Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

[Andreas Wollschlaeger]

Hi folks,

as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this evening:

Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
like this:

public class Foo
{
private static Vector<Thingxx;
static
{
xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);
for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
xx.set(i, new Thing());
}
}

where the static{} block is called once (when the class is first used),
thus suitable for complex initializations of static members.

Now i would like to have this in C++, can this be done?
Here is my current approach:

VPNChannel.h
------------

class VPNChannel
{
static const int MAX_CHANNELS = 4;

// Bitmask of allocated channels
static uint32_t smAllocated_cha nnels_map;

//
// Vector holding all possible instances of VPNChannel
//
static VPNChannel *smInstances[MAX_CHANNELS];

//
// Static initializer
// This is kinda kludge to mimic Javas static {} class initializer
//
static uint32_t static_class_in itializer();
}




VPNChannel.cpp
--------------

#include "VPNChannel .h"

uint32_t VPNChannel::smA llocated_channe ls_map(static_c lass_initialize r());

uint32_t VPNChannel::sta tic_class_initi alizer()
{
for (int i=0; i < MAX_CHANNELS; ++i)
{
VPNChannel::smI nstances[i] = (VPNChannel *)NULL;
}
return (uint32_t)0;
}



with this idea in mind:

static_class_in itializer() is used to do complex initialization of an
static array, it returns a dummy zero value, so it can be used to
initialze another static variable (smAllocated_ch annels_map).
To my surprise, this compiles fine, but gives a linker error:

VPNChannel.o(.t ext+0x19):VPNCh annel.cpp: undefined reference to
`VPNChannel::sm Instances'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
(I'm using MinGW 3.4.2)

Any hint, what goes wrong here? Or maybe a better, more c++ish approach
to static initialization?

Cheers and Greetings
Andreas

[Victor Bazarov]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Andreas Wollschlaeger wrote:

as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this evening:
>
Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
like this:
>
public class Foo
{
private static Vector<Thingxx;
static
{
xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);
for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
xx.set(i, new Thing());
}
}
>
where the static{} block is called once (when the class is first used),
thus suitable for complex initializations of static members.
>
Now i would like to have this in C++, can this be done?
Here is my current approach:
>
VPNChannel.h
------------
>
class VPNChannel
{
static const int MAX_CHANNELS = 4;
>
// Bitmask of allocated channels
static uint32_t smAllocated_cha nnels_map;
>
//
// Vector holding all possible instances of VPNChannel
//
static VPNChannel *smInstances[MAX_CHANNELS];
>
//
// Static initializer
// This is kinda kludge to mimic Javas static {} class initializer
//
static uint32_t static_class_in itializer();
}
>
>
>
>
VPNChannel.cpp
--------------
>
#include "VPNChannel .h"
>
uint32_t VPNChannel::smA llocated_channe ls_map(static_c lass_initialize r());
>
uint32_t VPNChannel::sta tic_class_initi alizer()
{
for (int i=0; i < MAX_CHANNELS; ++i)
{
VPNChannel::smI nstances[i] = (VPNChannel *)NULL;
}
return (uint32_t)0;
}
>
>
>
with this idea in mind:
>
static_class_in itializer() is used to do complex initialization of an
static array, it returns a dummy zero value, so it can be used to
initialze another static variable (smAllocated_ch annels_map).
To my surprise, this compiles fine, but gives a linker error:
>
VPNChannel.o(.t ext+0x19):VPNCh annel.cpp: undefined reference to
`VPNChannel::sm Instances'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
(I'm using MinGW 3.4.2)
>
Any hint, what goes wrong here? Or maybe a better, more c++ish approach
to static initialization?

------------------------------- Header:
class Foo
{
static vector<Thingxx;
public:
...
};

------------------------------- Implementation file:

vector<Thingyou r_static_initia liser()
{
vector<Thingv(4 2);
for (int i = 0; i < 42; ++i)
v[i] = ...; // whatever specific you want to get

return v;
}

vector<ThingFoo ::xx = your_static_ini tialiser();
....

