knockoff is a collection of macro's for C99 that enable you to easily define and use 'generic' collections, like those in the Standard Template Library from C++:

#include "knockoff/slist.h"

typedef elist(int) intlist;

int main() {
    intlist lst = el_init(int); // Make a new singly-linked list of ints.

    el_push(lst, 1);            // Add some elements.
    el_push(lst, 2);
    el_push(lst, 3);

    el_println(lst);            // Prints [1, 2, 3]
    int x = el_get(lst, 0);     // x is now 1
}

Currently, it supplies a fast singly-linked list container, including utilities for getting, finding and removing elements, as well as a function for dumping the whole list to stdout.

To use knockoff, include the header that matches the collection you want to use, then write a typedef as shown above.

knockoff is a header-only library. Put the knockoff directory in your project and include one of the headers whenever you need a container. There are no dependencies, and no special compile-time flags that need to be set.

knockoff is designed to be warnings-clean and tested with all warnings on (-Wall -Wextra -pedantic).

Q: You a silly man. C doesn't have templates.

A: True - on both counts. It does work, however: knockoff uses a load of macro trickery combined with a per-type table of function pointers. This is remotely similar to what C++ uses to support its virtual member function machinery.

Q: Can I use my own types (structs) with knockoff?

A: Probably, but you'll have to write some functions (callbacks) yourself - you'll have to tell knockoff how to print values of your type, for example.

Q: Can I have a list of pointers?

A: Yes. Write a typedef, then ask knockoff for an elist of that typedef. Just using char* or similar won't work.

Q: Is knockoff fast?

A: It should be plenty fast for most practical purposes, but it won't be as fast as either a linked list you write yourself, or the list implementation in the Linux kernel, for example.

Q: This is the ugliest hack I've ever seen.

A: Agreed.

knockoff is Copyright (C) 2013 Wander Nauta.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

The software is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement. In no event shall the authors or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.