Question

So I use such Log class:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <iostream>

class Log
{
public:
    int i;
    Log()
    {
        i = 0;
    }

    template <class T>
    Log &operator<<(const T &v)
    {
        i++;
        std::cout << i << ":"  << v << ";" <<std::endl;
        return *this;
    }
    Log &operator<<(std::ostream&(*f)(std::ostream&)) 
    {
        i++;
        std::cout << i << ":"  << *f << ";" <<std::endl;
        return *this;
    }

    ~Log()
    {
        std::cout << " [end of message]" << std::endl;
    }
};

Which I use like:

#include <log.h>

int main()
{
    Log a;
    a << "here's a message" << std::endl;
    a << "here's one with a number: " << 5;
    std::cin.get();
}

I want my log class to get when I put “;” meaning if I have a << "here's a message" << std::endl; I want it to be capable to get that it is oune log message and a << "here's one with a number: " << 5; is another.

crently it outputs next message:

1:here's a message;
2:
;
3:here's one with a number: ;
4:5;

I want to keep its sintax (unlimited number of <<, big range of value types, no ( and ) around in api) but make it output:

1:here's a message
;
2:here's one with a number: 5;

How to do such thing?

Answer 1

Make operator<< return a temporary value which will place endl upon destruction and forwards all operator<< calls to the main object. This way, endl is guaranteed to be called exactly once.

class Log
{
struct EndlOnDeath {
    Log* log;
    EndlOnDeath(Log* ptr)
        : log(ptr) {}
    template<typename T> EndlOnDeath& operator<<(const T& val) {
        (*log) << val;
    }
    ~EndlOnDeath() {
        (*log) << std::endl;
    }
};

public:
    int i;
    Log()
    {
        i = 0;
    }

    template <class T>
    EndlOnDeath operator<<(const T &v)
    {
        i++;
        std::cout << i << ":"  << v << ";";
        return this;
    }
    Log &operator<<(std::ostream&(*f)(std::ostream&)) 
    {
        i++;
        std::cout << i << ":"  << *f << ";" <<std::endl;
        return *this;
    }

    ~Log()
    {
        std::cout << " [end of message]" << std::endl;
    }
};