Add new node interface TypeDescriptionsInterface to provide GetTypeDescription service

rclcpp/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ set(${PROJECT_NAME}_SRCS
   src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_time_source.cpp
   src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_timers.cpp
   src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_topics.cpp
+  src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions.cpp
   src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_waitables.cpp
   src/rclcpp/node_options.cpp
   src/rclcpp/parameter.cpp

rclcpp/include/rclcpp/node.hpp

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_time_source_interface.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_timers_interface.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_topics_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions_interface.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_waitables_interface.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_options.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/parameter.hpp"
@@ -1456,6 +1457,11 @@ class Node : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Node>
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTimeSourceInterface::SharedPtr
   get_node_time_source_interface();
 
+  /// Return the Node's internal NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface implementation.
+  RCLCPP_PUBLIC
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface::SharedPtr
+  get_node_type_descriptions_interface();
+
   /// Return the sub-namespace, if this is a sub-node, otherwise an empty string.
   /**
    * The returned sub-namespace is either the accumulated sub-namespaces which
@@ -1588,6 +1594,7 @@ class Node : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Node>
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeClockInterface::SharedPtr node_clock_;
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeParametersInterface::SharedPtr node_parameters_;
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTimeSourceInterface::SharedPtr node_time_source_;
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface::SharedPtr node_type_descriptions_;
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeWaitablesInterface::SharedPtr node_waitables_;
 
   const rclcpp::NodeOptions node_options_;

rclcpp/include/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_interfaces.hpp

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTimeSourceInterface, \
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTimersInterface, \
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTopicsInterface, \
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface, \
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeWaitablesInterface
 
 
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ class NodeInterfaces
    *   - rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTimeSourceInterface
    *   - rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTimersInterface
    *   - rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTopicsInterface
+   *   - rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface
    *   - rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeWaitablesInterface
    *
    * Or you use custom interfaces as long as you make a template specialization

rclcpp/include/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Copyright 2023 Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#ifndef RCLCPP__NODE_INTERFACES__NODE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS_HPP_
+#define RCLCPP__NODE_INTERFACES__NODE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS_HPP_
+
+#include <memory>
+
+#include "rclcpp/macros.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_base_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_logging_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_parameters_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_services_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_topics_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions_interface.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/visibility_control.hpp"
+
+namespace rclcpp
+{
+namespace node_interfaces
+{
+
+/// Implementation of the NodeTypeDescriptions part of the Node API.
+class NodeTypeDescriptions : public NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface
+{
+public:
+  RCLCPP_SMART_PTR_ALIASES_ONLY(NodeTypeDescriptions)
+
+  RCLCPP_PUBLIC
+  explicit NodeTypeDescriptions(
+    NodeBaseInterface::SharedPtr node_base,
+    NodeLoggingInterface::SharedPtr node_logging,
+    NodeParametersInterface::SharedPtr node_parameters,
+    NodeServicesInterface::SharedPtr node_services);
+
+  RCLCPP_PUBLIC
+  virtual
+  ~NodeTypeDescriptions();
+
+private:
+  RCLCPP_DISABLE_COPY(NodeTypeDescriptions)
+
+  // Pimpl hides helper types and functions used for wrapping a C service, which would be
+  // awkward to expose in this header.
+  class NodeTypeDescriptionsImpl;
+  std::unique_ptr<NodeTypeDescriptionsImpl> impl_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace node_interfaces
+}  // namespace rclcpp
+
+#endif  // RCLCPP__NODE_INTERFACES__NODE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS_HPP_

rclcpp/include/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions_interface.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Copyright 2023 Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#ifndef RCLCPP__NODE_INTERFACES__NODE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS_INTERFACE_HPP_
+#define RCLCPP__NODE_INTERFACES__NODE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS_INTERFACE_HPP_
+
+#include "rclcpp/macros.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/detail/node_interfaces_helpers.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/visibility_control.hpp"
+
+namespace rclcpp
+{
+namespace node_interfaces
+{
+
+/// Pure virtual interface class for the NodeTypeDescriptions part of the Node API.
+class NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface
+{
+public:
+  RCLCPP_SMART_PTR_ALIASES_ONLY(NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface)
+
+  RCLCPP_PUBLIC
+  virtual
+  ~NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface() = default;
+};
+
+}  // namespace node_interfaces
+}  // namespace rclcpp
+
+RCLCPP_NODE_INTERFACE_HELPERS_SUPPORT(
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface, type_descriptions)
+
+#endif  // RCLCPP__NODE_INTERFACES__NODE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS_INTERFACE_HPP_

rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node.cpp

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_time_source.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_timers.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_topics.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_waitables.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/qos_overriding_options.hpp"
 
