> and you can't probably use variant either, since using variant would introduce yet another possible state (e.g. if an exception gets thrown..). Variants are

> and you can't probably use variant either, since using variant would introduce yet another possible state (e.g. if an exception gets thrown..). Variants are excellent for a state machine. valueless_by_exception is pretty much irrelevant if your states' relevant constructors and assignments are nothrow.