
## Core API

OpenMethod provides a macro-free interface: the core API. This is useful in
certain situations, for example when combining open-methods and templates.

Let's rewrite the Animals example using the core API. An open-method is
implemented as an instance of the `method` template. Its parameters are a
function signature and a return type:

[source,c++]
----
#include <boost/openmethod/core.hpp>

using namespace boost::openmethod;

class poke_openmethod;

using poke = method<
    poke_openmethod(std::ostream&, virtual_<Animal&>), void>;
----


The `poke_openmethod` class acts as the method's identifier: it separates it
from other methods with the same signature. The exact name does not really
matter, and the class needs not be defined, only declared. Inventing a class
name can get tedious, so OpenMethod provides a macro for that:


[source,c++]
----
include::{examplesdir}/core_api.cpp[tag=method]
----

NOTE: BOOST_OPENMETHOD and associated macros use `BOOST_OPENMETHOD_NAME` in
their implementation. This makes it possible to mix the "macro" and "core"
styles.

We call the method via the nested function object `fn`:

[source,c++]
----
poke::fn(std::cout, animal);
----

Overriders are ordinary functions, added to a method using the nested template
`override`:

[source,c++]
----
include::{examplesdir}/core_api.cpp[tag=poke_cat]
----

NOTE: `override` can register multiple overriders.

In C++26, we will be able to use `_` instead of inventing a one-time-use
identifier. In the meantime, OpenMethod provides a small convenience macro:

[source,c++]
----
include::{examplesdir}/core_api.cpp[tag=poke_dog]
----

`next` is available from the method's nested `next` template:

[source,c++]
----
include::{examplesdir}/core_api.cpp[tag=poke_bulldog]
----

NOTE: Since the function uses itself as a template argument in its body, its
return type cannot be deduced. It must be specified explicitly, either by using
the old function declaration style or a trailing return type.


Why not call `poke_dog` directly? We could; however, keep in mind that, in a
real program, a translation unit is not necessarily aware of the overriders
added elsewhere - especially in presence of dynamic loading.

We register the classes with `use_classes`:

[source,c++]
----
include::{examplesdir}/core_api.cpp[tag=use_classes]
----

Finally, we call the method via the static member of the method class `fn`:

[source,c++]
----
include::{examplesdir}/core_api.cpp[tag=main]
----
