code review suggestions and:

* components check for export of interfaces
* change intefaces to allow custom export and test

hardware_interface/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ if(BUILD_TESTING)
   target_link_libraries(test_component_interfaces hardware_interface)
   ament_target_dependencies(test_component_interfaces ros2_control_test_assets)
 
+  ament_add_gmock(test_component_interfaces_custom_export test/test_component_interfaces_custom_export.cpp)
+  target_link_libraries(test_component_interfaces_custom_export hardware_interface)
+  ament_target_dependencies(test_component_interfaces_custom_export ros2_control_test_assets)
+
   ament_add_gmock(test_component_parser test/test_component_parser.cpp)
   target_link_libraries(test_component_parser hardware_interface)
   ament_target_dependencies(test_component_parser ros2_control_test_assets)

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/actuator.hpp

@@ -64,23 +64,11 @@ class Actuator final
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
   const rclcpp_lifecycle::State & error();
 
-  [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
-    "Exporting is handled by the Framework.")]] HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-    std::vector<StateInterface>
-    export_state_interfaces();
-
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces();
-
-  [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
-    "Exporting is handled by the Framework.")]] HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-    std::vector<CommandInterface>
-    export_command_interfaces();
+  std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> export_state_interfaces();
 
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> on_export_command_interfaces();
+  std::vector<CommandInterfaceSharedPtr> export_command_interfaces();
 
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
   return_type prepare_command_mode_switch(

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/actuator_interface.hpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -136,20 +137,18 @@ class ActuatorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNod
 
   /// Exports all state interfaces for this hardware interface.
   /**
-   * Default implementation for exporting the StateInterfaces. The StateInterfaces are created
-   * according to the InterfaceDescription. The memory accessed by the controllers and hardware is
-   * assigned here and resides in the system_interface.
-   *
-   * If overwritten:
-   * The state interfaces have to be created and transferred according
-   * to the hardware info passed in for the configuration.
+   * Old way of exporting the StateInterfaces. If a empty vector is returned then
+   * the on_export_state_interfaces() method is called. If a vector with StateInterfaces is returned
+   * then the exporting of the StateInterfaces is only done with this function and the ownership is
+   * transferred to the resource manager. The set_command(...), get_command(...), ..., can then not
+   * be used.
    *
    * Note the ownership over the state interfaces is transferred to the caller.
    *
    * \return vector of state interfaces
    */
   [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
+    "Replaced by vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
     "Exporting is "
     "handled "
     "by the Framework.")]] virtual std::vector<StateInterface>
@@ -160,33 +159,41 @@ class ActuatorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNod
     return {};
   }
 
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces()
+  /**
+   * Default implementation for exporting the StateInterfaces. The StateInterfaces are created
+   * according to the InterfaceDescription. The memory accessed by the controllers and hardware is
+   * assigned here and resides in the actuator_interface.
+   *
+   * \return vector of shared pointers to the created and stored StateInterfaces
+   */
+  virtual std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> on_export_state_interfaces()
   {
-    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> state_interfaces;
+    std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> state_interfaces;
     state_interfaces.reserve(joint_state_interfaces_.size());
 
     for (const auto & [name, descr] : joint_state_interfaces_)
     {
-      actuator_states_.insert(std::make_pair(name, std::make_shared<StateInterface>(descr)));
-      state_interfaces.push_back(actuator_states_.at(name));
+      auto state_interface = std::make_shared<StateInterface>(descr);
+      actuator_states_.insert(std::make_pair(name, state_interface));
+      state_interfaces.push_back(state_interface);
     }
     return state_interfaces;
   }
+
   /// Exports all command interfaces for this hardware interface.
   /**
-   * Default implementation for exporting the CommandInterfaces. The CommandInterfaces are created
-   * according to the InterfaceDescription. The memory accessed by the controllers and hardware is
-   * assigned here and resides in the system_interface.
-   *
-   * The command interfaces have to be created and transferred according
-   * to the hardware info passed in for the configuration.
+   * Old way of exporting the CommandInterfaces. If a empty vector is returned then
+   * the on_export_command_interfaces() method is called. If a vector with CommandInterfaces is
+   * returned then the exporting of the CommandInterfaces is only done with this function and the
+   * ownership is transferred to the resource manager. The set_command(...), get_command(...), ...,
+   * can then not be used.
    *
    * Note the ownership over the state interfaces is transferred to the caller.
    *
-   * \return vector of command interfaces
+   * \return vector of state interfaces
    */
   [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> on_export_command_interfaces() method. "
+    "Replaced by vector<CommandInterfaceSharedPtr> on_export_command_interfaces() method. "
     "Exporting is "
     "handled "
     "by the Framework.")]] virtual std::vector<CommandInterface>
@@ -197,15 +204,23 @@ class ActuatorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNod
     return {};
   }
 
