C++ inline vs. method

Projects Programming
14

This is a problem solved easily with objects.

To completely remove the function situation without explicitly writing the code inline, we can put the code into an object, now a simple declaration provides us with the information.

struct InputByte{

  InputByte() : data( waitRead() ) {}

  operator char&() { return data; }

  InputByte &operator =( char c ){ return data = c, *this; }

  static char waitRead(){ 
    while(!Serial.available());
    return Serial.read();
  }
  char data;
};

It can be used quite easily:

  InputByte b[ 30 ];
  b[29 ] = 0;
  Serial.println( ( char* ) b );

If you can wrap you head around this, a template will provide a different solution, which can also be used just like an array.

inline char waitRead(){ 
  while(!Serial.available());
  return Serial.read();
} 

template< unsigned N > struct CaptureString {
  CaptureString() : data( N ? waitRead() : N ) {}
  operator char*(){ return (char*) this; } 
  char data;
  CaptureString< N && ( N < 0xFFFF ) ? N - 1 : 0xFFFF > next;   
};

template<> struct CaptureString< 0xFFFF >{};

And its use is like below ( equivalent to the non template version above )

  CaptureString< 30 > c;
  Serial.println( c );

Edit: fixed code error in template version.