force unused parameter for macro - c

Simple idea:
I'm using X-macros to define command list structure and declare command callbacks.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stddef.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdbool.h>
#include <string.h>
#define COMMAND_LIST(X) \
X(toto_all) \
X(help) \
//end of list
typedef void (*callback_t)(int a, int b);
typedef struct
{
char * name;
callback_t callback;
}command_t;
#define CALLBACK_DEC(COMMAND_NAME) void _##COMMAND_NAME(int a, int b);
COMMAND_LIST(CALLBACK_DEC)
#define COMMAND_DEF(COMMAND_NAME) { #COMMAND_NAME, & _##COMMAND_NAME },
static command_t commands[] =
{
COMMAND_LIST(COMMAND_DEF)
};
#define COMMAND(COMMAND_NAME,CODE) void _##COMMAND_NAME(int A, int B) { CODE }
COMMAND(toto_all,
printf("helloworld\n");
)
COMMAND(help,
printf("help!\n");
)
int main()
{
commands[0].callback(1,2);
commands[1].callback(1,2);
return 0;
}
it works.
helloworld
help!
Adding some parameters:
If you change the first command list to this (by adding parameters)
#define COMMAND_LIST(X) \
X(toto_all, 1, 3, 5) \
X(help, 0, 0, 0) \
//end of list
typedef struct
{
callback_t callback;
char * name;
int arg_min;
int arg_max;
int arg_num;
}command_t;
then, when running it I get the following error:
macro "CALLBACK_DEC" passed 4 arguments, but takes just 1
I have to use all the parameters for the command list definition (command declaration):
#define COMMAND_DEF(COMMAND_NAME, ARG_MIN, ARG_MAX, ARG_MAX, ARG_NUM) (command_t){ #COMMAND_NAME, & _##COMMAND_NAME, ARG_MIN, ARG_MAX, ARG_NUM},
but it's quite tricky to now use it for the callback declaration...
Is there a clever way for this X-macro to avoid this error?
I thought about the non-macro way to mask unused parameters:
which is by using (void)param;,
which gives the ugly
#define CALLBACK_DEC(COMMAND_NAME, ARG_MIN, ARG_MAX, ARG_NUM) void _##COMMAND_NAME(int a, int b); void(ARG_MIN); void(ARG_MAX); void(ARG_NUM)
and this does not work...I get a strange:
main.c:27:20: error: expected identifier or ‘(’ before numeric constant
X(toto_all,0,0,0) \
I think there is another way:
maybe using something like this...
#define COMMAND_LIST(X,Y) \
X(Y(toto_all, 0, 0, 0)) \
X(Y(help, 0, 0, 0)) \
//command name, arg min, arg max, arg num, string?
//end of list
typedef void (*callback_t)(int a, int b);
typedef struct
{
char * name;
callback_t callback;
}command_t;
#define GET_ONLY_NAME(COMMAND_NAME1, ARG_MIN, ARG_MAX, ARG_NUM) COMMAND_NAME1
#define CALLBACK_DEC(COMMAND_NAME) void _##COMMAND_NAME(int a, int b);
COMMAND_LIST(CALLBACK_DEC,GET_ONLY_NAME);
#undef CALLBACK_DEC
#define GET_FULL_LIST(X) X
#define COMMAND_DEF(COMMAND_NAME, ARG_MIN, ARG_MAX, ARG_NUM) (command_t){ #COMMAND_NAME, & _##COMMAND_NAME, ARG_MIN, ARG_MAX, ARG_NUM},
static command_t commands[] =
{
COMMAND_LIST(COMMAND_DEF,GET_FULL_LIST)
};
#undef COMMAND_DEF
but I still get the following strange error, there is a problem in the expansion but i can't see where...
main.c:27:31: error: expected ‘)’ before numeric constant
X(Y(toto_all, 0, 0, 0)) \
Maybe the truth is elsewhere... :)
any hints?

This is a an issue with X macros overall - you have to write a macro accepting all parameters, even when you are just using a few.
In your case you pass the specific macro as a parameter to the list, so you can add some flexibility there. Using variadic macros might solve the problem. You should be able to do like this:
#define COMMAND_DEF(COMMAND_NAME, ...) { #COMMAND_NAME, & _##COMMAND_NAME },
...
COMMAND_LIST(COMMAND_DEF)
Where you only explicitly name the parameters that this particular macro is interested in, then let the rest of them go into the ... part which is then ignored.
This does however build in a dependency in the data, because it only allows you to expand parameters from left to right, so to speak. So for
X(toto_all, 1, 3, 5, "-")
you can write a macro that uses just toto_all, or toto_all and 1, but you would't be able write a macro that just uses for example 1 and 3. For such special cases I believe you will still have to name all macro parameters.
Yet another option is self-documenting code:
#define COMMAND_DEF(COMMAND_NAME, ignored1, FOO, ignored2, ignored3) \
/* do stuff with COMMAND NAME and FOO only */

Related

How could I implement in C language using macros and function pointers something similar to lambda functions in C++?