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> on_export_command_interfaces()
+  /**
+   * Default implementation for exporting the CommandInterfaces. The CommandInterfaces are created
+   * according to the InterfaceDescription. The memory accessed by the controllers and hardware is
+   * assigned here and resides in the actuator_interface.
+   *
+   * \return vector of shared pointers to the created and stored CommandInterfaces
+   */
+  virtual std::vector<CommandInterfaceSharedPtr> on_export_command_interfaces()
   {
-    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> command_interfaces;
+    std::vector<CommandInterfaceSharedPtr> command_interfaces;
     command_interfaces.reserve(joint_command_interfaces_.size());
 
     for (const auto & [name, descr] : joint_command_interfaces_)
     {
-      actuator_commands_.insert(std::make_pair(name, std::make_shared<CommandInterface>(descr)));
-      command_interfaces.push_back(actuator_commands_.at(name));
+      auto command_interface = std::make_shared<CommandInterface>(descr);
+      actuator_commands_.insert(std::make_pair(name, command_interface));
+      command_interfaces.push_back(command_interface);
     }
 
     return command_interfaces;
@@ -315,9 +330,8 @@ class ActuatorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNod
   std::map<std::string, InterfaceDescription> joint_state_interfaces_;
   std::map<std::string, InterfaceDescription> joint_command_interfaces_;
 
-private:
-  std::map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> actuator_states_;
-  std::map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> actuator_commands_;
+  std::unordered_map<std::string, StateInterfaceSharedPtr> actuator_states_;
+  std::unordered_map<std::string, CommandInterfaceSharedPtr> actuator_commands_;
 
   rclcpp_lifecycle::State lifecycle_state_;
 };

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/component_parser.hpp

@@ -78,8 +78,5 @@ HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
 std::vector<InterfaceDescription> parse_gpio_command_interface_descriptions_from_hardware_info(
   const HardwareInfo & hw_info);
 
-HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-bool parse_bool(const std::string & bool_string);
-
 }  // namespace hardware_interface
 #endif  // HARDWARE_INTERFACE__COMPONENT_PARSER_HPP_

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/handle.hpp

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #define HARDWARE_INTERFACE__HANDLE_HPP_
 
 #include <limits>
+#include <memory>
 #include <string>
 #include <utility>
 #include <variant>
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class Handle
   }
 
   explicit Handle(const InterfaceDescription & interface_description)
-  : prefix_name_(interface_description.prefix_name),
+  : prefix_name_(interface_description.prefix_name_),
     interface_name_(interface_description.interface_info.name)
   {
     // As soon as multiple datatypes are used in HANDLE_DATATYPE
@@ -135,6 +136,8 @@ class StateInterface : public Handle
   using Handle::Handle;
 };
 
+using StateInterfaceSharedPtr = std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>;
+
 class CommandInterface : public Handle
 {
 public:
@@ -155,6 +158,8 @@ class CommandInterface : public Handle
   using Handle::Handle;
 };
 
+using CommandInterfaceSharedPtr = std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>;
+
 }  // namespace hardware_interface
 
 #endif  // HARDWARE_INTERFACE__HANDLE_HPP_

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/hardware_info.hpp

@@ -108,15 +108,15 @@ struct TransmissionInfo
  */
 struct InterfaceDescription
 {
-  InterfaceDescription(const std::string & prefix_name_in, const InterfaceInfo & interface_info_in)
-  : prefix_name(prefix_name_in), interface_info(interface_info_in)
+  InterfaceDescription(const std::string & prefix_name, const InterfaceInfo & interface_info_in)
+  : prefix_name_(prefix_name), interface_info(interface_info_in)
   {
   }
 
   /**
    * Name of the interface defined by the user.
    */
-  std::string prefix_name;
+  std::string prefix_name_;
 
