c++ - how do you make a heterogeneous boost::map?

Question

I want to have a map that has a homogeneous key type but heterogeneous data types.

I want to be able to do something like (pseudo-code):

boost::map<std::string, magic_goes_here> m;
m.add<int>("a", 2);
m.add<std::string>("b", "black sheep");

int i = m.get<int>("a");
int j = m.get<int>("b"); // error!

I could have a pointer to a base class as the data type but would rather not.

I've never used boost before but have looked at the fusion library but can't figure out what I need to do.

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

#include <map>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include <boost/any.hpp>

int main()
{
    try
    {
        std::map<std::string, boost::any> m;
        m["a"]  = 2;
        m["b"]  = static_cast<char const *>("black sheep");

        int i = boost::any_cast<int>(m["a"]);
        std::cout << "I(" << i << ")
";

        int j = boost::any_cast<int>(m["b"]); // throws exception
        std::cout << "J(" << j << ")
";
    }
    catch(...)
    {
        std::cout << "Exception
";
    }

}