I want to implement in C something similar to lambda functions from C++( using macros and function pointers)
I think the biggest problem that I am facing is to define a function inside another function, and this thing is not possible in C. I think a better idea is to treat the lambda function ( passed through a macro ) as a lexical block.
I started some code:
#define func_name(line) func##line
#define line __LINE__
#define lambda(body, ret_type, ...) ret_type func_name(line)(__VA_ARGS__) \
{ \
body; \
} \
//#include <stdio.h>
lambda( printf("Hello from Lambda\n") , void, int a, float b)
int main(void) {
//printf("Hello World\n");
return 0;
}
I used gcc compiler with "-E" option to see preprocessor output:
void funcline(int a, float b) { printf("Hello from Lambda\n"); }
int main(void) {
return 0;
}
It's possible, but the lambdas will have to be stateless (no captures). You can use preprocessor to move function definitions around, but there is no way to use local variables from one function in another, or to introduce some kind of state into a function.
Also it makes the code very hard to debug. Since all functions using those pseudo-lambdas have to be wrapped in a macro, all line breaks in them are removed during preprocessing. It becomes impossible to place a breakpoint inside of such a function, or to advance through it line by line.
Here is an example of the usage. The implementation is at the end of the answer. The explanation of the syntax is right after the example.
Run on gcc.godbolt.org
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
ENABLE_LAMBDAS(
void example1()
{
int arr[] = {4,1,3,2,5};
FUNC(int)(compare)(const void *a, const void *b)
(
return *(int*)a - *(int*)b;
)
qsort(arr, 5, sizeof(int), compare);
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++ )
printf("%d ", arr[i]);
putchar('\n');
}
void example2()
{
int arr[] = {4,1,3,2,5};
qsort L_(arr, 5, sizeof(int), LAMBDA(int)(const void *a, const void *b)
(
return *(int*)a - *(int*)b;
));
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++ )
printf("%d ", arr[i]);
putchar('\n');
}
int main()
{
example1();
example2();
}
) // ENABLE_LAMBDAS
Notice the ENABLE_LAMBDAS macro wrapping the whole snippet.
This example uses two ways of defining functions/lambdas:
FUNC(return_type)(name)(params)(body) just defines a function. The function definition is moved to the beginning of ENABLE_LAMBDAS, so it can be used inside of other functions.
LAMBDA(return_type)(params)(body) defines a pseudo-lambda. A function definition for it is generated at the beginning of ENABLE_LAMBDAS, with an automatically chosen unique name. LAMBDA... expands to that name.
If FUNC or LAMBDA are used inside of parentheses, the parentheses must be preceeded by the L_ macro. This is a limitation of the preprocessor, unfortunately.
The generated functions are always static.
Implementation:
// Creates a lambda.
// Usage:
// LAMBDA(return_type)(params)(body)
// Example:
// ptr = LAMBDA(int)(int x, int y)(return x + y;);
#define LAMBDA LAM_LAMBDA
// Defines a function.
// Usage:
// FUNC(return_type)(name)(params)(body)
// Example:
// FUNC(int)(foo)(int x, int y)(return x + y;)
// some_func(foo);
#define FUNC LAM_FUNC
// Any time a `LAMBDA` or `FUNC` appears inside of parentheses,
// those parentheses must be preceeded by this macro.
// For example, this is wrong:
// foo(LAMBDA(int)()(return 42;));
// While this works:
// foo L_(LAMBDA(int)()(return 42;));
#define L_ LAM_NEST
// `LAMBDA` and `FUNC` only work inside `ENABLE_LAMBDAS(...)`.
// `ENABLE_LAMBDAS(...)` expands to `...`, preceeded by function definitions for all the lambdas.
#define ENABLE_LAMBDAS LAM_ENABLE_LAMBDAS
// Lambda names are composed of this prefix and a numeric ID.
#ifndef LAM_PREFIX
#define LAM_PREFIX LambdaFunc_
#endif
// Implementation details:
// Returns nothing.
#define LAM_NULL(...)
// Identity macro.
#define LAM_IDENTITY(...) __VA_ARGS__
// Concats two arguments.
#define LAM_CAT(x, y) LAM_CAT_(x, y)
#define LAM_CAT_(x, y) x##y
// Given `(x)y`, returns `x`.
#define LAM_PAR(...) LAM_PAR_ __VA_ARGS__ )
#define LAM_PAR_(...) __VA_ARGS__ LAM_NULL(
// Given `(x)y`, returns `y`.
#define LAM_NO_PAR(...) LAM_NULL __VA_ARGS__
// Expands `...` and concats it with `_END`.
#define LAM_END(...) LAM_END_(__VA_ARGS__)
#define LAM_END_(...) __VA_ARGS__##_END
// A generic macro to define functions and lambdas.
// Usage: `LAM_DEFINE(wrap, ret)(name)(params)(body)`.
// In the encloding code, expands to `wrap(name)`.
#define LAM_DEFINE(wrap, ...) )(l,wrap,(__VA_ARGS__),LAM_DEFINE_0
#define LAM_DEFINE_0(name) name,LAM_DEFINE_1
#define LAM_DEFINE_1(...) (__VA_ARGS__),LAM_DEFINE_2
#define LAM_DEFINE_2(...) __VA_ARGS__)(c,
// Creates a lambda.
// Usage: `LAM_LAMBDA(ret)(params)(body)`.
#define LAM_LAMBDA(...) LAM_DEFINE(LAM_IDENTITY, __VA_ARGS__)(LAM_CAT(LAM_PREFIX, __COUNTER__))
// Defines a function.
// Usage: `LAM_FUNC(ret)(name)(params)(body)`.
#define LAM_FUNC(...) LAM_DEFINE(LAM_NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
// `LAM_LAMBDA` and `LAM_FUNC` only work inside of this macro.
#define LAM_ENABLE_LAMBDAS(...) \
LAM_END( LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_A (c,__VA_ARGS__) ) \
LAM_END( LAM_GEN_CODE_A (c,__VA_ARGS__) )
// Processes lambdas and functions in the following parentheses.
#define LAM_NEST(...) )(open,)(c,__VA_ARGS__)(close,)(c,
// A loop. Returns the original code, with lambdas replaced with corresponding function names.
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_A(...) LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY(__VA_ARGS__) LAM_GEN_CODE_B
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_B(...) LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY(__VA_ARGS__) LAM_GEN_CODE_A
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_A_END
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_B_END
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY(type, ...) LAM_CAT(LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY_, type)(__VA_ARGS__)
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY_c(...) __VA_ARGS__
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY_l(wrap, ret, name, ...) wrap(name)
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY_open() (
#define LAM_GEN_CODE_BODY_close() )
// A loop. Generates lambda definitions, discarding all other code.
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_A(...) LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY(__VA_ARGS__) LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_B
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_B(...) LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY(__VA_ARGS__) LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_A
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_A_END
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_B_END
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY(type, ...) LAM_CAT(LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY_, type)(__VA_ARGS__)
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY_c(...)
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY_l(wrap, ret, name, par, ...) static LAM_IDENTITY ret name par { __VA_ARGS__ }
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY_open()
#define LAM_GEN_LAMBDAS_BODY_close()

