How Can I Implement Generic Lists in Go Without Using Generics?

Implementing Generic Lists in Go without Generics

Go programming language, known for its simplicity, doesn't support generics or inheritance. However, it still offers ways to create generic containers such as lists.

Implementing a Generic List with an Interface

To create a generic list, one approach is to use an interface type, such as Any. However, using this method, checking for NULL values becomes challenging.

An Alternative: Using Code Generation

To overcome the limitations of using an interface, consider code generation. Code generation allows creating generic containers that handle different data types at compile-time. Libraries such as [gocqlx](https://github.com/gocql/gocqlx) use this approach.

Storing Objects with Field Types

To store objects with a specific field type, you can create a custom struct with the desired field and use it as the element type for your list. While Go doesn't have parameterized types, it does have type declarations that allow defining types based on other types.

Advanced Implementation

For more advanced requirements, such as creating a list of animals with a specific SuitableFood field type, you can explore custom implementations using composition or reflection techniques. However, these solutions are complex and not recommended for practical use.

Note:

It's worth noting that Go's lack of generics is not a significant limitation in most practical scenarios. Its philosophy emphasizes the simplicity and clarity of code, which often outweighs the benefits of generics.

The above is the detailed content of How Can I Implement Generic Lists in Go Without Using Generics?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!