Static libraries and template functions

hauzer · 10-26-2008, 06:11 AM

Some of you may know the stack library I started developing for fun. I realized the C++ part was very poor so I decided to enchant it with template functions, I wrote them and everything compiled fine. The problem comes up when linking a project with the library (yes, I include the stack.hpp header), it says that there's no, for example, stack::push<int>(int) functions for linking but when I include the full source code it compiles&runs with no errors.
My question is how do I create static libraries with template functions?

matsp · 10-26-2008, 06:15 AM

The entire template implementation needs to be in a header file when using templates.

--
Mats

hauzer · 10-26-2008, 06:18 AM

Ahh.. so there's no way..

matsp · 10-26-2008, 06:26 AM

Well, at least not if you:
1. Want to be able to compile it with most common compilers.
2. Do not want to write EVERY implementation that you could possibly conceive - this is really what prevents it from linking is that the way the templates work is that the code is generated as needed by the compiler. If you actually write

Code:

stack::push<int>(int) 
{
  ... // Code that pushes an integer onto a stack<int>
}

and every other stack operation for every other type that you use, then you could compile that into a librar that is not part of a header file.

But the whole point of using templates is generally that you do not WANT to write every variant of every function that you have templates for.

--
Mats

hauzer · 10-26-2008, 06:28 AM

Okay, thank you.

10-26-2008, 06:11 AM	#1
hauzer The wheel reinvent0^r Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Србија Posts: 115	Static libraries and template functions Some of you may know the stack library I started developing for fun. I realized the C++ part was very poor so I decided to enchant it with template functions, I wrote them and everything compiled fine. The problem comes up when linking a project with the library (yes, I include the stack.hpp header), it says that there's no, for example, stack::push<int>(int) functions for linking but when I include the full source code it compiles&runs with no errors. My question is how do I create static libraries with template functions?
hauzer is offline

10-26-2008, 06:15 AM	#2
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	The entire template implementation needs to be in a header file when using templates. -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
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10-26-2008, 06:18 AM	#3
hauzer The wheel reinvent0^r Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Србија Posts: 115	Ahh.. so there's no way..
hauzer is offline

10-26-2008, 06:26 AM	#4
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	Well, at least not if you: 1. Want to be able to compile it with most common compilers. 2. Do not want to write EVERY implementation that you could possibly conceive - this is really what prevents it from linking is that the way the templates work is that the code is generated as needed by the compiler. If you actually write Code: stack::push<int>(int) { ... // Code that pushes an integer onto a stack<int> } and every other stack operation for every other type that you use, then you could compile that into a librar that is not part of a header file. But the whole point of using templates is generally that you do not WANT to write every variant of every function that you have templates for. -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

10-26-2008, 06:28 AM	#5
hauzer The wheel reinvent0^r Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Србија Posts: 115	Okay, thank you.
hauzer is offline

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