C++ Binary Reader (Concepts Edition)

Read binary data from files into C++ primitives. This library utilizes templates + concepts to simplify the interface. But let's just jump into some examples.

Creating the Reader

#include "BinaryReaderFile.h"
#include "BinaryReaderBuffered.h"
#include "BinaryReaderSlice.h"

#include <cstdint>

int main()
{
    // Create a reader from a file path
    // This uses `std::ifstream` internally
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderFile readerFile("data.bin");

    // Create from a buffer
    std::vector<uint8_t> rawData;
    // Fill vector with data
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderBuffered readerBuff(std::move(rawData));

    // Create a "view" that doesn't transfer data ownership
    // Helpful if you need to pass a reader to a function but want to
    //   manage the position and size
    std::vector<uint8_t> rawData2(1024);
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderSlice readerSlice(rawData2.data() + 512, 512);

    // All interfaces support these basic file operations
    readerFile.seek(5, std::ios::beg);
    size_t len = readerFile.getLength();
    size_t curPos = readerFile.tell();
}

Reading Scalars

#include "BinaryReaderFile.h"
#include <cstdint>

int main()
{
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderFile reader("data.bin");

    // Read an Unsigned 32-bit integer as little endian (default) and big endian
    reader.readScalar<uint32_t>();
    reader.readScalarBE<uint32_t>();

    // Any integer can be used
    // You *could* use variable width integers... but like... don't
    reader.readScalar<char>();
    reader.readScalar<uint8_t>();
    reader.readScalarBE<int16_t>();
    reader.readScalar<uint64_t>();

    // Sometimes you want to bound-check the values
    // If the value here isn't between 0 and 10 (inclusive/exclusive)
    //    a BinaryReader::LimitException will be thrown.
    // The 3rd argument is a message that will be included in LimitException
    reader.readScalarSafe<uint32_t>(0, 10, "Value must be less than 10");

    // You can also restrict to just 1 value    
    reader.readScalarSafe<uint32_t>(9, "Value must be 9");
}

Arrays

#include "BinaryReaderFile.h"
#include <cstdint>

int main()
{ 
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderFile reader("data.bin");
    std::vector<uint32_t> ints(20);

    // Reading arrays is very similar to the scalar interface
    reader.readScalarArray<uint32_t>(ints.data(), 20);
    reader.readScalarArrayBE<uint32_t>(ints.data(), 20);

    // Bounds-checking is also available
    // Thrown LimitExceptions will include the index of the limit-breached value
    // The index is also stored inside the exception `LimitException.index`
    reader.readScalarArraySafe<uint32_t>(ints.data(), 20, 0, 10, "Value must be less than 10");
    reader.readScalarArraySafe<uint32_t>(ints.data(), 20, 9, "Value must be 9");
}

Floats

#include "BinaryReaderFile.h"
#include <cstdint>

int main()
{
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderFile reader("data.bin");
    std::vector<float> floats(20);

    // Floats can also be read like integers
    reader.readScalar<float>();
    reader.readScalar<double>();

    // Arrays too
    reader.readScalarArray<float>(floats.data(), 20);

    // Comparing floats however requires accounting for the edge cases
    // The interface for reading floats with bound-checking adds 1 extra parameter for flags
    // See below for a description of these flags
    reader.readScalarArraySafe<float>(floats.data(), 20, 0.0F, 10.0F, CONV_INF | CONV_ZERO | FAIL_SUBNORM, "Value must be less than 10");
    reader.readScalarArraySafe<float>(floats.data(), 20, 9.0F, CONV_INF | CONV_ZERO | FAIL_SUBNORM, "Value must be 9");

    // These can also be ignored
    // But you must pass 0 for flags to acknowlege these edge cases are being ignored
    reader.readScalarArraySafe<float>(floats.data(), 20, 9.0F, 0, "Value must be 9");
}

Comparing floats is difficult. This project casts floats to signed integers for comparisons, known as ULP comparisons. It also uses flags to account for special floats. These flags are defined in BinaryReader.h and are:

• CONV_INF - Converts +/- infinity to their respective integer min and max.
• CONV_ZERO - Converts -0 to 0
• FAIL_SUBNORM - Throws an exception if a subnormal float is read.

Variable Width Integers

#include "BinaryReaderFile.h"
#include <cstdint>
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderFile reader("data.bin");

    // Scalars can be read with variable bit widths
    // The destination type must be specified
    uint32_t bitInt = reader.readBitwiseScalar<uint32_t>(24);

    // Signed integers will be converted assuming the source integer's most-signifigant bit is signed
    int32_t bitIntS = reader.readBitwiseScalar<int32_t>(24);

    // Bit offset is stored internally, so sequential bit-wise reads start at the previous stop
    BinaryReader::BinaryReaderFile reader2("data.bin");
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 0, 0
    reader2.readBitwiseScalar<uint8_t>(5);
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 0, 5
    reader2.readBitwiseScalar<uint8_t>(6);
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 1, 3
    reader2.readBitwiseScalar<uint8_t>(5);
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 2, 0

    // You can also seek bits
    reader2.seekBit(17, std::ios::beg);
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 2, 1
    reader2.seekBit(-8, std::ios::cur);
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 1, 1
    reader2.seekBit(-1, std::ios::end);
    std::cout << reader2.tell() << ", " << reader2.tellBit() << std::endl; // 1, 6

    // When you switch between bit/byte reading, the current bit offset should be taken into account
    // When the current bitoffset != 0, reading a scalar will *not* reset it to 0
    // One of thse should be run manually
    // Seeks to the beginning of the current byte
    reader2.seekBit(0, std::ios::beg);
    // Seeks 1 past the end of the current byte (0 of next byte)
    reader2.seekBit(1, std::ios::end);
}