I think i am closing in on the ultimate typeof implementation. Given the maximum depth of an expression = N (BOOST_MPL_LIMIT_VECTOR_SIZE) and the depth of the expression we are evaluating = m My earlier implementation was of the order (N^2) Arkadiys implementation (if I am correct) is of the order (m*N) My new implementation is of the order (m) !! Meaning it is linear. I only need to evaluate an expression once, and if the expression is simple, very few templates need to be instantiated. There is only the compiler limit to the complexity of an expression. Here is the define for BOOST_TYPEOF: #define BOOST_TYPEOF(expr) \ boost::type_of::decode<\ boost::type_of::value_iterator<\ sizeof(boost::type_of::encode_start(expr))\
\ ::type
I think this is about as simple as it can get without the real thing. encode_start(expr) does not return the size of an item in the expression. It returns the starting index of an iterator. Every level in the expression instantiates a template class. Every template class instantiates two friend functions. The first function: encode_value() takes the current index as input argument, and returns the encoded value of the current level. The other function: encode_index() incremets the current index count. (Up to a maximum of BOOST_MAX_TYPEOF_COUNTER, defaulted to 1000) This is the maximum number of levels that can be encoded in a single c++ file. To access these values: sizeof(boost::type_of::encode_value((boost::type_of::encode_counter<N>*)0) returns the value at iterator N. (sizeof(*boost::type_of::encode_index((boost::type_of::encode_counter<BOOST_MAX_TYPEOF_COUNTER>*)0))) returns the next available index These are defined as BOOST_TYPEOF_VALUE(N) and BOOST_TYPEOF_INDEX() respectively I tested my 120 level deep type with very little overhead in compile time. Since I rely heavily on the order of template instantiation, it may be fragile to compiler errors (I am compiling this on VC 6.5) I have had some problems with ETI screwing up the scheme when typeof is used inside templates, but this is workaroundable by being more relaxed on the indexing. The source can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boost/files/typeof_fast.zip