This is a single-header-file repository which allows for writing static blocks in C++. That is: Blocks of code, outside of any function, which can't be called from a function, and are executed once when the program starts (before main()).

C++ doesn't support this natively. But with a little bit of preprocessor trickery and some compiler features, it can effectively be done.

This is similar to Java's static (initialization) blocks.

#include <iostream>
#include "static_block.hpp"

static_block {
    std::cout << "In the static block!" << std::endl;
}

int main() {
    std::cout << "In main()." << std::endl;
}

• Static blocks participate in the static initialization order fiasco, so be careful not to create dependence loops with othe static code (e.g. construction of global objects, other wtiatc bocl
• Based on my answer to this StackOverflow question.
• This is C++98 code (!)
• It's possible to use multiple static blocks in the same file.
• Static blocks can't be nested, and cannot be used within classes and structs.