c macro - how to set a macro name as the output of another macro

I want to do create a macro whose name is a concatenation of two things i.e.
#define name ## _body(a) \
a
but gcc -E gives the error
macros.c:9:18: error: '##' cannot appear at either end of a macro expansion
#define typename ## _body(body) \
QUESTION
Is it possible to do this using only C preprocessor?
In a macro definition, the name part is always a single preprocessor token. However, you can use function-like macros, with parameters, that expand to a single token.
Consider the following macros:
#define JOIN(a,b) a ## b
#define FOO(suffix) JOIN(FOO_, suffix)
#define FOOBAZ JOIN(FOO_, BAZ)
#define FOOBAAZ JOIN(foo_, baaz)
#define FOO_BAR first
#define FOO_BAZ second
With the above definitions, declaring
int FOO(BAR) = 1;
int FOOBAZ = 2;
int FOOBAAZ = 3;
is equivalent to (i.e., gets preprocessed to)
int first = 1;
int second = 2;
int foo_baaz = 3;
There are cases (especially when exploring various algorithms) when templates or polymorphic code is useful. Consider for example the following ops.h:
#if defined(TYPE) && defined(PREFIX)
#undef JOIN2
#define JOIN2_(a,b) a ## b
#define JOIN2(a,b) JOIN2_(a, b)
#define NAME(end) JOIN2(PREFIX, end)
static inline TYPE NAME(_add)(const TYPE val1, const TYPE val2)
{
return val1 + val2;
}
static inline TYPE NAME(_sub)(const TYPE val1, const TYPE val2)
{
return val1 - val2;
}
static inline TYPE NAME(_neg)(const TYPE val)
{
return -val;
}
static inline TYPE NAME(_mul)(const TYPE val1, const TYPE val2)
{
return val1 * val2;
}
static inline TYPE NAME(_div)(const TYPE val1, const TYPE val2)
{
return val1 / val2;
}
#endif
#undef NAME
#undef JOIN2
#undef PREFIX
#undef TYPE
The macro NAME(suffix) expands to a single token consisting of the expansion of PREFIX immediately followed by the expansion of suffix. (If they are not preprocessor macros, they are used as-is.) This allows the same header file to be included multiple times, assuming PREFIX is defined to a new value each time.
Note that it is common to have a space between e.g. NAME(_add) and the following (const TYPE val1, const TYPE val2). I omitted it, in the hopes that it makes the function definitions more familiar-looking.
Let's look at an example program using such a header file:
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <inttypes.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#define TYPE uint32_t
#define PREFIX u32
#include "ops.h"
#define TYPE float
#define PREFIX float
#include "ops.h"
#define TYPE double
#define PREFIX dbl
#include "ops.h"
int main(void)
{
printf("dbl_div(217.0, 31.0) = %.1f\n", dbl_div(217.0, 31.0));
printf("u32_sub(4, 2) = %" PRIu32 "\n", u32_sub(4, 2));
printf("float_mul(1.25f, 72.00f) = %.2ff\n", float_mul(1.25f, 72.00f));
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
The first #include "ops.h" defines functions u32_add(), u32_sub(), u32_neg(), u32_mul(), and u32_div(). The second defines functions float_add() and so on, and the third dbl_add() and so on.
The above files are valid C99, and when compiled and run, it outputs
dbl_div(217.0, 31.0) = 7.0
u32_sub(4, 2) = 2
float_mul(1.25f, 72.00f) = 90.00f
If you combine the above with suitable macros using C11 _Generic, you can make "functions" that call different implementations based on the type of their argument.

C programming, make change at two location with one macro

struct Error
{
MACRO(1, Connect);
MACRO(2, Timeout);
};
I need to define MACRO() in such way that the above code will generate the following code.
struct Error
{
