C++ Design Patterns for Managing Parameters in Scientific Computing

A scientific computing module usually has many parameters to control its behaviors. Instantiate a pair of get/set functions for each parameter clutters the interface, incurs code-bloating, overburdens maintenance, and invites subtle bugs. To solve these problems, two patterns are proposed for parameter management. The “enumeration index” pattern is a simple solution for parameters of a single type. When the parameters belong to multiple types, it is difficult for a statically-typed language to access/modify these parameters using a single pair of get/set functions. The “parameter manager” pattern achieves this by templates and multiple inheritance. It also handles additional semantics such as constancy, dependency, and default values in an easy-to-use manner: a client only has to specify the set of parameters and their associated properties. Both patterns are illustrated by a common task of solving the diffusion equation in the C++ language.