   /**
    * What type of component is exported: joint, sensor or gpio
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ struct InterfaceDescription
    */
   InterfaceInfo interface_info;
 
-  std::string get_name() const { return prefix_name + "/" + interface_info.name; }
+  std::string get_name() const { return prefix_name_ + "/" + interface_info.name; }
 
   std::string get_interface_type() const { return interface_info.name; }
 };

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/sensor.hpp

@@ -65,14 +65,8 @@ class Sensor final
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
   const rclcpp_lifecycle::State & error();
 
-  [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
-    "Exporting is handled by the Framework.")]] HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-    std::vector<StateInterface>
-    export_state_interfaces();
-
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces();
+  std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> export_state_interfaces();
 
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
   std::string get_name() const;

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/sensor_interface.hpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -121,20 +122,18 @@ class SensorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNodeI
 
   /// Exports all state interfaces for this hardware interface.
   /**
-   * Default implementation for exporting the StateInterfaces. The StateInterfaces are created
-   * according to the InterfaceDescription. The memory accessed by the controllers and hardware is
-   * assigned here and resides in the system_interface.
-   *
-   * If overwritten:
-   * The state interfaces have to be created and transferred according
-   * to the hardware info passed in for the configuration.
+   * Old way of exporting the StateInterfaces. If a empty vector is returned then
+   * the on_export_state_interfaces() method is called. If a vector with StateInterfaces is returned
+   * then the exporting of the StateInterfaces is only done with this function and the ownership is
+   * transferred to the resource manager. The set_command(...), get_command(...), ..., can then not
+   * be used.
    *
    * Note the ownership over the state interfaces is transferred to the caller.
    *
    * \return vector of state interfaces
    */
   [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
+    "Replaced by vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
     "Exporting is handled "
     "by the Framework.")]] virtual std::vector<StateInterface>
   export_state_interfaces()
@@ -144,17 +143,25 @@ class SensorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNodeI
     return {};
   }
 
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces()
+  /**
+   * Default implementation for exporting the StateInterfaces. The StateInterfaces are created
+   * according to the InterfaceDescription. The memory accessed by the controllers and hardware is
+   * assigned here and resides in the sensor_interface.
+   *
+   * \return vector of shared pointers to the created and stored StateInterfaces
+   */
+  virtual std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> on_export_state_interfaces()
   {
-    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> state_interfaces;
+    std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> state_interfaces;
     state_interfaces.reserve(sensor_state_interfaces_.size());
 
     for (const auto & [name, descr] : sensor_state_interfaces_)
     {
       // TODO(Manuel) maybe check for duplicates otherwise only the first appearance of "name" is
       // inserted
-      sensor_states_.insert(std::make_pair(name, std::make_shared<StateInterface>(descr)));
-      state_interfaces.push_back(sensor_states_.at(name));
+      auto state_interface = std::make_shared<StateInterface>(descr);
+      sensor_states_.insert(std::make_pair(name, state_interface));
+      state_interfaces.push_back(state_interface);
     }
 
     return state_interfaces;
@@ -205,8 +212,7 @@ class SensorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNodeI
 
   std::map<std::string, InterfaceDescription> sensor_state_interfaces_;
 
-private:
-  std::map<std::string, std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> sensor_states_;
+  std::unordered_map<std::string, StateInterfaceSharedPtr> sensor_states_;
 
   rclcpp_lifecycle::State lifecycle_state_;
 };

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/system.hpp

@@ -65,23 +65,11 @@ class System final
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
   const rclcpp_lifecycle::State & error();
 
-  [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
-    "Exporting is handled by the Framework.")]] HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-    std::vector<StateInterface>
-    export_state_interfaces();
-
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<StateInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces();
-
-  [[deprecated(
-    "Replaced by vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> on_export_state_interfaces() method. "
-    "Exporting is handled by the Framework.")]] HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-    std::vector<CommandInterface>
-    export_command_interfaces();
+  std::vector<StateInterfaceSharedPtr> export_state_interfaces();
 
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
-  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<CommandInterface>> on_export_command_interfaces();
+  std::vector<CommandInterfaceSharedPtr> export_command_interfaces();
 
   HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC
   return_type prepare_command_mode_switch(