boost/libs/bind/doc/bind/faq.qbk

[/
 /  Copyright (c) 2001, 2002 Peter Dimov and Multi Media Ltd.
 /  Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Peter Dimov
 /
 / Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See
 / accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
 / http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
 /]

[section:faq Frequently Asked Questions]

[section Why doesn't this compile?]

See the dedicated [link bind.troubleshooting Troubleshooting section].

[endsect]

[section Why does this compile? It should not.]

Probably because you used the general `bind<R>(f, ...)` syntax, thereby
instructing `bind` to not "inspect" f to detect arity and return type errors.

[endsect]

[section:Q_forms What is the difference between `bind(f, ...)` and `bind<R>(f, ...)`?]

The first form instructs `bind` to inspect the type of `f` in order to
determine its arity (number of arguments) and return type. Arity errors will
be detected at "bind time". This syntax, of course, places some requirements
on `f`. It must be a function, function pointer, member function pointer, or a
function object that defines a nested type named `result_type`; in short, it
must be something that `bind` can recognize.

The second form instructs `bind` to not attempt to recognize the type of `f`.
It is generally used with function objects that do not, or cannot, expose
`result_type`, but it can also be used with nonstandard functions. For example,
the current implementation does not automatically recognize variable-argument
functions like `printf`, so you will have to use `bind<int>(printf, ...)`.
Note that an alternative `bind(type<R>(), f, ...)` syntax is supported for
portability reasons.

Another important factor to consider is that compilers without partial
template specialization or function template partial ordering support cannot
handle the first form when `f` is a function object, and in most cases will
not handle the second form when `f` is a function (pointer) or a member
function pointer.

[endsect]

[section Does bind work with Windows API functions?]

Yes, if you [link bind.implementation.stdcall `#define
BOOST_BIND_ENABLE_STDCALL`]. An alternative is to treat the function as a
[link bind.purpose.with_function_objects generic function object] and use the
`bind<R>(f, ...)` syntax.

[endsect]

[section Does bind work with COM methods?]

Yes, if you [link bind.implementation.stdcall `#define
BOOST_MEM_FN_ENABLE_STDCALL`].

[endsect]

[section Does bind work with Mac toolbox functions?]

Yes, if you [link bind.implementation.stdcall `#define
BOOST_BIND_ENABLE_PASCAL`]. An alternative is to treat the function as a [link
bind.purpose.with_function_objects generic function object] and use the
`bind<R>(f, ...)` syntax.

[endsect]

[section Does bind work with extern "C" functions?]

Sometimes. On some platforms, pointers to extern "C" functions are equivalent
to "ordinary" function pointers, so they work fine. Other platforms treat them
as different types. A platform-specific implementation of `bind` is expected
to handle the problem transparently; this implementation does not. As usual,
the workaround is to treat the function as a [link
bind.purpose.with_function_objects generic function object] and use the
`bind<R>(f, ...)` syntax.

[endsect]

[section Why doesn't bind automatically recognize nonstandard functions?]

Non-portable extensions, in general, should default to off to prevent vendor
lock-in. Had the [link bind.implementation.stdcall appropriate macros] been
defined automatically, you could have accidentally taken advantage of them
without realizing that your code is, perhaps, no longer portable. In addition,
some compilers have the option to make `__stdcall` (`__fastcall`) their
default calling convention, in which case no separate support would be
necessary.

[endsect]

[endsect]