static const int Connect = 1;
static const int Timeout = 2;
const char * const name[] = {"Connect", "Timeout"};
};
Is this possible or what is the alternative to get what I'm trying to do?
You can't do this directly, but you can if you move the macros to a separate location (such as a separate file):
macros.hpp
MACRO(1, Connect)
MACRO(2, Timeout)
#undef MACRO
the other file
struct Error
{
#define MACRO(a, b) static const int b = a;
#include "macros.hpp"
const char * const name [] = {
#define MACRO(a, b) #b,
#include "macros.hpp"
}
};
Alternatively, you could achieve a similar effect with Boost.Preprocessor.
Here's a Boost.Preprocessor solution:
#include <boost/preprocessor/seq/for_each.hpp>
#include <boost/preprocessor/seq/size.hpp>
#include <boost/preprocessor/tuple/elem.hpp>
#include <boost/preprocessor/stringize.hpp>
#define FIRST(a, b) a
#define SECOND(a, b) b
#define DECLARE_VAR(r, data, elem) \
static const int FIRST elem = SECOND elem;
#define NAME_ARRAY_ELEM(r, data, elem) \
BOOST_PP_STRINGIZE(FIRST elem),
#define MACRO(seq) \
BOOST_PP_SEQ_FOR_EACH(DECLARE_VAR, ~, seq) \
const char * const name[] = { \
BOOST_PP_SEQ_FOR_EACH(NAME_ARRAY_ELEM, ~, seq) \
}
int main()
{
MACRO(((Connect, 1))((TimeOut, 2)));
return 0;
}
You have to make sure to double bracket each ((Token, value)) pair, however you don't need a separate file for your macro.
What you want, is to have a single list, that will automatically generate the definition and the name list, correct?
If so, search for X Macros in google.
Example:
#define EXPAND_AS_DEFINITION(a, b) static const int b = a;
#define EXPAND_AS_ARRAY(a, b) #b,
#define STATE_TABLE(ENTRY) \
ENTRY(1, Connect) \
ENTRY(2, Timeout)
struct Error
{
STATE_TABLE(EXPAND_AS_DEFINITION)
static const char * const name[];
};
const char * const Error::name[] = {STATE_TABLE(EXPAND_AS_ARRAY) 0};
It looks like like you are trying to define an enum Error that also has the strings as members. I will give you my own solution to this problem. (I'm not addressing the question but I believe that my answer is relevant for what I understand that OP is trying to do.)
And I just realized that OP is targeting C, not C++, so not sure if this can be done...
In MyEnum.hpp
#define MYENUM(X,...) \
struct X { \
enum Enum {__VA_ARGS__}; \
static const std::vector<std::string> names; \
static X::Enum which(const std::string& s) { \
return static_cast<X::Enum>(findEnum(s,names)); \
} \
static std::string str(X::Enum i) { \
return names[i];} \
}
Here findEnum() is just a linear search over the vector that returns the position index (additionally, in my implementation if it doesn't find it it throws an exception with all the possible correct inputs, I also do case insensitive comparison). Note that an ordered map instead of a vector would be more efficient (O(log(n)) instead of O(n)), but I didn't cared much because the size of those things is very small in my case.
Below the previous macro, declare your enum as
MYENUM(Error,Connect,Timeout); // I put the semicolon here not in the macro
And in MyEnum.cpp, add
#include <boost/assign/list_of.hpp>
const std::vector<std::string> Error::names = boost::assign::list_of
("Connect")("Timeout");
(I think that it should be possible to use initialization lists with a modern compiler). The important thing here is to make sure that the order is the same, otherwise it will not work.
Then, you can do stuff like this:
Error::Enum err1 = Error::Connect;
Error::Enum err2 = Error::which("Timeout");
std::cout << "Got " << Error::str(err1) << " error. Not good.\n";

