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There has been some discussion of adding reflection to C++, with the main
arguments in opposition being that 1) it would take a lot of effort to do
so, and 2) template metaprogramming can be used in place of reflection in
most cases. Both of these things are true, however template metaprogramming
still has shortcomings. I propose that most of the shortcomings in template
metaprogramming can be overcome if there were a method to convert a class
or structure into a tuple that contained copies of all member variables.
For example:

template<typename T> /*tuple whose parameters depend on input type*/ Unpack(
const T& input);

struct A{
const char* msg;
int num;
};
struct B{
int num2;
A* ptr;
};

struct AB{
A a;
B b;
};
struct Tree{
Tree* t1;
Tree* t2;
double val;
};
#include <tuple>
#include <iostream>
int main(){
A a{"Hello world", 20};
B b{42, &a};
AB ab{a, b};
Tree t{0, 0, 13};
int pod_integer = 57;
tuple<const char*, int> tup = Unpack(a);
tuple<int, A*> tup2 = Unpack(b);
tuple<A, B> tup3 = Unpack(ab);
tuple<Tree*, Tree*, double> tup4 = Unpack(t);
tuple<int> tup5 = Unpack(pod_integer); //Plain old data types unpack into
themselves
tuple<int, const char*> tup6 = Unpack(std::make_tuple(10, "Short arbitrary
message"));//Tuples unpack into themselves
}


This feature could be used in combination with heavy template
meta-programming to implement methods of serializing data, etc, or to
create maps of pointers and references to create deep copies of objects
(say, to move data from one node of a supercomputer to another node)

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<div dir=3D"ltr">There has been some discussion of adding reflection to C++=
, with the main arguments in opposition being that 1) it would take a lot o=
f effort to do so, and 2) template metaprogramming can be used in place of =
reflection in most cases. Both of these things are true, however template m=
etaprogramming still has shortcomings. I propose that most of the shortcomi=
ngs in template metaprogramming can be overcome if there were a method to c=
onvert a class or structure into a tuple that contained copies of all membe=
r variables. For example:<br><br><div class=3D"prettyprint" style=3D"backgr=
ound-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); border-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-st=
yle: solid; border-width: 1px; word-wrap: break-word;"><code class=3D"prett=
yprint"><div class=3D"subprettyprint"><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D=
"styled-by-prettify">template</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">&lt;</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify">typename</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify"> T</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y">&gt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </=
span><span style=3D"color: #800;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">/*tuple whos=
e parameters depend on input type*/</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">Unpack</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-b=
y-prettify">(</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettif=
y">const</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> T=
</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&amp;</spa=
n><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> input</span><s=
pan style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">);</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br><br></span><span style=
=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">struct</span><span style=3D"=
color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> A</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><div style=3D"margin-left: 40px;"><spa=
n style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">const</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"col=
or: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">char</span><span style=3D"color: #6=
60;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify"> msg</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify">;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">int</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> nu=
m</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><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">};</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"=
color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">struct</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> B</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 style=3D"margin-left: 40px;"><span =
style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">int</span><span style=
=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> num2</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>A</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify"> ptr</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></div><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">};</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>=
</span><br><code class=3D"prettyprint"><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">struct</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify"> AB</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><div style=3D"margin-left: 40px;"><span style=3D"color: #000=
;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">A a</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>B b</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></div><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pretti=
fy">};</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>=
</span></code><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">str=
uct</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span=
><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Tree</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 style=3D"margin=
-left: 40px;"><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Tre=
e</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><=
span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> t1</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: #=
606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Tree</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" =
class=3D"styled-by-prettify">*</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify"> t2</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: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">do=
uble</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> val</=
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></div><spa=
n 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">#include</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;"=
 class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&lt;tuple&gt;</span><span style=3D"color: #00=
0;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #800;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify">#include</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" clas=
s=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">&lt;iostream&gt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify">int</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify"> main</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><div style=3D"margin-left: 40px;"><span style=3D"color: #000;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify">A a</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"=
styled-by-prettify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #080;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify">&quot;Hello world&quot;</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: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">20</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">};=
</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>B b</s=
pan><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">{</span><span=
 style=3D"color: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">42</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">&amp;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">a</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"style=
d-by-prettify">};</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pre=
ttify"><br>AB ab</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">{</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">a</=
span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">, </span><sp=
an style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">b</span><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">};</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><span style=3D"color: #60=
6;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Tree</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" cl=
ass=3D"styled-by-prettify"> t</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"s=
tyled-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"> </span>=
<span style=3D"color: #066;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">0</span><span sty=
le=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span style=3D"col=
or: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #066;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">13</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">};</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify"><br>int pod_integer =3D 57;<br></span></div><div style=3D"m=
argin-left: 40px;"><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">tuple</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&lt=
;</span><span style=3D"color: #008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">const</sp=
an><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 style=3D"colo=
r: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #008;"=
 class=3D"styled-by-prettify">int</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=
=3D"styled-by-prettify">&gt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"st=
yled-by-prettify"> tup </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-=
by-prettify">=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify"> </span><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Unp=
ack</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span=
><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">a</span><span st=
yle=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">);</span><span style=3D"c=
olor: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>tuple</span><span style=3D"co=
lor: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&lt;</span><span style=3D"color: #=
008;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">int</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" c=
lass=3D"styled-by-prettify">,</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"s=
tyled-by-prettify"> A</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by=
-prettify">*&gt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify"> tup2 </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify=
">=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> </sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Unpack</span><=
span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span styl=
e=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">b</span><span style=3D"colo=
r: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">);</span><span style=3D"color: #000;=
" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>tuple&lt;A, B&gt; tup3 =3D Unpack(ab);<b=
r>tuple</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">&lt=
;</span><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Tree</spa=
n><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: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Tree</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">double</span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styl=
ed-by-prettify">&gt;</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-=
prettify"> tup4 </span><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-pret=
tify">=3D</span><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"> =
</span><span style=3D"color: #606;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">Unpack</sp=
an><span style=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">(</span><span =
style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">t</span><span style=3D"=
color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">);</span><span style=3D"color: #=
000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br>tuple&lt;int&gt; tup5 =3D Unpack(pod=
_integer); //Plain old data types unpack into themselves<br>tuple&lt;int, c=
onst char*&gt; tup6 =3D Unpack(std::make_tuple(10, &quot;Short arbitrary me=
ssage&quot;));//Tuples unpack into themselves<br></span></div><span style=
=3D"color: #660;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify">}</span><span style=3D"color=
: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></span><div style=3D"margin-left:=
 40px;"><span style=3D"color: #000;" class=3D"styled-by-prettify"><br></spa=
n></div></div></code></div><br>This feature could be used in combination wi=
th heavy template meta-programming to implement methods of serializing data=
, etc, or to create maps of pointers and references to create deep copies o=
f objects (say, to move data from one node of a supercomputer to another no=
de)<br><br></div>

<p></p>

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