@@ -206,6 +207,12 @@ Node::Node(
       options.clock_qos(),
       options.use_clock_thread()
     )),
+  node_type_descriptions_(new rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptions(
+      node_base_,
+      node_logging_,
+      node_parameters_,
+      node_services_
+    )),
   node_waitables_(new rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeWaitables(node_base_.get())),
   node_options_(options),
   sub_namespace_(""),
@@ -591,6 +598,12 @@ Node::get_node_topics_interface()
   return node_topics_;
 }
 
+rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeTypeDescriptionsInterface::SharedPtr
+Node::get_node_type_descriptions_interface()
+{
+  return node_type_descriptions_;
+}
+
 rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeServicesInterface::SharedPtr
 Node::get_node_services_interface()
 {

rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_base.cpp

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_base.hpp"
 
 #include "rcl/arguments.h"
+#include "rcl/node_type_cache.h"
 #include "rclcpp/exceptions.hpp"
 #include "rcutils/logging_macros.h"
 #include "rmw/validate_namespace.h"

rclcpp/src/rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// Copyright 2023 Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+#include <thread>
+
+#include "rclcpp/node_interfaces/node_type_descriptions.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/parameter_client.hpp"
+
+#include "type_description_interfaces/srv/get_type_description.h"
+
+namespace
+{
+// Helper wrapper for rclcpp::Service to access ::Request and ::Response types for allocation.
+struct GetTypeDescription__C
+{
+  using Request = type_description_interfaces__srv__GetTypeDescription_Request;
+  using Response = type_description_interfaces__srv__GetTypeDescription_Response;
+  using Event = type_description_interfaces__srv__GetTypeDescription_Event;
+};
+}  // namespace
+
+// Helper function for C typesupport.
+namespace rosidl_typesupport_cpp
+{
+template<>
+rosidl_service_type_support_t const *
+get_service_type_support_handle<GetTypeDescription__C>()
+{
+  return ROSIDL_GET_SRV_TYPE_SUPPORT(type_description_interfaces, srv, GetTypeDescription);
+}
+}  // namespace rosidl_typesupport_cpp
+
+namespace rclcpp
+{
+namespace node_interfaces
+{
+
+class NodeTypeDescriptions::NodeTypeDescriptionsImpl
+{
+public:
+  using ServiceT = GetTypeDescription__C;
+
+  rclcpp::Logger logger_;
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeBaseInterface::SharedPtr node_base_;
+  rclcpp::Service<ServiceT>::SharedPtr type_description_srv_;
+
+  NodeTypeDescriptionsImpl(
+    rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeBaseInterface::SharedPtr node_base,
+    rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeLoggingInterface::SharedPtr node_logging,
+    rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeParametersInterface::SharedPtr node_parameters,
+    rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeServicesInterface::SharedPtr node_services)
+  : logger_(node_logging->get_logger()),
+    node_base_(node_base)
+  {
+    const std::string enable_param_name = "start_type_description_service";
+
+    bool enabled = false;
+    try {
+      auto enable_param = node_parameters->declare_parameter(
+        enable_param_name,
+        rclcpp::ParameterValue(true),
+        rcl_interfaces::msg::ParameterDescriptor()
+        .set__name(enable_param_name)
+        .set__type(rclcpp::PARAMETER_BOOL)
+        .set__description("Start the ~/get_type_description service for this node.")
+        .set__read_only(true));
+      enabled = enable_param.get<bool>();
+    } catch (const rclcpp::exceptions::InvalidParameterTypeException & exc) {
+      RCLCPP_ERROR(logger_, "%s", exc.what());
+      throw;
+    }
+
+    if (enabled) {
+      auto rcl_node = node_base->get_rcl_node_handle();
+      rcl_ret_t rcl_ret = rcl_node_type_description_service_init(rcl_node);
+      if (rcl_ret != RCL_RET_OK) {
+        RCLCPP_ERROR(
+          logger_, "Failed to initialize ~/get_type_description_service: %s",
+          rcl_get_error_string().str);
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+                "Failed to initialize ~/get_type_description service.");
+      }
+
+      rcl_service_t * rcl_srv = nullptr;
+      rcl_ret = rcl_node_get_type_description_service(rcl_node, &rcl_srv);
+      if (rcl_ret != RCL_RET_OK) {
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+                "Failed to get initialized ~/get_type_description service from rcl.");
+      }
+
+      rclcpp::AnyServiceCallback<ServiceT> cb;
+      cb.set(
+        [this](
+          std::shared_ptr<rmw_request_id_t> header,
+          std::shared_ptr<ServiceT::Request> request,
+          std::shared_ptr<ServiceT::Response> response
+        ) {
+          rcl_node_type_description_service_handle_request(
+            node_base_->get_rcl_node_handle(),
+            header.get(),
+            request.get(),
+            response.get());
+        });
+
+      type_description_srv_ = std::make_shared<Service<ServiceT>>(
+        node_base_->get_shared_rcl_node_handle(),
+        rcl_srv,
+        cb);
+      node_services->add_service(
+        std::dynamic_pointer_cast<ServiceBase>(type_description_srv_),
+        nullptr);
+    }
+  }
+
+  ~NodeTypeDescriptionsImpl()
+  {
+    if (
+      type_description_srv_ &&
+      RCL_RET_OK != rcl_node_type_description_service_fini(node_base_->get_rcl_node_handle()))
+    {
+      RCLCPP_ERROR(
+        logger_,
+        "Error in shutdown of get_type_description service: %s", rcl_get_error_string().str);
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+NodeTypeDescriptions::NodeTypeDescriptions(
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeBaseInterface::SharedPtr node_base,
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeLoggingInterface::SharedPtr node_logging,
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeParametersInterface::SharedPtr node_parameters,
+  rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeServicesInterface::SharedPtr node_services)
+: impl_(new NodeTypeDescriptionsImpl(
+      node_base,
+      node_logging,
+      node_parameters,
+      node_services))
+{}
+
+NodeTypeDescriptions::~NodeTypeDescriptions()
+{}
+
+}  // namespace node_interfaces
+}  // namespace rclcpp

rclcpp/test/rclcpp/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -262,6 +262,11 @@ if(TARGET test_node_interfaces__node_topics)
     "test_msgs")
   target_link_libraries(test_node_interfaces__node_topics ${PROJECT_NAME} mimick)
 endif()
+ament_add_gtest(test_node_interfaces__node_type_descriptions
+  node_interfaces/test_node_type_descriptions.cpp)
+if(TARGET test_node_interfaces__node_type_descriptions)
+  target_link_libraries(test_node_interfaces__node_type_descriptions ${PROJECT_NAME} mimick)
+endif()
 ament_add_gtest(test_node_interfaces__node_waitables
   node_interfaces/test_node_waitables.cpp)
 if(TARGET test_node_interfaces__node_waitables)

rclcpp/test/rclcpp/node_interfaces/test_node_parameters.cpp

@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ TEST_F(TestNodeParameters, list_parameters)
   std::vector<std::string> prefixes;
   const auto list_result = node_parameters->list_parameters(prefixes, 1u);
 
-  // Currently the only default parameter is 'use_sim_time', but that may change.
+  // Currently the default parameters are 'use_sim_time' and 'start_type_description_service'
   size_t number_of_parameters = list_result.names.size();
-  EXPECT_GE(1u, number_of_parameters);
+  EXPECT_GE(2u, number_of_parameters);
 
   const std::string parameter_name = "new_parameter";
   const rclcpp::ParameterValue value(true);