It is common knowledge that built-in enums in C++ are not typesafe. I was wondering which classes implementing typesafe enums are used out there... I myself use the following "bicycle", but it is somewhat verbose and limited:
typesafeenum.h:
struct TypesafeEnum
{
// Construction:
public:
TypesafeEnum(): id (next_id++), name("") {}
TypesafeEnum(const std::string& n): id(next_id++), name(n) {}
// Operations:
public:
bool operator == (const TypesafeEnum& right) const;
bool operator != (const TypesafeEnum& right) const;
bool operator < (const TypesafeEnum& right) const;
std::string to_string() const { return name; }
// Implementation:
private:
static int next_id;
int id;
std::string name;
};
typesafeenum.cpp:
int TypesafeEnum::next_id = 1;
bool TypesafeEnum::operator== (const TypesafeEnum& right) const
{ return id == right.id; }
bool TypesafeEnum::operator!= (const TypesafeEnum& right) const
{ return !operator== (right); }
bool TypesafeEnum::operator< (const TypesafeEnum& right) const
{ return id < right.id; }
Usage:
class Dialog
{
...
struct Result: public TypesafeEnum
{
static const Result CANCEL("Cancel");
static const Result OK("Ok");
};
Result doModal();
...
};
const Dialog::Result Dialog::Result::OK;
const Dialog::Result Dialog::Result::CANCEL;
Addition: I think I should have been more specific about the requirements. I'll try to summarize them:
Priority 1: Setting an enum variable to an invalid value should be impossible (a compile-time error) with no exceptions.
Priority 2: Converting an enum value to/from an int should be possible with a single explicit function/method call.
Priority 3: As compact, elegant and convenient declaration and usage as possible
Priority 4: Converting enum values to and from strings.
Priority 5: (Nice to have) Possibility to iterate over enum values.