Determining 32 vs 64 bit in C++

template<int> void DoMyOperationHelper();

template<> void DoMyOperationHelper<4>() 
{
  // do 32-bits operations
}

template<> void DoMyOperationHelper<8>() 
{
  // do 64-bits operations
}

// helper function just to hide clumsy syntax
inline void DoMyOperation() { DoMyOperationHelper<sizeof(size_t)>(); }

int main()
{
  // appropriate function will be selected at compile time 
  DoMyOperation(); 

  return 0;
}

Unfortunately there is no cross platform macro which defines 32 / 64 bit across the major compilers. I've found the most effective way to do this is the following.

First I pick my own representation. I prefer ENVIRONMENT64 / ENVIRONMENT32. Then I find out what all of the major compilers use for determining if it's a 64 bit environment or not and use that to set my variables.

// Check windows
#if _WIN32 || _WIN64
#if _WIN64
#define ENVIRONMENT64
#else
#define ENVIRONMENT32
#endif
#endif

// Check GCC
#if __GNUC__
#if __x86_64__ || __ppc64__
#define ENVIRONMENT64
#else
#define ENVIRONMENT32
#endif
#endif

Another easier route is to simply set these variables from the compiler command line.