(presuming you include all the relevant headers for 'vector', etc.)

V
--
Please remove capital 'A's when replying by e-mail
I do not respond to top-posted replies, please don't ask

[Lars Tetzlaff]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Andreas Wollschlaeger schrieb:

Hi folks,
>
as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this evening:
>
Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
like this:
>
public class Foo
{
private static Vector<Thingxx;
static
{
xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);
for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
xx.set(i, new Thing());
}
}
>
where the static{} block is called once (when the class is first used),
thus suitable for complex initializations of static members.
>
Now i would like to have this in C++, can this be done?
Here is my current approach:
>
VPNChannel.h
------------
>
class VPNChannel
{
static const int MAX_CHANNELS = 4;
>
// Bitmask of allocated channels
static uint32_t smAllocated_cha nnels_map;
>
//
// Vector holding all possible instances of VPNChannel
//
static VPNChannel *smInstances[MAX_CHANNELS];
>
//
// Static initializer
// This is kinda kludge to mimic Javas static {} class initializer
//
static uint32_t static_class_in itializer();
}
>
>
>
>
VPNChannel.cpp
--------------
>
#include "VPNChannel .h"
>
uint32_t VPNChannel::smA llocated_channe ls_map(static_c lass_initialize r());
>
uint32_t VPNChannel::sta tic_class_initi alizer()
{
for (int i=0; i < MAX_CHANNELS; ++i)
{
VPNChannel::smI nstances[i] = (VPNChannel *)NULL;
}
return (uint32_t)0;
}
>
>
>
with this idea in mind:
>
static_class_in itializer() is used to do complex initialization of an
static array, it returns a dummy zero value, so it can be used to
initialze another static variable (smAllocated_ch annels_map).
To my surprise, this compiles fine, but gives a linker error:
>
VPNChannel.o(.t ext+0x19):VPNCh annel.cpp: undefined reference to
`VPNChannel::sm Instances'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
(I'm using MinGW 3.4.2)
>
Any hint, what goes wrong here? Or maybe a better, more c++ish approach
to static initialization?
>
Cheers and Greetings
Andreas
>

You do not need to allocate every object with new in C++, so if you only
need a vector of Thing, use xx. If you need to allocate Thing on the
heap, use yy;


xx.h:

#include <vector>

class Thing
{
};

class Foo
{
private:
static std::vector<Thi ngxx;
static class MyVector : public std::vector<Thi ng*>{ public:
MyVector(); } yy;
};


xx.cpp:

#include <xx.h>

std::vector<Thi ngFoo::xx( 42 );
Foo::MyVector:: MyVector()
{
for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
yy.push_back( new Thing() );
}
}

Foo::MyVector Foo::yy;



Lars

[Lars Tetzlaff]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Lars Tetzlaff schrieb:

xx.cpp:
>
#include <xx.h>
>
std::vector<Thi ngFoo::xx( 42 );
Foo::MyVector:: MyVector()
{
for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
yy.push_back( new Thing() );
}
}
>
Foo::MyVector Foo::yy;
>
>
>
Lars

Should be

push_back( new Thing() );

instead of

yy.push_back( new Thing() );


Lars

[Juha Nieminen]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Andreas Wollschlaeger wrote:

Now i would like to have this in C++, can this be done?

One possible approach is to wrap the static data, which must be
initialized with code, inside a class/struct:

class Foo
{
struct XX
{
std::vector<Thi ngxx;

XX()
{
// Initialize 'xx' here.
// (You could also implement this in the compilation unit
// to reduce clutter in the header file.)
}
};

static XX xx;
};


Then in the compilation unit you define the XX instance:

Foo::XX Foo::xx; // Will be initialized with the XX constructor

Of course you'll have to access the vector with "xx.xx" from now on.
With a logical and modular naming scheme you can make it less ugly.