Append items to an array with a macro, in C

I have an array (C language) that should be initialized at compile time.
For example:
DECLARE_CMD(f1, arg);
DECLARE_CMD(f2, arg);
The DECLARE_CMD is called from multiple files.
I want this to be preprocessed in.
my_func_type my_funcs [] = {
&f1,
&f2
}
It is possible, with a macro, to append items to an static array?
I am using C99 (with GNU extensions) on gcc4.
Yes, you can build dynamic arrays at compile time (not at runtime) (and thank's to Mitchel Humpherys), the idea is to declare your callbacks in the same section like this:
EXAMPLE:
Suppose you have three files a.c, b.c main.c and i.h
into i.h
typedef void (*my_func_cb)(void);
typedef struct func_ptr_s {
my_func_cb cb; /* function callback */
} func_ptr_t;
#define ADD_FUNC(func_cb) \
static func_ptr_t ptr_##func_cb \
__attribute((used, section("my_array"))) = { \
.cb = func_cb, \
}
into a.c
#include "i.h"
static void f1(void) {
....
}
ADD_FUNC(f1);
into b.c
#include "i.h"
static void f2(void) {
....
}
ADD_FUNC(f2);
into main.c
#include "i.h"
static void f3(void) {
....
}
ADD_FUNC(f3);
#define section_foreach_entry(section_name, type_t, elem) \
for (type_t *elem = \
({ \
extern type_t __start_##section_name; \
&__start_##section_name; \
}); \
elem != \
({ \
extern type_t __stop_##section_name; \
&__stop_##section_name; \
}); \
++elem)
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
section_foreach_entry(my_array, func_ptr_t, entry) {
entry->cb(); /* this will call f1, f2 and f3 */
}
return 0;
}
IMPORTANT
sometimes the compiler optimizes start/end sections variables, it wipes them out, so when you try to use them, you will have a linker error: error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol ...
to fix this problem, i use the following:
Try to print your linker script:
gcc -Wl,-verbose
copy the text between the two:
==================================================
in a file (example lnk.lds), you should see thing like:
/* Script for -z combreloc: combine and sort reloc sections */
OUTPUT_FORMAT("elf64-x86-64", "elf64-x86-64","elf64-x86-64")
........
ADD your section to the linker script file lnk.lds after the section .data like this (my defined section is called my_array as in the example):
__start_my_array = .;
.my_array :
{
*(.my_array)
}
__stop_my_array = .;
Compile your program with the updated linker script like this:
gcc -O3 -Xlinker -T"lnk.lds" file.c -o program
If you type strings program | grep "__start_my_array" you should find it.
NOTE: in your question there are semicolons at the end of every line. This will seriously interfere with any attempt to use these macros. So it depends on where and how the DECLARE_CMD(...) lines are found, and whether you can fix the semicolon problem. If they are simply in a dedicated header file all by themselves, you can do:
#define DECLARE_CMD(func, arg) &func,
my_func_type my_funcs [] {
#include "file_with_declare_cmd.h"
};
...which gets turned into:
my_func_type my_funcs [] {
&f1,
&f2,
};
Read The New C: X Macros for a good explanation of this.
If you can't get rid of the semicolons, this will be processed to:
my_func_type my_funcs [] {
&f1,;
&f2,;
};
... which is obviously a syntax error, and so this won't work.
Yes, it is possible.
The usual trick is to have all the DECLARE_CMD(func, args) lines in one (or more) include files, and to include those in various places with an appropriate definition for the macro.
For example:
In file 'commands.inc':
DECLARE_CMD(f1, args)
DECLARE_CMD(f2, args)
In some source file:
/* function declarations */
#define DECLARE_CMD(func, args) my_func_type func;
#include "commands.inc"
#undef DECLARE_CMD
/* array with poiners */
#define DECLARE_CMD(func, args) &func,
my_func_type* my_funcs[] = {
#include "commands.inc"
NULL
};
You can actually use a single macro to set the function pointers, do the function declaration, set up enums to access the function pointer and strings to use in error messages and later you can use it in a switch().
#define X_MACRO(OP) \
OP(addi, int x, int y) \
OP(divi, int x, int y) \
OP(muli, int x, int y) \
OP(subi, int x, int y)
#define AS_FUNC_PTR(x,...) x,
#define AS_FUNC(x,...) int x(__VA_ARGS__);
#define AS_STRINGS(x,...) #x,
#define AS_ENUMS(x,...) ENUM_##x,
X_MACRO(AS_FUNC)
typedef int (*foo_ptr_t)( int, int );
foo_ptr_t foo[] = { X_MACRO(AS_FUNC_PTR) };
char *foo_strings[] = { X_MACRO(AS_STRINGS) };
enum foo_enums { X_MACRO(AS_ENUMS) };
/** example switch()
#define AS_CASE(x,...) ENUM_x : x(i,j);break;
switch (my_foo_enum){
X_MACRO(AS_CASE)
default: do_error();
}
**/

