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c++templatescallbackfunction-pointersstd-function

Universal Callback template class with pointer to method callback


Inspired by another article here on SO (C++ callback using class member) I tried to write a universal CallbackHandler.

CallbackHandler.hpp

#pragma once
#include <functional>

template <typename CallbackClass, typename CallbackArgType>
class CallbackHandler
{
public:
    std::function<void(CallbackArgType ct)> m_callbackFunc;
    CallbackHandler(CallbackClass * handler, std::function<void(CallbackArgType)> method)
    {
        //m_callbackFunc is supposed to stand for a member to pointer callback function with one
        //parameter of any type
        m_callbackFunc = std::bind(method, handler, std::placeholders::_1);
    }
};
#include "wrapper_T.cpp"

I want to use it in several other templated namespaces/classes like here:

wrapper.hpp

//this wrappers main purpose is to combine the constructor of a non templated class (MyModule) 
//and hold a (global) callback method for it (m_parentCallback)
namespace wrapper
{
  extern std::function<void(wxImage *)> m_parentCallback;

  template<typename ParentClass>
  MyModule GetNewModule(ParentClass* parent, void (ParentClass::* method)(wxImage *));
}

wrapper.cpp

namespace wrapper
{
  //This is only to avoid multiple definition error - actual definition is in wrapper_T.cpp 
  std::function<void(wxImage *)> m_parentCallback;
}

wrapper_T.cpp

namespace wrapper
{
  template<typename ParentClass>
  MyModule GetNewModule(ParentClass* parent, void (ParentClass::* method)(wxImage *))
  {
    //the callback type of this wrapper/class is wxImage*
    std::shared_ptr<CallbackHandler<ParentClass, wxImage*>> handler = 
      std::make_shared< CallbackHandler<ParentClass, wxImage*>>(parent, method);
//EDIT - SOLVED: <- Error C2664: Cant convert argument 2 from "void (__thiscall MyModule::*)(void)" to "std::function<void(wxImage*)>"

    m_parentCallback = std::bind(&CallbackHandler<ParentClass, wxImage*>::m_callbackFunc, handler, std::placeholders::_1);
//<- Error C2679: no suitable binary operator "=" found

    return std::make_unique<MyModule>();
  }
}

I wanted to use the callback like this:

MyModule.cpp

  wrapper::m_parentCallback(&img);

I want to initialize the whole thing like this:

MainClass.cpp

  MainClass::MainClass()
  {
    //declared in header: std::unique_ptr<MyModule> module
    module = std::move(wrapper::GetNewModule(this, &MainClass::CallbackFunc));
  }

  void MainClass::CallbackFunc(wxImage * img)
  { /* do something with it */ }

I have the class with the "this" pointer and the pointer to method "CallbackFunc", which should be alright. But I dont see how to use my CallbackHandler class for a std::function callback pointer.

Or did I overdo it with the wrapper holding a pointer to a method of the CallbackHandler, which holds a pointer to a method of the actual callback method?

All of this is no design choice, I just want the CallbackHandler to be portable and working, while having an interface which is easy to use.


EDIT: I tried to apply the comments suggestions on the code, but I was to fast with claiming the first problem was solved. The error was just hidden by the next error. If I try to compile with just this line:

std::shared_ptr<CallbackHandler<ParentClass, wxImage*>> handler =
  std::make_shared< CallbackHandler<ParentClass, wxImage*>>(parent, method);
//<- Error C2664: "CallbackHandler<ParentClass,wxImage *>::
//CallbackHandler(CallbackHandler<ParentClass,wxImage *> &&)" 
//: converting argument 2 from "void (__thiscall MainClass::* )(wxImage *)" 
//to "std::function<void (wxImage *)>" not possible
//        with
//        [
//            ParentClass=MainClass
        ] 
//(freely translated into english by me)

So, the missing argument was not the only problem. If std::bind on methods (member functions) does not work, I do have to change the CallbackClass as well, dont I? Maybe something along those lines:

std::function<void(CallbackArgType cat)> m_callbackFunc;
CallbackHandler(CallbackClass * handler, std::function<void(CallbackArgType)> method)
{
    //m_callbackFunc = std::bind(method, handler, std::placeholders::_1);
    m_callbackFunc = [method](auto img) { method(img); };
}


Solution

  • I noticed that my problem is beeing solved by every event handler, calling an event function. So I used an event handler as basis vor my CallbackHandler. I found and used this event handler, as there are most certainly many other good written examples: https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/1256352/CppEvent-How-to-Implement-Events-using-Standard-Cp#holdingHandlerFunction