[Andreas Wollschlaeger]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Lars Tetzlaff schrieb:

Andreas Wollschlaeger schrieb:

>Hi folks,
>>
>as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
>of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this evening:
>>
>Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
>like this:

You do not need to allocate every object with new in C++, so if you only
need a vector of Thing, use xx. If you need to allocate Thing on the
heap, use yy;
>
>
xx.h:
>
#include <vector>
>
class Thing
{
};
>
class Foo
{
private:
static std::vector<Thi ngxx;
static class MyVector : public std::vector<Thi ng*>{ public:
MyVector(); } yy;
};
>
>
xx.cpp:
>
#include <xx.h>
>
std::vector<Thi ngFoo::xx( 42 );
Foo::MyVector:: MyVector()
{
for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
yy.push_back( new Thing() );
}
}
>
Foo::MyVector Foo::yy;

Well, great, this was just what i have been looking for: encapsulating
the statics initialization in some inner class and its default
constructor - much more elegant and "cplusplusi sh" than my previous
attempt :-) Tx to you and the other folks, added me some more insight to
C++ this evening!

Cheers
Andreas

[Jeff Schwab]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Andreas Wollschlaeger wrote:

Lars Tetzlaff schrieb:

>Andreas Wollschlaeger schrieb:

>>Hi folks,
>>>
>>as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
>>of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this
>>evening:
>>>
>>Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
>>like this:

>You do not need to allocate every object with new in C++, so if you only
>need a vector of Thing, use xx. If you need to allocate Thing on the
>heap, use yy;
>>
>>
>xx.h:
>>
>#include <vector>
>>
>class Thing
>{
>};
>>
>class Foo
>{
>private:
> static std::vector<Thi ngxx;
> static class MyVector : public std::vector<Thi ng*>{ public:
>MyVector(); } yy;
>};
>>
>>
>xx.cpp:
>>
>#include <xx.h>
>>
>std::vector<Th ingFoo::xx( 42 );
>Foo::MyVector: :MyVector()
>{
> for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
> yy.push_back( new Thing() );
> }
>}
>>
>Foo::MyVecto r Foo::yy;

>
Well, great, this was just what i have been looking for: encapsulating
the statics initialization in some inner class and its default
constructor - much more elegant and "cplusplusi sh" than my previous
attempt :-) Tx to you and the other folks, added me some more insight to
C++ this evening!

I can see why that solution would look nice to a Java developer, but in
general, it's a bad idea to derive your own classes from the standard
ones; it is especially non-c++ish.

C++ methods aren't virtual by default; they're more like final methods
in Java. In particular, their destructors aren't virtual, so if ever an
instance of a derived type is deleted through a pointer to a base with a
non-virtual destructor, nasty things will happen. You're much better
off in this case with Victor or Juha's solutions, both of which are fine.

FWIW, most should-be-simple things aren't as complicated as this; there
are just a few "don't do thats" that you have to pick up when you get
started, and you happen to have gotten some mediocre advice (no offense,
Lars) right off the bat.

[Ian Collins]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Jeff Schwab wrote:

Andreas Wollschlaeger wrote:

>Lars Tetzlaff schrieb:

>>>
>>xx.h:
>>>
>>#include <vector>
>>>
>>class Thing
>>{
>>};
>>>
>>class Foo
>>{
>>private:
>> static std::vector<Thi ngxx;
>> static class MyVector : public std::vector<Thi ng*>{ public:
>>MyVector(); } yy;
>>};
>>>
>>>
>>xx.cpp:
>>>
>>#include <xx.h>
>>>
>>std::vector<T hingFoo::xx( 42 );
>>Foo::MyVector ::MyVector()
>>{
>> for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
>> yy.push_back( new Thing() );
>> }
>>}
>>>
>>Foo::MyVect or Foo::yy;

>>
>Well, great, this was just what i have been looking for: encapsulating
>the statics initialization in some inner class and its default
>constructor - much more elegant and "cplusplusi sh" than my previous
>attempt :-) Tx to you and the other folks, added me some more insight
>to C++ this evening!