How to use #if inside #define in the C preprocessor?

I want to write a macro that spits out code based on the boolean value of its parameter. So say DEF_CONST(true) should be expanded into const, and DEF_CONST(false) should be expanded into nothing.
Clearly the following doesn't work because we can't use another preprocessor inside #defines:
#define DEF_CONST(b_const) \
#if (b_const) \
const \
#endif
You can simulate conditionals using macro token concatenation as follows:
#define DEF_CONST(b_const) DEF_CONST_##b_const
#define DEF_CONST_true const
#define DEF_CONST_false
Then,
/* OK */
DEF_CONST(true) int x; /* expands to const int x */
DEF_CONST(false) int y; /* expands to int y */
/* NOT OK */
bool bSomeBool = true; // technically not C :)
DEF_CONST(bSomeBool) int z; /* error: preprocessor does not know the value
of bSomeBool */
Also, allowing for passing macro parameters to DEF_CONST itself (as correctly pointed out by GMan and others):
#define DEF_CONST2(b_const) DEF_CONST_##b_const
#define DEF_CONST(b_const) DEF_CONST2(b_const)
#define DEF_CONST_true const
#define DEF_CONST_false
#define b true
#define c false
/* OK */
DEF_CONST(b) int x; /* expands to const int x */
DEF_CONST(c) int y; /* expands to int y */
DEF_CONST(true) int z; /* expands to const int z */
You may also consider the much simpler (though potentially less flexible):
#if b_const
# define DEF_CONST const
#else /*b_const*/
# define DEF_CONST
#endif /*b_const*/
Doing it as a paramterised macro is a bit odd.
Why not just do something like this:
#ifdef USE_CONST
#define MYCONST const
#else
#define MYCONST
#endif
Then you can write code like this:
MYCONST int x = 1;
MYCONST char* foo = "bar";
and if you compile with USE_CONST defined (e.g. typically something -DUSE_CONST in the makefile or compiler options) then it will use the consts, otherwise it won't.
Edit: Actually I see Vlad covered that option at the end of his answer, so +1 for him :)

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