></div><br>Notice that =
the first one is a constexpr; that's because the compiler needs to be able =
to sort the string literals at compile-time. The latter two functions are n=
ecessary for doing the runtime comparisons.<br><br>The reason three compari=
son operators are necessary is because we're comparing a std::string agains=
t a list of char*s. If we were working with POD types and comparing them ag=
ainst the same type, I believe one constexpr would be enough.<br><br>That's=
fairly optimal, and generic enough to work on just about any type, or to a=
llow the user to use things like using hash values. But it's still not the =
most optimal way to compare against a known-list of strings. You could do i=
t in a single pass, like so:<br><br><div class=3D"prettyprint" style=3D"bac=
kground-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); border-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border=
-style: solid; border-width: 1px; word-wrap: break-word;"><code class=3D"pr=
ettyprint"><div class=3D"subprettyprint"><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">char</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify"> c </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> s</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">.</span><span=
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">c_str</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">();</span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br><br></span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">c </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
>'m'</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">strcmp</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">c</span><span style=3D"color: #660;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify">"eenie"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span=
style=3D"color: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">0</span><span style=3D=
"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #=
000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &n=
bsp; cout </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"sty=
led-by-prettify">"catch a"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=
;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}<=
/span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span>=
<span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"=
color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #=
660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #080;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify">'m'</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">c</span><span =
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"=
color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color:=
#660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><span st=
yle=3D"color: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">// Do nothing</span><span=
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"color: #66=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">++</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify">c</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify"><br> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">(*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify">c </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prett=
ify"><</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">'i'</span>=
<span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &=
nbsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &n=
bsp; </span><span style=3D"color:=
#008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">strcmp</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify">c</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,<=
/span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"eenie"</span><span =
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"=
color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #6=
60;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #066;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">0</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y"><br> </span><span=
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D=
"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
cout </span><span =
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span st=
yle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"tiger"</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><s=
pan style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &=
nbsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>&n=
bsp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
>if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span=
><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">'i'</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><</span><span style=3D"color:=
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">c</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
><br> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">strcmp</span><span style=3D=
"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #=
000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">c</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"sty=
led-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-pr=
ettify">"oe"</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span=
><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=
=3D"color: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">0</span><span style=3D"color=
: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>&=
nbsp; =
cout </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"=
> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"toe"</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span=
style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>  =
; </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy"><br> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" cla=
ss=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"sty=
led-by-prettify"><br> </span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">else</span><span style=3D"color: #00=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> &nb=
sp; </span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">if</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify">strcmp</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y">(</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">c</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span s=
tyle=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #080;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">"inie"</span><span style=3D"color=
: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">=3D=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify">0</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">)<=
/span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;"=
class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> =
cout </span><span style=3D"color=
: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: =
#000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify">"by the"</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"><<</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled=
-by-prettify"> endl</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-p=
rettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">=
<br> </span><span st=
yle=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br> </=
span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><spa=
n style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span></div></code></div><br>Un=
fortunately, that requires a lot of internal knowledge of the data structur=
e, so I'm not sure how to make that generic.<br><br>It's also plausible tha=
t some user-defined types can be mapped to a small range of numbers, in whi=
ch case a traditional branch table would be the most efficient solution, an=
d the comparison solution (code block 3) wouldn't support that very well ei=
ther.<br><br>Thoughts?<br>
<p></p>
-- <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
------=_Part_46_25989840.1354127477426--
.
Author: Ville Voutilainen <ville.voutilainen@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:37:51 +0200
Raw View
On 28 November 2012 20:31, <rick@longbowgames.com> wrote:
> Breaking off from the safe switch discussion, I've been thinking about how
> one would design a feature to allow switching on user defined types. This is
> Thoughts?
You can experiment with library implementations of such things with
variadic templates
and lambdas. That is, for a switch, it's a variadic function template that takes
1) the value to switch on
2.1) the value to compare for a case
2.2) a functor (can be a lambda to allow writing it immediately) to
run if a case matches
From that point, adding a language feature can be done if there's a
sufficient amount of
necessary syntactic sugar that you can't achieve with a library. The
library parts that
you mentioned can be tried out with such an approach, and the possible language
parts can be sufficiently emulated with the approach.
I recommend people at least try that approach before wanting to add
language features.
I've done it myself with a "super_case" that just requires operator==
and can switch on any
type that has it.
--
.
Author: rick@longbowgames.com
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:34:37 -0800 (PST)
Raw View
------=_Part_42_6497243.1354131277672
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
With due respect, making switch aware of operator== is not what the post
was about. We could do that. It would be trivial.
The bulk of the post was brainstorming how you could go *beyond* such a
naive solution and take advantage of the fact that the values you're
comparing against are known at compile time.
Switches normally use branch tables as an optimization. Those (usually)
wouldn't make sense for user-defined types, but something like a
compile-time generated binary tree could work, and that's well beyond what
a library-based solution could achieve on its own.
--
------=_Part_42_6497243.1354131277672
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
With due respect, making <span style=3D"font-family: courier new,monospace;=
">switch</span> aware of <span style=3D"font-family: courier new,monospace;=
">operator=3D=3D</span> is not what the post was about. We could do that. I=
t would be trivial.<br><br>The bulk of the post was brainstorming how you c=
ould go <i>beyond</i> such a naive solution and take advantage of the fact =
that the values you're comparing against are known at compile time.<br><br>=
Switches normally use branch tables as an optimization. Those (usually) wou=
ldn't make sense for user-defined types, but something like a compile-time =
generated binary tree could work, and that's well beyond what a library-bas=
ed solution could achieve on its own.<br>
<p></p>
-- <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
------=_Part_42_6497243.1354131277672--
.
Author: Ville Voutilainen <ville.voutilainen@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:40:15 +0200
Raw View
On 28 November 2012 21:34, <rick@longbowgames.com> wrote:
> Switches normally use branch tables as an optimization. Those (usually)
> wouldn't make sense for user-defined types, but something like a
> compile-time generated binary tree could work, and that's well beyond what a
> library-based solution could achieve on its own.
Well, I guess you could have an associative container where the value
is computed
from a key at compile time. Such things exist in Boost::MPL, so
there's a starting point.
--
.