properties.md

---
title: The DuMuX property system
subtitle: Flexible compile-time parameters
---

# Parameters vs. properties

## Parameters vs. properties

- <span style="color:#3498DB">Parameters</span> are set at __run-time__
    <p>A default value may be used if the user does not provide one at run-time</p>
- <span style="color:#3498DB">Properties</span> are known and set at __compile-time__
    <p>
        Can be used e.g. as template parameters (__types__ or values with `constexpr` specifier);
        No run-time penalty, enable compiler to optimize
    </p>

## Template parameters

- C++ supports _generic programming_ via __templates__
    - e.g. classes defined in terms of other types
    - concrete versions of templates are stamped out upon compilation
- __Flexible__: implementation not restricted to _concrete types_
- __Efficient__: decisions made at compile-time

## Template parameters

An example - `std::vector`

```cpp
// Declaration of the class template, usable with any
// `T` that fulfills the requirements that `vector` poses on it.
template<typename T, typename A = std::allocator<T>>
class vector;


// Instantiation of a concrete vector - a vector of ints.
// The compiler will define this concrete type for us,
// using the definition of the class template.
std::vector<int> v;
```

## Template parameters

An example - `std::vector`

<img src="./img/template_example.png" width="800"/>


## Template specializations

Template implementations can be specialized for concrete types

```cpp
template<typename T>
class MyVector
{
    // Generic implementation for any T
};

template<>
class MyVector<int>
{
    // specialized implementation for `int`
};
```

## Too many template parameters

For some classes, providing all template parameters can be very cumbersome and error-prone.

```cpp
// Example from dune-pdelab. 9 template parameters!
using GOF0 = Dune::GridOperator<
    GFS, GFS, LOP, MBE,
    RF, RF, RF,
    CF, CF
>;

DGGO2 dggo2(gfs, cd, gfs, cf, lop, mbe);
```

## Traits classes

A usual way to group template parameters

```cpp
struct MyGridOperatorTraits
{
    using FromGFS = ...;
    // ...
};

using GOF0 = Dune::PDELab::GridOperator<MyGridOperatorTraits>;
```

## Inheriting from traits classes

Inheritance may lead to unexpected results

```cpp
struct MyBaseTraits
{
    using Scalar = int;
    using Vector = std::vector<Scalar>;
};

struct MyDoubleTraits : public MyBaseTraits
{
    using Scalar = double;
};

// this is a vector of ints!
typename MyDoubleTraits::Vector v{1.14142, 1.73205};
```

## Type traits

Based on template specialization

```cpp
// Type trait template declaration
template<typename T> struct ValueType;

// Specialization for vectors of T
template<typename T, typename Allocator>
struct ValueType<std::vector<T, Allocator>> { using type = T; };

// Specialization for Dune::FieldVector
template<typename T, int size>
struct ValueType<Dune::FieldVector<T, size>> { using type = T; };
```


## Type traits

A usage example


```cpp
// expecting Container to export value_type
template<typename Container>
void someFunction(const Container& c) {
    using V = typename Container::value_type;
    // do something with V
    // ...
}
```

```cpp
// using type traits
template<typename Container>
void someFunction(const Container& c) {
    using V = typename ValueType<Container>::type;
    // do something with V
    // ...
}
```

# The DuMuX Property System

## Property System Design

- Based on __C++ template specialization__ (_type traits_)
- From a __type tag__, one can extract __properties__ defined for it
- A __property tag__ is a type trait declaration (or default implementation)
- A __property__ is exported from a __property tag__ specialization for a __type tag__
- (The property system also supports definitions of traits classes - see later)


## Property System Design

A simplified example to illustrate the idea

```cpp
// myproperties.hh
namespace Dumux::Properties {
namespace TTag { struct MyTypeTag {}; }

// some property tag
template<typename TypeTag> struct PropTagA;

// property definition for MyTypeTag
template<>
struct PropTagA<MyTypeTag>
{ using type = /*the actual property*/; };
}  // namespace Dumux::Properties
```


## Property System Design

A simplified example to illustrate the idea

```cpp
template<class TypeTag>
class GenericClass
{
    using PropA = typename Properties::PropTagA<TypeTag>::type;
    using PropB = typename Properties::PropTagB<TypeTag>::type;
    // ...
    // A property could be, for instance, a fluid system
    using FS = typename Properties::FluidSystem<TypeTag>::type;
};
```


## Property System Design


__Issue__: Inheritance not (easily) possible. All type traits need to be specialized for `MyTypeTag`.

__Goal__: We would like __type tags__ to be composable via inheritance, while providing a mechanism for customizing any property defined in the hierarchy.


