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Class smart_library

boost::dll::experimental::smart_library — This class is an extension of shared_library, which allows to load C++ symbols.

Synopsis

// In header: <boost/dll/smart_library.hpp>


class smart_library {
public:
  // types
  typedef unspecified mangled_storage;

  // construct/copy/destruct
  smart_library() noexcept;
  smart_library(const boost::filesystem::path &, 
                load_mode::type = load_mode::default_mode);
  smart_library(const boost::filesystem::path &, boost::system::error_code &, 
                load_mode::type = load_mode::default_mode);
  smart_library(const boost::filesystem::path &, load_mode::type, 
                boost::system::error_code &);
  smart_library(const smart_library &) noexcept;
  smart_library(smart_library &&) noexcept;
  explicit smart_library(const shared_library &) noexcept;
  explicit smart_library(shared_library &&) noexcept;
  ~smart_library();

  // public member functions
  const shared_library & shared_lib() const;
  const mangled_storage & symbol_storage() const;
  mangled_storage & symbol_storage();
  void load(const boost::filesystem::path &, 
            load_mode::type = load_mode::default_mode);
  void load(const boost::filesystem::path &, boost::system::error_code &, 
            load_mode::type = load_mode::default_mode);
  void load(const boost::filesystem::path &, load_mode::type, 
            boost::system::error_code &);
  template<typename T> T & get_variable(const std::string &) const;
  template<typename Func> Func & get_function(const std::string &) const;
  template<typename Class, typename Func> 
    unspecified get_mem_fn(const std::string &) const;
  template<typename Signature> 
    constructor< Signature > get_constructor() const;
  template<typename Class> destructor< Class > get_destructor() const;
  template<typename Class> const std::type_info & get_type_info() const;
  template<typename Alias> void add_type_alias(const std::string &);
  void unload() noexcept;
  bool is_loaded() const noexcept;
  bool operator!() const noexcept;
  explicit operator bool() const noexcept;
  bool has(const char *) const noexcept;
  bool has(const std::string &) const noexcept;
  smart_library & assign(const smart_library &);
  void swap(smart_library &) noexcept;
};

Description

This class allows type safe loading of overloaded functions, member-functions, constructors and variables. It also allows to overwrite classes so they can be loaded, while being declared with different names.

[Warning] Warning

Is still very experimental.

Currently known limitations:

Member functions must be defined outside of the class to be exported. That is:

//not exported:
struct BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT my_class { void func() {}};
//exported
struct BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT my_class { void func();};
void my_class::func() {};

With the current analysis, the first version does get exported in MSVC. MinGW also does export it, BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT is written before it. To allow this on windows one can use BOOST_DLL_MEMBER_EXPORT for this, so that MinGW and MSVC can provide those functions. This does however not work with gcc on linux.

Direct initialization of members. On linux the following member variable i will not be initialized when using the allocating contructor:

struct BOOST_SYMBOL_EXPORT my_class { int i; my_class() : i(42) {} };

This does however not happen when the value is set inside the constructor function.

smart_library public construct/copy/destruct

  1. smart_library() noexcept;
  2. smart_library(const boost::filesystem::path & lib_path, 
                  load_mode::type mode = load_mode::default_mode);
  3. smart_library(const boost::filesystem::path & lib_path, 
                  boost::system::error_code & ec, 
                  load_mode::type mode = load_mode::default_mode);
  4. smart_library(const boost::filesystem::path & lib_path, load_mode::type mode, 
                  boost::system::error_code & ec);
  5. smart_library(const smart_library & lib) noexcept;

    copy a smart_library object.

    Parameters:

    lib

    A smart_library to move from.

    Throws:

    Nothing.
  6. smart_library(smart_library && lib) noexcept;

    Move a smart_library object.

    Parameters:

    lib

    A smart_library to move from.

    Throws:

    Nothing.
  7. explicit smart_library(const shared_library & lib) noexcept;

    Construct from a shared_library object.

    Parameters:

    lib

    A shared_library to move from.

    Throws:

    Nothing.
  8. explicit smart_library(shared_library && lib) noexcept;

    Construct from a shared_library object.

    Parameters:

    lib

    A shared_library to move from.

    Throws:

    Nothing.
  9. ~smart_library();

    Destroys the smart_library. unload() is called if the DLL/DSO was loaded. If library was loaded multiple times by different instances of shared_library, the actual DLL/DSO won't be unloaded until there is at least one instance of shared_library.

    Throws:

    Nothing.

smart_library public member functions

  1. const shared_library & shared_lib() const;

    Get the underlying shared_library

  2. const mangled_storage & symbol_storage() const;

    Acces to the mangled storage, which is created on construction.

    Throws:

    Nothing.
  3. mangled_storage & symbol_storage();
    Overload, for current development.
  4. void load(const boost::filesystem::path & lib_path, 
              load_mode::type mode = load_mode::default_mode);
  5. void load(const boost::filesystem::path & lib_path, 
              boost::system::error_code & ec, 
              load_mode::type mode = load_mode::default_mode);
  6. void load(const boost::filesystem::path & lib_path, load_mode::type mode, 
              boost::system::error_code & ec);
  7. template<typename T> T & get_variable(const std::string & name) const;

    Load a variable from the referenced library.

