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Easier To Use, And More Expressive
One of the goals for each evolutionary increment in C++ is to decrease the probability of an average programmer from making mistakes by supplanting “old style” features/idioms with new, easier to use, and more expressive alternatives. The following code sample attempts to show an example of this evolution from C++98/03 to C++11 to C++14.
In C++98/03, there were two ways of clearing out the set of inner vectors in the vector-of-vectors-of-doubles data structure encapsulated by MyClass. One could use a plain ole for-loop or the std::for_each() STL algorithm coupled with a remotely defined function object (ClearVecFunctor). I suspect that with the exception of clever language lawyers, blue collar programmers (like me) used the simple for-loop option because of its reduced verbosity and compactness of expression.
With the arrival of C++11 on the scene, two more options became available to programmers: the range-for loop, and the std::for_each() algorithm combined with an inline-defined lambda function. The range-for loop eliminated the chance of “off-by-one” errors and the lambda function eliminated the inconvenience of having to write a remotely located functor class.
The ratification of the C++14 standard brought yet another convenient option to the table: the polymorphic lambda. By using auto in the lambda argument list, the programmer is relieved of the obligation to explicitly write out the full type name of the argument.
This example is just one of many evolutionary improvements incorporated into the language. Hopefully, C++17 will introduce many more.
Note: The code compiles with no warnings under gcc 4.9.2. However, as you can see in the image from the bug placed on line 41, the Eclipse CDT indexer has not caught up yet with the C++14 specification. Because auto is used in place of the explicit type name in the lambda argument list, the indexer cannot resolve the std::vector::clear() member function.
8/26/15 Update – As a result of reader code reviews provided in the comments section of this post, I’ve updated the code as follows:
8/29/15 Update – A Fix to the Line 27 begin-begin bug:
Whence Actors?
While sketching out the following drawing, I was thinking about the migration from sequential to concurrent programming driven by the rise of multicore machines. Can you find anything wrong with it?
Right out of the box, C++ provided Objects (via classes) and procedures (via free standing functions). With C++11, standardized support for threads and tasks finally arrived to the language in library form. I can’t wait for Actors to appear in….. ?
Not Just Expert Friendly
Check out this snippet from one of Bjarne Stroustrup’s CppCon keynote slides:
Now take a glance at one of Herb Sutter’s CppCon talk slides:
Bjarne’s talk was titled “Make Simple Tasks Simple” and Herb’s talk was tiled “Back To The Basics!: Modern C++ Style“. Since I abhor unessential complexity, I absolutely love the fact that these two dedicated gentlemen are spearheading the effort to evolve C++ in two directions simultaneously: increasing both expert-friendliness AND novice-friendliness.
By counterbalancing the introduction of advanced features like variadic templates and forwarding references with simpler features like range-for loops, nullptr, and brace-initialization, I think Bjarne and Herb (and perhaps other community members I don’t know about) are marvelously succeeding at the monumental task of herding cats. To understand what I mean, take a look at another one of Herb’s slides:
Do you see that teeny tiny dot at the end of the big arrow down on the lower right edge of the circle? Well, I don’t come anywhere close to qualifying for membership with the cats inside that dot… and I’d speculate that most advanced feature proposals and idiom ideas, whether they are understandable/teachable to mere mortals or not, originate from the really smart cats within that dot.
By gently but doggedly communicating the need for lowering the barriers to entry for potentially new C++ users while still navigating the language forward into unchartered waters, I’m grateful to Herb and Bjarne. Because of these men, the ISO C++ committee actually works – and it is indeed amazing for any committee to “work“.
Ooh, The New Phone Book Is Here!
W00t! The pre-release version of Scott Meyers’ “Effective Modern C++” book is currently available to SafariBooksOnline subscribers:
In case you were wondering, here is the list of items Scott covers:
I’m currently on item number 11. What item are you on? 😛
In case you were wondering what the hell the title of this post has to do with the content of it, here’s the missing piece of illogic:
Stopping The Spew!
Every C++ programmer has experienced at least one, and most probably many, “Template Spew” (TS) moments. You know you’ve triggered a TS moment when, just after hitting the compile button on a program the compiler deems TS-worthy, you helplessly watch an undecipherable avalanche of error messages zoom down your screen at the speed of light. It is rumored that some novices who’ve experienced TS for the very first time have instantaneously entered a permanent catatonic state of unresponsiveness. It’s even said that some poor souls have swan-dived off of bridges to untimely deaths after having seen such carnage.
Note: The graphic image that follows may be highly disturbing. You may want to stop reading this post at this point and continue to waste company time by surfing over to facebook, reddit, etc.
TS occurs when one tries to use a templated class object or function template with a template parameter type that doesn’t provide the behavior “assumed” by the class or function. TS is such a scourge in the C++ world that guru Scott Meyers dedicates a whole item in “Effective STL“, number 49, to handling the trauma associated with deciphering TS gobbledygook.
For those who’ve never seen TS output, here is a woefully contrived example:
The above example doesn’t do justice to the havoc the mighty TS dragon can wreak on the mind because the problem (std::vector<T> requires its template arg to provide a copy assignment function definition) can actually be inferred from a couple of key lines in the sea of TS text.
Ok, enough doom and gloom. Fear not, because help is on the way via C++14 in the form of “concepts lite“. A “concept” is simply a predicate evaluated on a template argument at compile time. If you employ them while writing a template, you inform the compiler of what kind(s) of behavior your template requires from its argument(s). As a use case illustration, behold this slide from Bjarne Stroustrup:
The “concept” being highlighted in this example is “Sortable“. Once the compiler knows that the sort<T> function requires its template argument to be “Sortable“, it checks that the argument type is indeed sortable. If not, the error message it emits will be something short, sweet, and to the point.
The concept of “concepts” has a long and sordid history. A lot of work was performed on the feature during the development of the C++11 specification. However, according to Mr. Stroustrup, the result was overly complicated (concept maps, new syntax, scope & lookup issues). Thus, the C++ standards committee decided to controversially sh*tcan the work:
C++11 attempt at concepts: 70 pages of description, 130 concepts – we blew it!
After regrouping and getting their act together, the committee whittled down the number of pages and concepts to something manageable enough (approximately 7 pages and 13 concepts) to introduce into C++14. Hence, the “concepts lite” label. Hopefully, it won’t be long before the TS dragon is relegated back to the dungeon from whence it came.
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