Is the C Template System Turing-Complete at Compile Time?

Is the C Template System Turing-Complete?

The C template system, as it appeared in C 11, is Turing-complete at compile time. This means that any Turing-complete computation can theoretically be performed using C templates.

A Nontrivial Example

One nontrivial example of a computation that exploits this property is a Turing machine implemented using C 11 templates. The implementation involves representing the tape, head position, and state of the machine using templates. The rules of the machine are then implemented as template metafunctions, and the state transitions are performed by instantiating the rules with the appropriate arguments.

Is This Property Useful in Practice?

While C templates are Turing-complete, the extent to which this property is useful in practice is debatable. For complex computations, the resulting code can become highly complex and difficult to maintain. In most cases, it is more pragmatic to use a more appropriate language or tool for the task at hand. However, the Turing-completeness of C templates can provide interesting insights into the expressive power of the language and may inspire novel solutions to programming challenges.

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