RValue Stream Loading

[DanRStevens]

It's convenient to be able to load objects from files in 1 line of code. This is easier to do if we are able to load from unnamed temporary stream objects.

Ex:

auto artFile = ArtFile::Read(Stream::FileReader("filename.art"));

We should update the library to allow for more wide-spread 1 line loading of various objects from streams.

[DanRStevens]

Alternative idea: In Issue #277, I suggested the stream code could look for a T::Write(Stream::Writer& writer) method to automatically serialize non-trivial objects. A corresponding idea for the Reader side might be to have the stream code provide a Read<T>() method, which looks for a static T T::Read(Stream::Reader& reader) factory method. This might enable automatic reading with:

auto artFile = Stream::FileReader("filename.art").Read<ArtFile>();

That syntax would also make it easier to read one-off trivial types:

// int someValue;
// reader.Read(someValue);
auto someValue = reader.Read<int>();

Assuming the template parameter doesn't interfere with existing templated stream methods.

[Brett208]

I'll handle adding RValue Reading of a bitmap file in Bitmap.h

We do not support reading a clm or vol from an arbitrary stream (they both use their constructor to read via filename). Are you wanting to add an overload for a stream, both in lvalue and rvalue form? We don't currently have a use case but I am not opposed to the idea either.

[DanRStevens]

Yes, I was thinking of adding Stream overloads to both Vol and CLM files.

Any thoughts about the second alternative idea I suggested? I suppose they aren't mutually exclusive, but I suspect we would only use 1 form in any given project.

[Brett208]

Sorry for the very late reply. I would certainly support a factory read function. This would allow easy creation of custom read functions for a class, which I have done on occasion on other C# projects.