C#•3w ago

✅ Does C# have anonymous struct initializers for class fields?

Hey, I'm new to C#. I have been refactoring the code I wrote so it looks cleaner. I have something like this:

struct GeneralConfig(bool log, bool enabled) {
  public bool Log = log;
  public bool Enabled = enabled;
}

class Config(bool log) {
  public GeneralConfig General = new GeneralConfig (log, true);
// ...
}

struct GeneralConfig(bool log, bool enabled) {
  public bool Log = log;
  public bool Enabled = enabled;
}

class Config(bool log) {
  public GeneralConfig General = new GeneralConfig (log, true);
// ...
}

The code works but it has quite a bit of boilerplate, I was wondering if it's possible to declare the structure and initial values at the field definition. Something like:

class Config(bool log) {
  public struct General = new {
    public bool Log = log;
    public bool Enabled = true;
  }
}

class Config(bool log) {
  public struct General = new {
    public bool Log = log;
    public bool Enabled = true;
  }
}

The above is invalid syntax, it's just to provide an idea of what I mean. Thank you!

8 Replies

Angius•3w ago

Maybe use a record?

record Config(bool Log, bool Enabled)
{
    public string Say() => $"Log is {Log} and it {Enabled ? "is" : "is not"} enabled";
}

record Config(bool Log, bool Enabled)
{
    public string Say() => $"Log is {Log} and it {Enabled ? "is" : "is not"} enabled";
}

FoffsOP•3w ago

Let me look it up real quick! The record approach could reduce the struct declaration boilerplate but it doesn't solve the problem of code repetition. I see, that's a shame. The anonymous type field doesn't seem to solve the problem of the amount of boilerplate. I think I will change my struct to have a record modifier to reduce the boilerplate and stick with it. Thank you both!

Angius•3w ago

I can't see the boilerplate you're seeing tbh Is the repetition of GeneralConfig here the boilerplate?

public GeneralConfig General = new GeneralConfig (log, true);

public GeneralConfig General = new GeneralConfig (log, true);

Because if so, we have target-type new

public GeneralConfig General = new (log, true);

public GeneralConfig General = new (log, true);

(also, this should probably be a property or should not be public)

FoffsOP•3w ago

It's more centered on the structure declaration, so the declaration and initialization both in-line in the field rather having to declare the structure somewhere else and reference it But it doesn't seem possible

Angius•3w ago

No, you can't create ad-hoc types like that

FoffsOP•3w ago

I see Thank you both for taking the time to explain it!

sibber•3w ago

are you looking for tuples? use records tho, cleaner and strongly typef

FoffsOP•3w ago

Yes, it will look much nicer with records. Thank you all!

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✅ Does C# have anonymous struct initializers for class fields?

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