Functional, bind1st and mem_fun

Question

Why is this not compiling?

#include <functional> #include <boost/function.hpp> class A { A() { typedef boost::function<void ()> FunctionCall; FunctionCall f = std::bind1st(std::mem_fun(&A::process), this); } void process() {} }; 

Errors:

 In file included from /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/bits/stl_function.h:712, from /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/functional:50, from a.cc:1: /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h: In instantiation of 'std::binder1st<std::mem_fun_t<void, A> >': a.cc:7: instantiated from here /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h:100: error: no type named 'second_argument_type' in 'class std::mem_fun_t<void, A>' /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h:103: error: no type named 'first_argument_type' in 'class std::mem_fun_t<void, A>' /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h:106: error: no type named 'first_argument_type' in 'class std::mem_fun_t<void, A>' /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h:111: error: no type named 'second_argument_type' in 'class std::mem_fun_t<void, A>' /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h:117: error: no type named 'second_argument_type' in 'class std::mem_fun_t<void, A>' /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h: In function 'std::binder1st<_Operation> std::bind1st(const _Operation&, const _Tp&) [with _Operation = std::mem_fun_t<void, A>, _Tp = A*]': a.cc:7: instantiated from here /opt/local/include/gcc44/c++/backward/binders.h:126: error: no type named 'first_argument_type' in 'class std::mem_fun_t<void, A>' In file included from /opt/local/include/boost/function/detail/maybe_include.hpp:13, from /opt/local/include/boost/function/detail/function_iterate.hpp:14, from /opt/local/include/boost/preprocessor/iteration/detail/iter/forward1.hpp:47, from /opt/local/include/boost/function.hpp:64, from a.cc:2: /opt/local/include/boost/function/function_template.hpp: In static member function 'static void boost::detail::function::void_function_obj_invoker0<FunctionObj, R>::invoke(boost::detail::function::function_buffer&) [with FunctionObj = std::binder1st<std::mem_fun_t<void, A> >, R = void]': /opt/local/include/boost/function/function_template.hpp:913: instantiated from 'void boost::function0<R>::assign_to(Functor) [with Functor = std::binder1st<std::mem_fun_t<void, A> >, R = void]' /opt/local/include/boost/function/function_template.hpp:722: instantiated from 'boost::function0<R>::function0(Functor, typename boost::enable_if_c<boost::type_traits::ice_not::value, int>::type) [with Functor = std::binder1st<std::mem_fun_t<void, A> >, R = void]' /opt/local/include/boost/function/function_template.hpp:1064: instantiated from 'boost::function<R()>::function(Functor, typename boost::enable_if_c<boost::type_traits::ice_not::value, int>::type) [with Functor = std::binder1st<std::mem_fun_t<void, A> >, R = void]' a.cc:7: instantiated from here /opt/local/include/boost/function/function_template.hpp:153: error: no match for call to '(std::binder1st<std::mem_fun_t<void, A> >) ()' 

Answer 1

Because bind1st requires a binary function object. However, you pass a unary object to a function. C ++ 03 object binders are not as complex as those found in boost or tr1. In fact, they suffer from basic problems, such as the inability to process functions with reference parameters.

Since you are already using boost, I recommend using boost::bind

 FunctionCall f = boost::bind(&A::process, this); // yay!