Code Generation in Action

Chapter 9. Handling data

9.1	Code generation versus a library
9.2	A case study: a simple CSV-reading example
9.3	Technique: data adapters
9.4	Technique: binary file reader/writer
9.5	Finding tools to do it for you
9.6	Summary

Code that reads and writes data formats can be created by code generation techniques. The up-front benefit with a generator is that you can feel confident that you won’t get the keyboard entry errors that turn a long into an int and take two days to find. But the real value of using code generation for data handling is in the use of an abstract file definition.

From this abstract definition, you ...