How Can I Mimic Java Static Blocks in C ?

C Idiom for Java Static Blocks

Java static blocks provide a convenient way to initialize static members of a class. C , however, lacks an explicit static block mechanism within classes. To address this, we present an equivalent solution for both scenarios:

1. Initialization Upon Process Load


2. Initialization Upon Class Instantiation

Option 1: Initialization Upon Process Load

C allows for static blocks outside of classes, at translation unit scope. Using a macro technique, you can define such blocks as follows:

<code class="cpp">static_block {
    // Initialization code
}</code>

Option 2: Initialization Upon Class Instantiation

For this scenario, you can achieve static member initialization within classes using a variation of the Singleton design pattern:

<code class="cpp">class StaticInitialized {
    static bool initialized;
    virtual void initializeStatics();
};

class MyClass : private StaticInitialized {
    static int field1;
    static int field2;

    void initializeStatics() {
        // Initialization code
    }
};</code>

This approach utilizes a non-static constructor that is called upon the first instantiation of the class, initializing the static members.

Implementation Details

The solution involves defining a dummy variable that is initialized with a function call. The static block code is placed within the body of this function. This prevents conflicts with other static blocks. The macro machinery employed ensures uniqueness for each block.

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