Re: the crtp and static polymorphism

Hi,

I try to understand static polymorphism in the context of the
curiously recurring template pattern, but fail desperately to catch
the point.

Please have a look at the following code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
template <class Derived> struct Base {
    void interface() {
        static_cast<Derived*>(this)->implementation();
    }};

struct Derived1 : Base<Derived1> {
    void implementation() {cout << "Derived1 member" << endl;}};

struct Derived2 : Base<Derived2> {
    void implementation() {cout << "Derived2 member" << endl;}};

int main() {
    Base<Derived1> *x;
    x = new Derived1();
    x->interface();
    // I can't assign a Derived2 instance to x!?
    return 0;

}

To me, polymorphism means that it should be possible to assign either
an instance of Derived1 or Derived2 to the _same_ variable (x in the
example), and then, when calling a member fuction through x (i.e.
interface()), having the right implementation being run.

Can anyone help me showing where I'm off the track?