Reflection
C3 allows both compile time and runtime reflection.
During compile time the type information may be directly used as compile time constants, the same data is then available dynamically at runtime.
Note that not all reflection is implemented in the compiler at this point in time.
Compile time reflection
During compile time there are a number of compile time fields that may be accessed directly.
Type properties
It is possible to access properties on the type itself:
alignofassociatedelementsextnameofinfinnerkindoflenmaxmembersofminnannamesparamsparentofqnameofreturnssizeoftypeidvalues
alignof
Returns the alignment in bytes needed for the type.
struct Foo @align(8)
{
int a;
}
uint a = Foo.alignof; // 8
associated
Only available for enums. Returns an array containing the types of associated values if any.
enum Foo : int(double d, String s)
{
BAR(1.0, "normal"),
BAZ(2.0, "exceptional")
}
String s = Foo.associated[0].nameof; // "double"
elements
Returns the element count of an enum or fault.
enum FooEnum
{
BAR,
BAZ
}
int x = FooEnum.elements; // 2
inf
Only available for floating point types
Returns a representation of floating point "infinity".
inner
This returns a typeid to an "inner" type. What this means is different for each type:
- Array -> the array base type.
- Bitstruct -> underlying base type.
- Distinct -> the underlying type.
- Enum -> underlying enum base type.
- Pointer -> the type being pointed to.
- Vector -> the vector base type.
It is not defined for other types.
kindof
Returns the underlying TypeKind as defined in std::core::types.
TypeKind kind = int.kindof; // TypeKind.SIGNED_INT
len
Returns the length of the array.
usz len = int[4].len; // 4
max
Returns the maximum value of the type (only valid for integer and float types).
ushort max_ushort = ushort.max; // 65535
membersof
Only available for bitstruct, struct and union types.
Returns an array containing the fields in a bitstruct, struct or union. The
elements have the compile time only type of member_ref,
struct Baz
{
int x;
Foo* z;
}
String x = Baz.membersof[1].nameof; // "z"
A member_ref has properties alignof, kindof, membersof, nameof, offsetof, sizeof and typeid.
min
Returns the minimum value of the type (only valid for integer and float types).
ichar min_ichar = ichar.min; // -128
names
Returns a subarray containing the names of an enum or fault.
enum FooEnum
{
BAR,
BAZ
}
String[] x = FooEnum.names; // ["BAR", "BAZ"]
params
Only available for function types. Returns a list typeid for all parameters.
def TestFunc = fn int(int, double);
String s = TestFunc.params[1].nameof; // "double"
parentof
Only available for bitstruct and struct types. Returns the typeid of the parent type.
struct Foo
{
int a;
}
struct Bar
{
inline Foo f;
}
String x = Bar.parentof.nameof; // "Foo"
returns
Only available for function types. Returns the typeid of the return type.
def TestFunc = fn int(int, double);
String s = TestFunc.returns.nameof; // "int"
sizeof
Returns the size in bytes for the given type, like C sizeof.
usz x = Foo.sizeof;
typeid
Returns the typeid for the given type. defs will return the typeid of the underlying type. The typeid size is the same as that of an iptr.
typeid x = Foo.typeid;
values
Returns a subarray containing the values of an enum or fault.
enum FooEnum
{
BAR,
BAZ
}
String x = FooEnum.values[1].nameof; // "BAR"
Compile time functions
There are several built-in functions to inspect the code during compile time.
$alignof$checks$defined$eval$evaltype$extnameof$nameof$offsetof$qnameof$sizeof$stringify$typeof
$alignof
Returns the alignment in bytes needed for the type or member.
module test::bar;
struct Foo
{
int x;
char[] y;
}
int g = 123;
$alignof(Foo.x); // => returns 4
$alignof(Foo.y); // => returns 8 on 64 bit
$alignof(Foo); // => returns 8 on 64 bit
$alignof(g); // => returns 4
$defined
Returns true if the expression inside is defined and all sub expressions are valid.
$defined(Foo.x); // => returns true
$defined(Foo.z); // => returns false
int[2] abc;
$defined(abc.len); // => returns true
$defined(abc.len()); // => returns false
$defined((int)abc); // => returns false
// $defined(abc.len() + 1) would be an error
$eval
Converts a compile time string with the corresponding variable:
int a = 123; // => a is now 123
$eval("a") = 222; // => a is now 222
$eval("mymodule::fooFunc")(a); // => same as mymodule::fooFunc(a)
$eval is limited to a single, optionally path prefixed, identifier.
Consequently methods cannot be evaluated directly:
struct Foo { ... }
fn int Foo.test(Foo* f) { ... }
fn void test()
{
void* test1 = &$eval("test"); // Works
void* test2 = &Foo.$eval("test"); // Works
// void* test3 = &$eval("Foo.test"); // Error
}
$evaltype
Similar to $eval but for types:
$evaltype("float") f = 12.0f;
$extnameof
Returns the external name of a type, variable or function. The external name is the one used by the linker.
fn void testfn(int x) { }
String a = $extnameof(g); // => "test.bar.g";
string b = $extnameof(testfn); // => "test.bar.testfn"
$nameof
Returns the name of a function or variable as a string without module prefixes.
fn void test() { }
int g = 1;
String a = $nameof(g); // => "g"
String b = $nameof(test); // => "test"
$offsetof
Returns the offset of a member in a struct.
Foo z;
$offsetof(z.y); // => returns 8 on 64 bit, 4 on 32 bit
$qnameof
Returns the same as $nameof, but with the full module name prepended.
module abc;
fn void test() { }
int g = 1;
String a = $qnameof(g); // => "abc::g"
String b = $qnameof(test); // => "abc::test"
$sizeof
This is used on a value to determine the allocation size needed. $sizeof(a) is equivalent
to doing $typeof(a).sizeof. Note that this is only used on values and not on types.
$typeof(a)* x = allocate_bytes($sizeof(a));
*x = a;
$stringify
Returns the expression as a string. It has a special behaviour for macro expression parameters,
where $stringify(#foo) will return the expression contained in #foo rather than simply return
"#foo"
$typeof
Returns the type of an expression or variable as a type itself.
Foo f;
$typeof(f) x = f;