[boost] Proposal: force_cast<>

From: Mac Murrett (mmurrett_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-01-15 17:27:26

Hello, Boosters,

In a discussion with Bill Kempf about the Mac OS implementation of
Boost.Threads, Bill suggested that a function that I had been using,
force_cast<>, should either be hidden away in a detail namespace or split
off onto its own.  I am therefore proposing it as an addition to Boost, and
will simply stuff it down to the bowels of boost::threads::detail::mac or
something if nobody else sees value in it.

Its purpose is to convert anything to anything, and it looks like this:

// force_cast will convert anything to anything.

template<class Return_Type, class Argument_Type>
inline Return_Type force_cast(const Argument_Type &rSrc)
    {    return(*reinterpret_cast<const Return_Type *>(&rSrc));    }

I was using it to convert an UnsignedWide, which is a struct composed of two
uint32_ts, to a uint64_t.  This allowed for easier, more efficient math.

Is there any interest in this?

Thanks,
Mac Murrett.