    Unlinke shared_library::get this function will also load scoped variables, which also includes static class members.

    [Note] Note

    When mangled, MSVC will also check the type.

    Parameters:

    name

    Name of the variable

    Template Parameters:

    T

    Type of the variable

    Returns:

    A reference to the variable of type T.

    Throws:

    boost::system::system_error if symbol does not exist or if the DLL/DSO was not loaded.
  8. template<typename Func> Func & get_function(const std::string & name) const;

    Load a function from the referenced library.

    Example:

    smart_library lib("test_lib.so");
    typedef int      (&add_ints)(int, int);
    typedef double (&add_doubles)(double, double);
    add_ints     f1 = lib.get_function<int(int, int)>         ("func_name");
    add_doubles  f2 = lib.get_function<double(double, double)>("func_name");
    
    [Note] Note

    When mangled, MSVC will also check the return type.

    Parameters:

    name

    Name of the function.

    Template Parameters:

    Func

    Type of the function, required for determining the overload

    Returns:

    A reference to the function of type F.

    Throws:

    boost::system::system_error if symbol does not exist or if the DLL/DSO was not loaded.
  9. template<typename Class, typename Func> 
      unspecified get_mem_fn(const std::string & name) const;

    Load a member-function from the referenced library.

    Example (import class is MyClass, which is available inside the library and the host):

    smart_library lib("test_lib.so");
    
    typedef int      MyClass(*func)(int);
    typedef int   MyClass(*func_const)(int) const;
    
    add_ints     f1 = lib.get_mem_fn<MyClass, int(int)>              ("MyClass::function");
    add_doubles  f2 = lib.get_mem_fn<const MyClass, double(double)>("MyClass::function");
    
    [Note] Note

    When mangled, MSVC will also check the return type.

    Parameters:

    name

    Name of the function.

    Template Parameters:

    Class

    The class the function is a member of. If Class is const, the function will be assumed as taking a const this-pointer. The same applies for volatile.

    Func

    Signature of the function, required for determining the overload

    Returns:

    A pointer to the member-function with the signature provided

    Throws:

    boost::system::system_error if symbol does not exist or if the DLL/DSO was not loaded.
  10. template<typename Signature> constructor< Signature > get_constructor() const;

    Load a constructor from the referenced library.

    Example (import class is MyClass, which is available inside the library and the host):

    smart_library lib("test_lib.so");
    
    constructor<MyClass(int)    f1 = lib.get_mem_fn<MyClass(int)>();
    

    Template Parameters:

    Signature

    Signature of the function, required for determining the overload. The return type is the class which this is the constructor of.

    Returns:

    A constructor object.

    Throws:

    boost::system::system_error if symbol does not exist or if the DLL/DSO was not loaded.
  11. template<typename Class> destructor< Class > get_destructor() const;

    Load a destructor from the referenced library.

    Example (import class is MyClass, which is available inside the library and the host):

    smart_library lib("test_lib.so");
    
    destructor<MyClass>     f1 = lib.get_mem_fn<MyClass>();
    

    Template Parameters:

    Class

    The class whichs destructor shall be loaded

    Returns:

    A destructor object.

    Throws:

    boost::system::system_error if symbol does not exist or if the DLL/DSO was not loaded.
  12. template<typename Class> const std::type_info & get_type_info() const;

    Load the typeinfo of the given type.

    Example (import class is MyClass, which is available inside the library and the host):

    smart_library lib("test_lib.so");
    
    std::type_info &ti = lib.get_Type_info<MyClass>();
    

    Template Parameters:

    Class

    The class whichs typeinfo shall be loaded

    Returns:

    A reference to a type_info object.

    Throws:

    boost::system::system_error if symbol does not exist or if the DLL/DSO was not loaded.
  13. template<typename Alias> void add_type_alias(const std::string & name);

    This function can be used to add a type alias.

    This is to be used, when a class shall be imported, which is not declared on the host side.

    Example:

    smart_library lib("test_lib.so");
    
    lib.add_type_alias<MyAlias>("MyClass"); //when using MyAlias, the library will look for MyClass
    
    //get the destructor of MyClass
    destructor<MyAlias> dtor = lib.get_destructor<MyAlias>();
    

    [Note] Note

    If the alias-type is not large enough for the imported class, it will result in undefined behaviour.

    [Warning] Warning

    The alias will only be applied for the type signature, it will not replace the token in the scoped name.

    Parameters:

    name

    Name of the class the alias is for.

  14. void unload() noexcept;
  15. bool is_loaded() const noexcept;
  16. bool operator!() const noexcept;
  17. explicit operator bool() const noexcept;
    bool() const

    bool() const

  18. bool has(const char * symbol_name) const noexcept;
  19. bool has(const std::string & symbol_name) const noexcept;
  20. smart_library & assign(const smart_library & lib);
  21. void swap(smart_library & rhs) noexcept;

    Swaps two libraries. Does not invalidate existing symbols and functions loaded from libraries.

    Parameters:

    rhs

    Library to swap with.

    Throws:

    Nothing.

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