C++ Templates: The Complete Guide, 2nd Edition

Chapter 8

Compile-Time Programming

C++ has always included some simple ways to compute values at compile time. Templates considerably increased the possibilities in this area, and further evolution of the language has only added to this toolbox.

In the simple case, you can decide whether or not to use certain or to choose between different template code. But the compiler even can compute the outcome of control flow at compile time, provided all necessary input is available.

In fact, C++ has multiple features to support compile-time programming:

• Since before C++98, templates have provided the ability to compute at compile time, including using loops and execution path selection. (However, some consider this an “abuse” of template features, e.g., ...