    I just wrapped it in a class and it is a little overkill for my purpose, but it works. All credits to Shmuel Zang (see link above)

    EventHandler.hpp

    #ifndef EventHandler_hpp
    #define EventHandler_hpp
    
    // https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/1256352/CppEvent-How-to-Implement-Events-using-Standard-Cp#holdingHandlerFunction
    
    #include <functional>
    #include <list>
    #include <algorithm>
    #include <utility>
    #include <atomic>
    #include <mutex>
    #include <future>
    
    namespace EventHandler
    {
        template <typename... Args> class EventHandler_Base
        {
        public:
            typedef std::function<void(Args...)> handler_func_type;
            typedef unsigned int handler_id_type;
    
            explicit EventHandler_Base(const handler_func_type& handlerFunc)
                : m_handlerFunc(handlerFunc)
            {
                m_handlerId = ++m_handlerIdCounter;
            }
    
            // copy constructor
            EventHandler_Base(const EventHandler_Base& src)
                : m_handlerFunc(src.m_handlerFunc), m_handlerId(src.m_handlerId)
            {
            }
    
            // move constructor
            EventHandler_Base(EventHandler_Base&& src)
                : m_handlerFunc(std::move(src.m_handlerFunc)), m_handlerId(src.m_handlerId)
            {
            }
    
            // copy assignment operator
            EventHandler_Base& operator=(const EventHandler_Base& src)
            {
                m_handlerFunc = src.m_handlerFunc;
                m_handlerId = src.m_handlerId;
    
                return *this;
            }
    
            // move assignment operator
            EventHandler_Base& operator=(EventHandler_Base&& src)
            {
                std::swap(m_handlerFunc, src.m_handlerFunc);
                m_handlerId = src.m_handlerId;
    
                return *this;
            }
    
            // function call operator
            void operator()(Args... params) const
            {
                if (m_handlerFunc)
                {
                    m_handlerFunc(params...);
                }
            }
    
            bool operator==(const EventHandler_Base& other) const
            {
                return m_handlerId == other.m_handlerId;
            }
    
            operator bool() const
            {
                return m_handlerFunc;
            }
    
            handler_id_type id() const
            {
                return m_handlerId;
            }
    
        private:
            handler_func_type m_handlerFunc;
            handler_id_type m_handlerId;
            static std::atomic_uint m_handlerIdCounter;
        };
    
        template <typename... Args> std::atomic_uint EventHandler_Base<Args...>::m_handlerIdCounter(0);
    
        template <typename... Args> class Event_Base
        {
        public:
            typedef EventHandler_Base<Args...> handler_type;
    
            Event_Base()
            {
            }
    
            // copy constructor
            Event_Base(const Event_Base& src)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(src.m_handlersLocker);
    
                m_handlers = src.m_handlers;
            }
    
            // move constructor
            Event_Base(Event_Base&& src)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(src.m_handlersLocker);
    
                m_handlers = std::move(src.m_handlers);
            }
    
            // copy assignment operator
            Event_Base& operator=(const Event_Base& src)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(m_handlersLocker);
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock2(src.m_handlersLocker);
    
                m_handlers = src.m_handlers;
    
                return *this;
            }
    
            // move assignment operator
            Event_Base& operator=(Event_Base&& src)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(m_handlersLocker);
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock2(src.m_handlersLocker);
    
                std::swap(m_handlers, src.m_handlers);
    
                return *this;
            }
    
            typename handler_type::handler_id_type add(const handler_type& handler)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(m_handlersLocker);
    
                m_handlers.push_back(handler);
    
                return handler.id();
            }
    
            inline typename handler_type::handler_id_type add(const typename handler_type::handler_func_type& handler)
            {
                return add(handler_type(handler));
            }
    
            bool remove(const handler_type& handler)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(m_handlersLocker);
    
                auto it = std::find(m_handlers.begin(), m_handlers.end(), handler);
                if (it != m_handlers.end())
                {
                    m_handlers.erase(it);
                    return true;
                }
    
                return false;
            }
    
            bool remove_id(const typename handler_type::handler_id_type& handlerId)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(m_handlersLocker);
    
                auto it = std::find_if(m_handlers.begin(), m_handlers.end(),
                    [handlerId](const handler_type& handler) { return handler.id() == handlerId; });
                if (it != m_handlers.end())
                {
                    m_handlers.erase(it);
                    return true;
                }
    
