Is this allowed in c++?

[Markus Ilmola]

Is it really allowed to initialize a static class member by calling a
function?

class foo
{
public:
static int bar;
static float test;
};

int foo::bar = random_number();
float foo::test = read_value_from_config_file();

int main()
{
return 0;
}


It compiles fine with the GNU c++ compiler, but is it really allowed in
the c++ standart? And more importantly is it a safe thing to do?


All examples that a have found from the Internet only use predefined
values like this:

int foo::bar = 4;
float foo::test = 2.0;

 

[Abdo Haji-Ali]

It compiles fine with the GNU c++ compiler, but is it really allowed in
the c++ standart? And more importantly is it a safe thing to do?


All examples that a have found from the Internet only use predefined
values like this:

int foo::bar = 4;
float foo::test = 2.0;

A static variable is a normal variable with a static duration (it is
allocated when the program begins and deallocated when the program
ends), so you can do whatever you want with it (Set it, reset it,
reference it...)

Abdo Haji-Ali
Programmer
In|Framez

 

[Rolf Magnus]

Is it really allowed to initialize a static class member by calling a
function?

Sure, why not? This is true for any variable with static storage duration.

class foo
{
public:
static int bar;
static float test;
};

int foo::bar = random_number();
float foo::test = read_value_from_config_file();

int main()
{
return 0;
}


It compiles fine with the GNU c++ compiler, but is it really allowed in
the c++ standart?
Yes.

And more importantly is it a safe thing to do?

It depends. If another static variable's constructor needs the value, you
can run into problems due to initialization order.

 

[cbmanica]

It depends. If another static variable's constructor needs the value, you
can run into problems due to initialization order.

OP might enjoy

http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/ctors.html#faq-10.12

 

[Old Wolf]

Sure, why not?

It isn't in C. There are plenty of good reasons why not, if you want
to have an OT debate