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c++tuplesc++03boost-tuples

How to initialize a tuple of non-default-constructible not-copyable objects?


Given some classes with parameterized constructors, such as:

class A
{
public:
    A(bool b, int i) { /*...*/ }
private:
    A(const A&) {}
};
class B
{
public:
    B(char c, double d) { /* ... */ }
private:
    B(const B&) {}
};

How to properly initialize a tuple of such classes?

boost::tuple<A,B> tup( /* ??? */ );

Not using copy constructor of A or B, and, if possible, not using move-constructor either. C++03 solution preferred, if possible.


Solution

  • Can you just add a piecewise constructor for your types? If so, you can create a horrible macro that unpacks and delegates a tuple:

    #define CONSTRUCT_FROM_TUPLE(CLS)                      \
        template <class... Ts>                             \
        CLS(std::tuple<Ts...> const& tup)                  \
            : CLS(tup, std::index_sequence_for<Ts...>{})   \
        { }                                                \
                                                           \
        template <class Tuple, size_t... Is>               \
        CLS(Tuple const& tup, std::index_sequence<Is...> ) \
            : CLS(std::get<Is>(tup)...)                    \
        { }
    

    And just add it to your types:

    struct A {
        A(bool, int ) { }
        A(const A& ) = delete;
        CONSTRUCT_FROM_TUPLE(A)
    };
    
    struct B {
        B(char, double ) { }
        B(const B& ) = delete;
        CONSTRUCT_FROM_TUPLE(B)
    };
    

    And pass in tuples:

    std::tuple<A, B> tup(
        std::forward_as_tuple(true, 42), 
        std::forward_as_tuple('x', 3.14));
    

    Pre-C++11, I don't know that this is possible - you don't have delegating constructors at all. You'd have to either:

    1. Write your own tuple-like class that accepts tuples in its constructor
    2. Add tuple constructors to your types that explicitly initialize the same thing as the non-tuple versions did
    3. Have a tuple of types that are single-argument constructible, like boost::tuple<boost::scoped_ptr<A>, boost::scoped_ptr<B>>(new A(...), new B(...))

    (1) is a lot of work, (2) is code duplication and error prone, and (3) involves now having to do allocation all of a sudden.