C++ Reflection Cppcon demo
CppCon recently publicly released a video where Herb Sutter demos C++26 reflection features. It’s actually pretty exciting to me. As he mentions in the video, I’m not sure what other commercial-grade languages even have this feature.
https://youtu.be/7z9NNrRDHQU
https://youtu.be/7z9NNrRDHQU
Yes, and more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflective_programming
Many languages offer some kind of reflection, though it has traditionally been a feature of interpreted languages, since full reflection requires the ability to understand and modify code directly.
I haven’t watched the video yet or read anything about how C++ intends to accomplish any of this, but it does seem an interesting idea.
Problem is, it is a design pattern looking for a solution. Compiled languages should not (generally) need reflection, IMHO — there are always other ways to accomplish the task that are less complex and more secure.
Don’t get me wrong, I _like_ reflection and introspection. It allows you to do some really cool stuff. (Which means, you can break stuff in simultaneously really cool and utterly rage-inducing ways.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflective_programming
Many languages offer some kind of reflection, though it has traditionally been a feature of interpreted languages, since full reflection requires the ability to understand and modify code directly.
I haven’t watched the video yet or read anything about how C++ intends to accomplish any of this, but it does seem an interesting idea.
Problem is, it is a design pattern looking for a solution. Compiled languages should not (generally) need reflection, IMHO — there are always other ways to accomplish the task that are less complex and more secure.
Don’t get me wrong, I _like_ reflection and introspection. It allows you to do some really cool stuff. (Which means, you can break stuff in simultaneously really cool and utterly rage-inducing ways.)
At my job we have utility programs that generate code, and I'm wondering if reflection features can remove some of this boilerplate. Maybe. I agree such features can add complexity and frustration if abused, but that's also every C++ feature.
The first thing I thought of is that it could help provide introspection of parts of the code/structs for "unit test"-esque checking as a sort of linter for specific contracts we want to enforce in the code.
The json example (9:20) and command-line argument example (13:01) look interesting to me.
Edit: Also, maybe it could provide easier-to-read/maintain alternatives to some template metaprogramming eldritch horrors, but I'm not sure about that yet.
The first thing I thought of is that it could help provide introspection of parts of the code/structs for "unit test"-esque checking as a sort of linter for specific contracts we want to enforce in the code.
The json example (9:20) and command-line argument example (13:01) look interesting to me.
Edit: Also, maybe it could provide easier-to-read/maintain alternatives to some template metaprogramming eldritch horrors, but I'm not sure about that yet.
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Argh, my brain just doesn’t care enough to watch a 1.5 hour video.
Looks like we are looking at compile time reflection, and it appears to be an upgrade to the template metaprogramming system.
So, yeah, Chutlhu is coming to dinner.
Looks like we are looking at compile time reflection, and it appears to be an upgrade to the template metaprogramming system.
So, yeah, Chutlhu is coming to dinner.
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