Re: [Boost-users] Need help with boost parameter library, multiple deduced defaults.

20 Nov 2007

      David Abrahams  writes:
...
Because Boost.Parameter is geared towards template type parameters, it
might be easier to approach this problem by starting with a different
interface for VariateSampler.  Let's say:
template <
    class TGenerator,
    class TDistribution,
    class Algorithm
...
struct _VariateSampler : Sampler<TDistribution>
  {
};
where Algorithm is required to be a function (object) callable with
TDistribution and TGenerator arguments.  You can easily map it onto
the default you've specified using:
template 
    struct default_algorithm
    {
       typename TDistribution::variate_t
       operator()(TDistribution const& d, TGenerator const& g) const
       {
           return d->sample_default(g);
       }
    };
Default selection might be done through a simple metafunction:
template <class T> struct is_PseudoRng;
template <class U> struct is_PseudoRng 
   : boost::mpl::true_ {};
...
   mpl::if_, default1, default2>::type
   ...
HTH,
Thank you very much for your help.
However, I am a little confused about some details:

I suppose you meant using mpl::if_<...> to select one of the two following
funcion objects this way:

typedef mpl::if_, 
default_quasi >::type myAlgorithm;
...
return myAlgorithm( ...,... );

template 
struct default_pseudo;

and

template 
struct default_quasi;

which calls respectively the member functions sample_pseudo and sample_quasi
(and these obviously different depending on the TDistribution they belong to).

But where should this selection happens?
Inside the class _VariateSampler, or in the implementation of the
boost::parameter technique for _VariateSampler?

And in any case, how can I override this selection, in case the user has invoked
the _VariateSampler specifying a particular function object Algorithm ?

Finally, would it be possible to extend this selection to multiple different
types mapping to multiple defaults?
I suppose you should use is_same_ or something like that, but I do not have much
experience with mpl. Could you suggest me some introductory references on this
particular topic (algorithms selection depending on complicated rules depending
on types).

Thank you again for your time.

Best Regards
StephQ