                return false;
            }
    
            void call(Args... params) const
            {
                handler_collection_type handlersCopy = get_handlers_copy();
    
                call_impl(handlersCopy, params...);
            }
    
            std::future<void> call_async(Args... params) const
            {
                return std::async(std::launch::async, [this](Args... asyncParams) { call(asyncParams...); }, params...);
            }
    
            inline void operator()(Args... params) const
            {
                call(params...);
            }
    
            inline typename handler_type::handler_id_type operator+=(const handler_type& handler)
            {
                return add(handler);
            }
    
            inline typename handler_type::handler_id_type operator+=(const typename handler_type::handler_func_type& handler)
            {
                return add(handler);
            }
    
            inline bool operator-=(const handler_type& handler)
            {
                return remove(handler);
            }
    
        protected:
            typedef std::list<handler_type> handler_collection_type;
    
            void call_impl(const handler_collection_type& handlers, Args... params) const
            {
                for (const auto& handler : handlers)
                {
                    handler(params...);
                }
            }
    
            handler_collection_type get_handlers_copy() const
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(m_handlersLocker);
    
                // Since the function return value is by copy, 
                // before the function returns (and destruct the lock_guard object),
                // it creates a copy of the m_handlers container.
    
                return m_handlers;
            }
    
        private:
            handler_collection_type m_handlers;
            mutable std::mutex m_handlersLocker;
        };
    
    }
    
    #endif // EventHandler_hpp
    

    I then use this generic class to save a callback member method:

    CallbackHandler.hpp

    #ifndef CallbackHandler_hpp
    #define CallbackHandler_hpp
    
    #pragma once
    
    #include "EventHandler.hpp"
    
    #include <functional>
    #include <mutex>
    
    using namespace EventHandler;
    
    template <typename... Args>
    class CallbackHandler
    {
    public:
        typedef std::function<void(Args...)> callbackFunc_type;
    
        explicit CallbackHandler() : mb_callbackIsSet(false), mi_handlerID(0){}
        explicit CallbackHandler(const callbackFunc_type& handlerFunc) : mb_callbackIsSet(false), mi_handlerID(0)
        {
            SetCallbackMethod(handlerFunc);
        }
    
        ~CallbackHandler()
        {
            m_callbackEvent.remove_id(mi_handlerID);
        }
    
        void SetCallbackMethod(const callbackFunc_type& handlerFunc)
        {
            m_callbackEvent.remove_id(mi_handlerID);
            mi_handlerID = m_callbackEvent.add([=](Args... params) {
    
                handlerFunc(params...);
            });
            mb_callbackIsSet = true;
        }
    
        bool DoCallback(Args... params)
        {
            if (mb_callbackIsSet)
            {
                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(callbackLocker);
                m_callbackEvent(params...);
                return true;
            }
    
            return false;
        }
    
    private:
        unsigned int mi_handlerID;
        Event_Base<Args...> m_callbackEvent;
        bool mb_callbackIsSet;
        std::mutex callbackLocker;
    };
    
    #endif //CallbackHandler_hpp
    
    

    I can use the CallbackHandler in every other class now:

    //Imagine an example class named Screenshotmodul
    //In this example I use wxImage as a callback object, it is the output of my Screenshotmodul class and should be given back to my main class
    //It could be any other (or several others like this: <ObjectType, OtherCallbackType> )
    
    class Screenshotmodul
    {
    public:
    //[...]
    
        CallbackHandler<wxImage> m_callbackHandler;
    
        template<typename ParentClass>
        void SetCallbackMethod(ParentClass* parent, void (ParentClass::* method)(wxImage))
        {
            //using the given object pointer and the given member method in a lambda function
            //saving that lambda as callback method
            m_callbackHandler.SetCallbackMethod([=](wxImage img) {
                (parent->*method)(img); });
        }
    }
    

    In my main class I can then set a callback method:

    std::unique_ptr<Screenshotmodul> sm = std::make_unique<Screenshotmodul>();
    sm->SetCallbackMethod(this, &MyMainClass::CallbackfuncForScreenshotmodul);
    
    //Of course there should be a callback function as just described:
    void MyMainClass::CallbackfuncForScreenshotmodul(wxImage img)
    {
      //img now contains the callback value, that the Screenshotmodul class created
    }
    

    This is my approach and it is not perfect, but it works for me.

    Cheers Natu