Declare function template instantiation

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Is it possible to declare a function template instantiation?

It would express to the compiler that there exists a function template that has been instantiated somewhere with particular parameters.

// declaration of instantiation, perhaps it would look like this:
// template<typename> void foo(int);

void bar(int i) {
    // definition of function unknown to caller, it shouldn't matter
    foo(i);
}

I'm uncertain of the implications of type deduction here but the question would still stand if all types were explicit.

// template<typename> void foo<int>(int);

void bar(int i) {
    foo<int>(i);
}

Is there a technical reason this can't be done or is it just for lack of syntax? Is there a reason that it's not possible to provide sufficient information in a declaration to generate calls to an instantiated function template?

asked 10 secs ago

Praxeolitic

1,287

Declare function template instantiation