Question 1

How does any-lite compare to std::any?

Accepted Answer

any-lite provides a similar interface to std::any but is portable across older C++ standards like C++98, automatically using std::any if available in C++17 or later. However, it lacks small-object optimization, which std::any may implement, potentially affecting performance for small objects.

Question 2

Can I use any-lite without exceptions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, any-lite supports disabling exceptions via the any_CONFIG_NO_EXCEPTIONS macro. When exceptions are off, error handling like bad_any_cast may require manual checks, as the library tries to detect disabled exceptions but relies on proper macro configuration.

Question 3

How do I install any-lite in my C++ project?

Accepted Answer

Since it's header-only, download the any.hpp file from the GitHub repository and include it directly in your source code. No additional dependencies or build steps are needed, making installation quick and simple.

Question 4

What are the performance drawbacks of any-lite?

Accepted Answer

The main performance issue is the lack of small-object optimization, meaning all objects are heap-allocated. This can lead to overhead for small types and increased memory fragmentation compared to implementations with optimization.

Question 5

any-lite or Boost.Any: which is better for my project?

Accepted Answer

Choose any-lite for a lightweight, dependency-free solution with cross-standard portability. Opt for Boost.Any if you need a more feature-rich library with small-object optimization and don't mind the Boost dependency. any-lite is ideal for minimal setups and legacy support.

Question 6

How do I handle type casting errors with any-lite?

Accepted Answer

Use any_cast, which throws bad_any_cast on type mismatch. If exceptions are disabled, configure the library with the appropriate macro and implement alternative error handling, such as checking pointers returned from any_cast or using custom error codes.

Any-Lite

What is Any-Lite?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions