tinyvariant

tinyvariant is a C++ template library designed to provide a small, efficient implementation of a type-erased variant, similar to `std::variant` but with a focus on minimal code size and dependencies. It allows a variable to hold a value of one of several specified types at any given time. The library aims to be header-only and suitable for embedded systems or situations where code footprint is critical.

The core concept behind tinyvariant is to use techniques such as template metaprogramming and careful memory management to achieve its small size. It typically uses a union internally to store the actual data, along with a tag or index to indicate which type is currently active. This approach contrasts with `std::variant` which may employ more complex mechanisms to handle potentially larger types and more extensive feature sets.

tinyvariant provides basic operations like construction, assignment, and retrieval of the contained value. It often relies on visitor patterns or similar mechanisms for type-safe access to the stored data, ensuring that operations are only performed if the variant holds the expected type. This helps prevent runtime errors and maintains type safety. The library's simplicity makes it a viable alternative when the full functionality and overhead of `std::variant` are not required. Its use cases include implementing state machines, message passing systems, or any scenario where a single object needs to represent different types without dynamic memory allocation.

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