# `index_vec`
[](https://docs.rs/index_vec)  [](https://circleci.com/gh/thomcc/index_vec)
**Note: API still unstable during 0.0.x**
This crate helps with defining "newtype"-style wrappers around `usize` (or
other integers), and `Vec<T>` so that some additional type safety can be
gained at zero cost.
## Example / Overview
```rust
use index_vec::{IndexVec, index_vec};
index_vec::define_index_type! {
// Define StrIdx to use only 32 bits internally (you can use usize, u16,
// and even u8).
pub struct StrIdx = u32;
// The defaults are very reasonable, but this macro can let
// you customize things quite a bit:
// By default, creating a StrIdx would check an incoming `usize against
// `u32::max_value()`, as u32 is the wrapped index type. Lets imagine that
// StrIdx has to interface with an external system that uses signed ints.
// We can change the checking behavior to complain on i32::max_value()
// instead:
MAX_INDEX = i32::max_value() as usize;
// We can also disable checking all-together if we are more concerned with perf
// than any overflow problems, or even do so, but only for debug builds: Quite
// pointless here, but an okay example
DISABLE_MAX_INDEX_CHECK = cfg!(not(debug_assertions));
// And more too, see this macro's docs for more info.
}
// Create a vector which can be accessed using `StrIdx`s.
let mut strs: IndexVec<StrIdx, &'static str> = index_vec!["strs", "bar", "baz"];
// l is a `StrIdx`
let l = strs.last_idx();
assert_eq!(strs[l], "baz");
let new_i = strs.push("quux");
assert_eq!(strs[new_i], "quux");
// Indices are mostly interoperable with `usize`, and support
// a lot of what you might want to do to an index.
// Comparison
assert_eq!(StrIdx::new(0), 0usize);
// Addition
assert_eq!(StrIdx::new(0) + 1, 1usize);
// Subtraction
assert_eq!(StrIdx::new(1) - 1, 0usize);
// Wrapping
assert_eq!(StrIdx::new(5) % strs.len(), 1usize);
// ...
```
## Background
The goal is to help with the pattern of using a `type FooIdx = usize` to
access a `Vec<Foo>` with something that can statically prevent using a
`FooIdx` in a `Vec<Bar>`. It's most useful if you have a bunch of indices
referring to different sorts of vectors.
The code was originally based on `rustc`'s `IndexVec` code, however that has
been almost entirely rewritten (except for the cases where it's trivial,
e.g. the Vec wrapper).
## Other crates
The [`indexed_vec`](https://crates.io/crates/indexed_vec) crate predates
this, and is a much closer copy of the code from `rustc`. Unfortunately,
this means it does not compile on stable.
If you're looking for something further from a vec and closer to a map, you
might find [`handy`](https://crates.io/crates/handy),
[`slotmap`](https://crates.io/crates/slotmap), or
[`slab`](https://crates.io/crates/slab) to be closer what you want.
## FAQ
#### Wouldn't `define_index_type` be better as a proc macro?
Probably. It's not a proc macro because I tend to avoid them where possible
due to wanting to minimize compile times. If the issues around proc-macro
compile times are fixed, then I'll revisit this.
I also may eventually add a proc-macro feature which is not required, but
avoids some of the grossness.
#### Does `define_index_type` do too much?
Possibly. It defines a type, implements a bunch of functions on it, and
quite a few traits. That said, it's intended to be a very painless journey
from `Vec<T>` + `usize` to `IndexVec<I, T>`. If it left it up to the
developer to do those things, it would be too annoying to be worth using.
#### The syntax for the options in `define_index_type` is terrible.
I'm open to suggestions.
#### Does it support no_std?
Yes, but it uses `extern crate alloc;`.
#### What features are planned?
Planned is a bit strong but here are the things I would find useful.
- Extend the model to include a slice type, which should improve ergonomics
in some places.
- Support any remaining parts of the slice/vec api.
- Add typesafe wrappers for SmallVec/ArrayVec (behind a cargo `feature`, of
course).
- Better syntax for the define_index_type macro (no concrete ideas).
- Allow the generated type to be a tuple struct, or use a specific field
name.
- Allow use of indices for string types (the primary benefit here would
probably be the ability to e.g. use u32 without too much pain rather than
mixing up indices from different strings -- but you never know!)
- Allow index types such as NonZeroU32 and such, if it can be done sanely.
- ...
## License
This is based on code from `rustc`'s source, and retains it's status as
dual-licensed under MIT (LICENSE-MIT) / Apache 2.0 (LICENSE-APACHE).