The Ranges Library in C++20: Design Choices

Thanks to the ranges library, working with the Standard Template Library (STL) is much more comfortable and powerful. First of all, the algorithms of the ranges library are lazy, can work directly on the container, and can be composed. Additionally, the ranges library made a few unique design choices, you must know.

Before I dive deep into the ranges library in C++20, I want to recap in a few sentences the three main features of the ranges: The algorithms of the ranges can directly operate on the container, evaluate their arguments lazily, and can be composed.

Direct on the Container

The ranges library enables a container such as std::ranges::sort can directly operate on the container:

// sortRanges.cpp

#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main()  {

    std::vector<int> myVec{-3, 5, 0, 7, -4};
    std::ranges::sort(myVec);                  // (1)
    for (auto v: myVec) std::cout << v << " "; // -4, -3, 0, 5, 7

}

On the contrary, the classic std::sort operates on a range defined by two iterators: std:sort(myVec.begin(), myVec.end()).

The ranges algorithms are lazy and can be composed.

Lazy Evaluation and Function Composition

The following program primesLazy.cpp applies both features. It creates the first ten prime numbers, starting with one million.

// primesLazy.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <ranges>


bool isPrime(int i) {
    for (int j=2; j*j <= i; ++j){
        if (i % j == 0) return false;
    }
    return true;
}

int main() {
                                        
    std::cout << '\n';
                                         
    auto odd = [](int i){ return i % 2 == 1; };

    for (int i: std::views::iota(1'000'000) | std::views::filter(odd) 
                                            | std::views::filter(isPrime) 
                                            | std::views::take(10)) {
        std::cout << i << " ";  
    }

    std::cout << '\n';

}

You have to read the function composition from left to right: I create an infinite data stream starting with 1’000’000 (std::views::iota(1'000'000)) and apply two filters. Each filter needs a predicate. The first filter let odd elements pass (std::views::filter(odd)), and the second filter lets the prime numbers pass (std::views::filter(isPrime)). To end the infinite data stream, I stop after ten numbers (std::views::take(10)).  Finally, here are the first ten prime numbers starting with one million.

You may ask: Who starts the processing of this data pipeline? Now, it goes from right to left. The data sink (std::views::take(10)) want to have the next value and ask its predecessor. This request continues until the range-based for-loop produces the next value. The range-based for-loop can produce an infinite data stream, but it only produces values on request. This is lazy evaluation.

This was my short recap. When you want to read more about the ranges library, including sentinels, projection, and concepts, read my previous posts:

  1. The Ranges Library
  2. Functional Pattern with the Ranges Library
  3. The Ranges Library in C++20: More Details
  4. Projections with Ranges
  5. Sentinels and Concepts with Ranges Algorithms
  6. Improved Iterators with Ranges
  7. Pythonic with the Ranges Library
  8. Pythons range Function, the Second
  9. Pythons map Function

Now, let me write about something new.

 

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    Design Choices

    For efficiency reasons, the ranges library has some unique design choices. It’s important to know and follow theses.

    When you study the begin member function of std::ranges::filter_view, you find code equivalent to the following one:

    if constexpr (!ranges::forward_range<V>)
        return /* iterator */{*this, ranges::find_if(base_, std::ref(*pred_))};
    else
    {
        if (!begin_.has_value())
            begin_ = ranges::find_if(base_, std::ref(*pred_)); // caching
        return /* iterator */{*this, begin_.value())};
    }
    

    Let’s analyze the nested if clause. First, the compiler checks if begin_.has_value() is true. If not, it determines begin_. This means that this member function caches the result within the std::ranges::filter_view object for use on subsequent calls. This caching has interesting consequences. Let me exemplify this with a code snippet.

    // cachingRanges.cpp
    
    #include <numeric>
    #include <iostream>
    #include <ranges>
    #include <vector>
     
    int main() {
    
        std::vector<int> vec(1'000'000);
        std::iota(vec.begin(), vec.end(), 0);
    
        for (int i: vec | std::views::filter([](auto v) { return v > 1000; }) 
                        | std::views::take(5)) {
                            std::cout << i << " ";  // 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005
                        }
        
    }
    

    The first call of std::views::filter([](auto v) { return v > 1000; }) determines the begin iterator and reuses it in subsequent calls. The benefit of this caching is obvious. Many subsequent iterations of the pipeline are spared. But there are also severe drawbacks: cache issues and constness issues.

    Cache

    Here are the two important cache rules for ranges:

    • Don’t use a view on modified ranges.
    • Don’t copy a view.

    Let me play with the previous program cachingRanges.cpp and break both rules:

    // cachingIssuesRanges.cpp
    
    #include <concepts>
    #include <forward_list>
    #include <iostream>
    #include <numeric>
    #include <ranges>
    #include <vector>
    
    void printElements(std::ranges::input_range auto&& rang) {
        for (int i: rang) {
            std::cout << i << " ";  
        }
        std::cout << '\n';
    }
     
    int main() {
    
        std::cout << '\n';
    
        std::vector<int> vec{-3, 10, 4, -7, 9, 0, 5, -5};                            // (1)
        std::forward_list<int> forL{-3, 10, 4, -7, 9, 0, 5, -5};                     // (2)
    
        auto first5Vector = vec | std::views::filter([](auto v) { return v > 0; })   // (3)
                                | std::views::take(5);
    
        auto first5ForList = forL | std::views::filter([](auto v) { return v > 0; }) // (4) 
                                  | std::views::take(5);            
    
        printElements(first5Vector);           // 10 4 9 5                           // (5)
        printElements(first5ForList);          // 10 4 9 5                           // (6)
        
        std::cout << '\n';
    
        vec.insert(vec.begin(), 10);
        forL.insert_after(forL.before_begin(), 10);
    
    
        printElements(first5Vector);           // -3 10 4 9 5
        printElements(first5ForList);          // 10 4 9 5
    
        std::cout << '\n';
    
        auto first5VectorCopy{first5Vector};                                        // (7)
        auto first5ForListCopy{first5ForList};                                      // (8)
    
        printElements(first5VectorCopy);       // -3 10 4 9 5
        printElements(first5ForListCopy);      // 10 10 4 9 5
        
        std::cout << '\n';
    
    }
    

    To make it easier to follow the problem, I wrote the output directly in the source code. The program does the following steps with a std::vector and a std::forward_list. First, both containers are initialized with the initializer list {-3, 10, 4, -7, 9, 0, 5, -5} (lines 1 and 2). Then, I create two views (lines 3 and 4). Both views first5Vector and first5ForList consist of the first 5 elements greater than 0. Lines (5) and (6) display the corresponding values.

    Now, I break the first rule: “Don’t use a view on modified ranges.” I insert 10 at the beginning of both containers. Afterward, first5Vector displays the -3 and first5ForList ignores the added 10.  After the break of the second rule, “Don’t copy a view.” in lines (7) and (8), the cache of first5ForListCopy is invalidated. first5VectorCopy still shows the wrong numbers. Finally, here is the output of the program.

    Here is a simple rule of thumb: Use views directly after you have defined them.

    You may have noticed that the function printElements takes it arguments by universal reference, aka forwarding reference.

    What’s next?

    Let me write in my next post, why a function should take an arbitrary view by universal reference.

    Here is a Note on my Behalf

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