>
I can see why that solution would look nice to a Java developer, but in
general, it's a bad idea to derive your own classes from the standard
ones; it is especially non-c++ish.
>

Unless you make the inheritance private, which would work equally well here:

static class MyVector : std::vector<Thi ng*>
{
public:
MyVector();
} yy;

--
Ian Collins

[Jeff Schwab]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Ian Collins wrote:

Jeff Schwab wrote:

>Andreas Wollschlaeger wrote:

>>Lars Tetzlaff schrieb:
>>>xx.h:
>>>>
>>>#include <vector>
>>>>
>>>class Thing
>>>{
>>>};
>>>>
>>>class Foo
>>>{
>>>private:
>>> static std::vector<Thi ngxx;
>>> static class MyVector : public std::vector<Thi ng*>{ public:
>>>MyVector() ; } yy;
>>>};
>>>>
>>>>
>>>xx.cpp:
>>>>
>>>#include <xx.h>
>>>>
>>>std::vector< ThingFoo::xx( 42 );
>>>Foo::MyVecto r::MyVector()
>>>{
>>> for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
>>> yy.push_back( new Thing() );
>>> }
>>>}
>>>>
>>>Foo::MyVecto r Foo::yy;
>>Well, great, this was just what i have been looking for: encapsulating
>>the statics initialization in some inner class and its default
>>constructor - much more elegant and "cplusplusi sh" than my previous
>>attempt :-) Tx to you and the other folks, added me some more insight
>>to C++ this evening!

>I can see why that solution would look nice to a Java developer, but in
>general, it's a bad idea to derive your own classes from the standard
>ones; it is especially non-c++ish.
>>

Unless you make the inheritance private, which would work equally well here:
>
static class MyVector : std::vector<Thi ng*>
{
public:
MyVector();
} yy;
>

True that. :)

[Lars Tetzlaff]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

Jeff Schwab schrieb:

Andreas Wollschlaeger wrote:

>Lars Tetzlaff schrieb:

>>Andreas Wollschlaeger schrieb:
>>>Hi folks,
>>>>
>>>as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
>>>of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this
>>>evening:
>>>>
>>>Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
>>>like this:
>>You do not need to allocate every object with new in C++, so if you only
>>need a vector of Thing, use xx. If you need to allocate Thing on the
>>heap, use yy;
>>>
>>>
>>xx.h:
>>>
>>#include <vector>
>>>
>>class Thing
>>{
>>};
>>>
>>class Foo
>>{
>>private:
>> static std::vector<Thi ngxx;
>> static class MyVector : public std::vector<Thi ng*>{ public:
>>MyVector(); } yy;
>>};
>>>
>>>
>>xx.cpp:
>>>
>>#include <xx.h>
>>>
>>std::vector<T hingFoo::xx( 42 );
>>Foo::MyVector ::MyVector()
>>{
>> for( int i = 0; i<42; ++i ) {
>> yy.push_back( new Thing() );
>> }
>>}
>>>
>>Foo::MyVect or Foo::yy;

>>
>Well, great, this was just what i have been looking for: encapsulating
>the statics initialization in some inner class and its default
>constructor - much more elegant and "cplusplusi sh" than my previous
>attempt :-) Tx to you and the other folks, added me some more insight
>to C++ this evening!

>
I can see why that solution would look nice to a Java developer, but in
general, it's a bad idea to derive your own classes from the standard
ones; it is especially non-c++ish.
>
C++ methods aren't virtual by default; they're more like final methods
in Java. In particular, their destructors aren't virtual, so if ever an
instance of a derived type is deleted through a pointer to a base with a
non-virtual destructor, nasty things will happen. You're much better
off in this case with Victor or Juha's solutions, both of which are fine.

