How Can We Guarantee Static Variable Initialization Order in C ?

Static Initialization Order Quandary in C

In C , static variable initialization can pose challenges when attempting to initialize one variable using another's constructor. This becomes particularly problematic when static instances in different compilation units depend on each other and their initialization order becomes crucial.

Unfortunately, static initialization order in C is undefined, making it challenging to establish a specific sequence for creating static objects. As a result, the order of initialization can vary unpredictably.

One proposed solution is the "Schwarz Counter" technique. However, even this approach does not guarantee reliable initialization order.

An alternative workaround is to employ a static function member:

Type& globalObject() {
    static Type theOneAndOnlyInstance;
    return theOneAndOnlyInstance;
}

While this method ensures the correct initialization order, it introduces an inconvenience in the client code, where you must use globalObject().MemberFunction() instead of the more straightforward globalObject.MemberFunction().

Ultimately, the best solution may be to rethink the use of static initialization and explore alternative design patterns that do not rely on such ordering constraints.

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