## Actual Design

- A hierarchy of nodes -- called __type tags__ -- is defined (via inheritance)
- __Properties__ are defined for the appropriate nodes in this hierarchy.
- The definition of __properties__ may _depend on_ arbitrary other properties, which may be _overwritten_ at any higher node of the hierarchy
- The only requirement for properties is that they may not exhibit __cyclic dependencies__


## Actual Design

Let's implement the `Vector` example using the property system

```cpp
namespace Properties {
namespace TTag { struct BaseTag {}; }

// specialization of the Scalar property for BaseTag
template<class TypeTag>
struct Scalar<TypeTag, TTag::BaseTag> { using type = int; };

// specialization of the Vector property for BaseTag
template<class TypeTag>
struct Vector<TypeTag, TTag::BaseTag> {
    private: using Scalar = GetPropType<TypeTag, Properties::Scalar>;
    public: using type = std::vector<Scalar>;
};
```


## Actual Design

Let's implement the `Vector` example using the property system

```cpp
namespace Properties {
namespace TTag {
struct DoubleTag { using InheritsFrom = std::tuple<BaseTag>; };
}  // namespace TTag

// Specialization of the Scalar property for DoubleTag
template<class TypeTag>
struct Scalar<TypeTag, TTag::DoubleTag>
{ using type = double; };
```

```cpp
// using the property
using Vector = GetPropType<DoubleTag, Properties::Vector>;
Vector v{1.41421, 1.73205};  // v is a std::vector<double>!
```

## Using __type tags__ as traits classes

```cpp
struct BaseTag
{
    using Scalar = double;

    // Important: do not directly use Scalar here as it would
    // break the possibility to overwrite it in a child node
    template<typename TypeTag>
    using Vector = std::vector<
        GetPropType<TypeTag, Properties::Scalar>
    >;
};
```


## Configure a model at compile time

- The DuMu<sup>x</sup> way $\leftrightarrow$ <span style="color:blue">Properties</span>
  - A so-called  <span style="color:blue">TypeTag</span> bundles all necessary information $\leftrightarrow$ only ONE template parameter
  -  <span style="color:blue">Properties</span> (data types and values) can be retrieved via the property system.

```cpp
template <class TypeTag>
class InjectionProblemTwoP
{
    using VolumeVariables = GetPropType<
        TypeTag, Properties::VolumeVariables
    >;
    constexpr auto useIFS = getPropValue<
        TypeTag, Properties::EnableBoxInterfaceSolver
    >();
};
```

## The DuMu<sup>x</sup> property system

- Extension $\leftrightarrow$ tree of so called TypeTag nodes
- Each TypeTag is associated with Properties
![](./img/typetag_nodes.png)


## The DuMu<sup>x</sup> property system

- Hierarchy / Inheritance
  - TypeTags can inherit properties from other TypeTags
  - Properties with the same name are overwritten
![](./img/typetag_hierarchy.png)


## How to use I

Creating new  <span style="color:blue">TypeTag</span> nodes

```cpp
namespace Dumux::Properties::TTag {

struct MyTypeTag {};

struct MyOtherTypeTag
{ using InheritsFrom = std::tuple<MyTypeTag>; }

} // end namespace Dumux::Properties::TTag
```

## How to use II

Creating new <span style="color:blue">property tags</span> (empty, unset properties) $\leftrightarrow$ Property names are unique!
```cpp
namespace Dumux::Properties {
DUMUX_DEFINE_PROPERTY(Problem)
} // end namespace Dumux::Properties
```

## How to use III

Setting **type** properties for a specific type tag `MyTypeTag`

```cpp
namespace Properties {

template<class TypeTag>
struct Problem<TypeTag, TTag::MyTypeTag>
{ using type = Dumux::MyProblem<TypeTag>; };

} // end namespace Properties
```

## How to use III (alternative)

Alternatively, using **type** alias properties for a specific type tag `MyTypeTag`

```cpp
namespace Properties::TTag {

struct MyTypeTag {
    ...
    template<class TypeTag>
    using Problem = Dumux::MyProblem<TypeTag>;
    ...
};

} // end namespace Properties
```

## How to use IV

Setting **value** properties for a specific type tag `MyTypeTag`

```cpp
namespace Properties{

template<class TypeTag>
struct EnableBoxInterfaceSolver<TypeTag, TTag::MyTypeTag>
{ static constexpr bool value = true; }

} // end namespace Properties
```

## How to use IV (alternative)

Setting **value** for a alias property for a specific type tag `MyTypeTag`

```cpp
namespace Properties {

struct MyTypeTag {
    ...
    using EnableBoxInterfaceSolver = std::true_type;
    ...
};

} // end namespace Properties
```


## How to use V

Getting the property type set for a `TypeTag`

```cpp
namespace Dumux{

template <class TypeTag>
class Problem
{
    using Scalar = GetPropType<TypeTag, Properties::Scalar>;
};

} // end namespace Dumux
```


## Summary

- "Top-level" classes in DuMu<sup>x</sup> depend on a __type tag__ and use the property system to obtain other types
- Setting a property for your __type tag__ will affect all classes using the same __type tag__
- Each model defines a set of properties grouped in a __type tag__
  * e.g. <span style="color:blue">TwoP, TwoPTwoC, TwoPNI</span>
- By deriving your __type tag__ from those, your problem inherits all type information needed to set up the model at compile time!
- Example: see Exercise