Since the destruction of yy happens in the implementation file the type
is known to the compiler and the right destructor is called. The class
was ment *only* to initialize the static member. Generally I would agree
to your comment but not in the situation of initializing a static member
or a local variable.

>
FWIW, most should-be-simple things aren't as complicated as this; there
are just a few "don't do thats" that you have to pick up when you get
started, and you happen to have gotten some mediocre advice (no offense,
Lars) right off the bat.

Lars

[blargg]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

In article <49062fa0$0$326 68$9b4e6d93@new sspool2.arcor-online.net>,
Andreas Wollschlaeger <meister.possel @arcor.dewrote:

Hi folks,
>
as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this evening:
>
Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
like this:
>
public class Foo
{
private static Vector<Thingxx;
static
{
xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);
for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
xx.set(i, new Thing());
}
}
>
where the static{} block is called once (when the class is first used),
thus suitable for complex initializations of static members.
>
Now i would like to have this in C++, can this be done?

Trying to make as literal a translation here. This will initialize things
the first time a Foo object is created; if no Foo is ever created, this
initialization will never run.

// Foo.hpp
class Foo {
public:
Foo();

private:
static vector<Thingxx;
}

// Foo.cpp
vector<ThingFoo ::xx;

Foo::Foo()
{
if ( xx.empty() )
{
xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);
for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
xx [o] = new Thing();
}
}

Here is a more general approach that separates the init code into its own
function:

// Foo.hpp
class Foo {
public:
Foo();

private:
static void first_use();
}

// Foo.cpp
void Foo::first_use( )
{
// initialize statics
}

Foo::Foo()
{
static int call_once = (first_use(),0) ;
}

You could use a less-hacky approach to having first_use() called only
once, like a helper class, but this is a more concise approach.

[Richard Herring]

Re: Mimicking Javas static class initializer in C++

In message <blargg.h4g-291008041216000 1@192.168.1.4>, blargg
<blargg.h4g@gis hpuppy.comwrite s

>In article <49062fa0$0$326 68$9b4e6d93@new sspool2.arcor-online.net>,
>Andreas Wollschlaeger <meister.possel @arcor.dewrote:
>

>Hi folks,
>>
>as the subject says, i'm a poor Java programmer trying to transfer some
>of his wisdom into C++ world... here is what im trying to do this evening:
>>
>Java has a nifty feature called a static class initializer - something
>like this:
>>
>public class Foo
>{
> private static Vector<Thingxx;
> static
> {
> xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);
> for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
> xx.set(i, new Thing());
> }
>}
>>
>where the static{} block is called once (when the class is first used),
>thus suitable for complex initializations of static members.
>>
>Now i would like to have this in C++, can this be done?

>
>Trying to make as literal a translation here. This will initialize things
>the first time a Foo object is created; if no Foo is ever created, this
>initializati on will never run.
>
// Foo.hpp
class Foo {
public:
Foo();
>
private:
static vector<Thingxx;
}
>
// Foo.cpp
vector<ThingFoo ::xx;
>
Foo::Foo()
{
if ( xx.empty() )
{
xx = new Vector<Thing>(4 2);

???
xx is a vector, not a pointer.

for (int i=0; i < xx.size(); ++i)
xx [o] = new Thing();

.... and it contains Things, not pointers. You appear to be writing Java
here.

}
}
>
>Here is a more general approach that separates the init code into its own
>function:
>
// Foo.hpp
class Foo {
public:
Foo();
>
private:
static void first_use();
}
>
// Foo.cpp
void Foo::first_use( )
{
// initialize statics
}
>
Foo::Foo()
{
static int call_once = (first_use(),0) ;
}
>
>You could use a less-hacky approach to having first_use() called only
>once, like a helper class, but this is a more concise approach.

--
Richard Herring