c++multiple-inheritancediamond-problem

C++ multiple inheritance: avoiding reimplementation of a pure virtual function if the same function is already implemented in one of the parents


I have this class hierarchy in C++:

class ISegmentReader
{
public:
    virtual void readCacheFromDb() = 0;
    //...
};

class ISegmentManager: public ISegmentReader
{
    //readCacheFromDb not redeclared
    //... 
};

class SegmentReader: public ISegmentReader
{
public:
    void readCacheFromDb() override final;
};

class SegmentManager: public ISegmentManager, public SegmentReader
{
    //readCacheFromDb not redeclared
    //... 
};

int main()
{
  SegmentManager manager;
}

I would expect to be able to use SegmentReader::readCacheFromDb implicitly in SegmentManager. However, whenever I try to compile, I get:

... invalid new-expression of abstract class type ‘SegmentManager’ ...
because the following virtual functions are pure within ‘SegmentManager’
...

ISegmentReader::readCacheFromDb()’
    virtual void readCacheFromDb() = 0;

Any way I can get around this without redeclaring/reimplementing:

SegmentManager::readCacheFromDb(){
    SegmentReader::readCacheFromDb();
}

Many thanks


Solution

  • You might want to use the virtual inheritance so ISegmentReader is a single instance in the SegmentManager storage layout.

    SegmentManager | ISegmentManager | SegmentReader | ISegmentReader
    

    Instead of

    SegmentManager | [ISegmentManager | ISegmentReader] | [SegmentReader | ISegmentReader]
    

    https://godbolt.org/z/6qb478q43

    class ISegmentReader {
     public:
      virtual void readCacheFromDb() = 0;
    };
    
    class ISegmentManager : public virtual ISegmentReader {};
    
    class SegmentReader : public virtual ISegmentReader {
     public:
      void readCacheFromDb() override final {};
    };
    
    class SegmentManager : public ISegmentManager, public SegmentReader {};
    
    int main() {
      SegmentManager manager;
    }