Call order of constructors

Question

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;    
struct A{
  A() {cout << "A" << endl;}
  A(int a) {cout << "A+" << endl;}
};

struct B : virtual A{
  B() : A(1) {cout << "B" << endl;}
};
struct C : virtual A{
  C() : A(1) {cout << "C" << endl;}
};
struct D : virtual A{
  D() : A() {cout << "D" << endl;}
};
struct E : B, virtual C, D{
  E(){cout << "E" << endl;}
};
struct F : D, virtual C{
  F(){cout << "F" << endl;}
};
struct G : E, F{
  G() {cout << "G" << endl;}
};

int main(){
  G g;
  return 0;
}

Program prints:

A
C
B
D
E
D
F
G

I would like to know what rules should I use to determine in what order constructors get called. Thanks.

Answer 1

Virtual base subobjects are constructed first, by the most-derived class, before any other bases. This is the only way that makes sense, since the relation of the virtual bases to tbe most-derived object is not known until object construction, at runtime (hence "virtual"). All intermediate initializers for virtual bases are ignored.

So, what are your virtual bases? G derives from E and F. E derives virtually from C, which in turn derives virtually from A, so A, C are first. Next, F doesn't add any further virtual bases. Next, E has non-virtual bases B and D, in that order, which are constructed next, and then E is complete. Then comes F's non-virtual base D, and F is complete. Finally, G is complete.

All in all, it's virtual bases A, C, then non-virtual bases B, D, E and D, F, and then G itself.

Answer 2

You can investigate the order of constructor calls from this quote of the C++ Standard and try to trap it yourself

10 In a non-delegating constructor, initialization proceeds in the following order: — First, and only for the constructor of the most derived class (1.8), virtual base classes are initialized in the order they appear on a depth-first left-to-right traversal of the directed acyclic graph of base classes, where “left-to-right” is the order of appearance of the base classes in the derived class base-specifier-list. — Then, direct base classes are initialized in declaration order as they appear in the base-specifier-list (regardless of the order of the mem-initializers). — Then, non-static data members are initialized in the order they were declared in the class definition (again regardless of the order of the mem-initializers). — Finally, the compound-statement of the constructor body is executed. [ Note: The declaration order is mandated to ensure that base and member subobjects are destroyed in the reverse order of initialization. —end note ]

Answer 3

You should follow the rules given in the C++ standard:

[C++11: 12.6.2/10]: In a non-delegating constructor, initialization proceeds in the following order:

• First, and only for the constructor of the most derived class (1.8), virtual base classes are initialized in the order they appear on a depth-first left-to-right traversal of the directed acyclic graph of base classes, where “left-to-right” is the order of appearance of the base classes in the derived class base-specifier-list.
• Then, direct base classes are initialized in declaration order as they appear in the base-specifier-list (regardless of the order of the mem-initializers).
• Then, non-static data members are initialized in the order they were declared in the class definition (again regardless of the order of the mem-initializers).
• Finally, the compound-statement of the constructor body is executed.

[ Note: The declaration order is mandated to ensure that base and member subobjects are destroyed in the reverse order of initialization. —end note ]