Compile-time NameDecoder

[alxbilger]

NameDecoder has functions to get the name, template name, namespace etc as a string based on a type. Currently, functions are runtime.
Since types are known at compile-time, it would make sense that NameDecoder could be constexpr.
The problem is that C++ does not offer compile-time and portable features to do such a thing.

I found a solution on the web, but it is not portable:

• https://stackoverflow.com/a/59522794
• https://bitwizeshift.github.io/posts/2021/03/09/getting-an-unmangled-type-name-at-compile-time/

It uses __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ (for clang and msvc) and __FUNCSIG__ for msvc.

Some problems with this solution:

• Other compilers are not supported.
• __FUNCSIG__ might not be defined depending on the compilation options.
• __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ is not defined with old gcc

Open-source libraries I found (such as /~https://github.com/Manu343726/ctti or /~https://github.com/adambadura/type_name) also use the __PRETTY_FUNCTION__ solution.

I think it would not affect any of us if we start using this non-portable C++ since the modern compilers that we use support it. But, to be safe, I start the discussion if we go to this direction.

[hugtalbot]

I think this should rather be discussed in an issue, right @alxbilger ?

[alxbilger]

I agree, however I don't think it's possible to simply convert it.

[github-actions[bot]]

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@alxbilger
Feedback has been given to you by the project reviewers, however we have not received a response from you. Without further news in the coming weeks, this discussion will be automatically closed in order to keep this forum clean and fresh 🌱 Thank you for your understanding

[github-actions[bot]]

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@alxbilger
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