An example of mapping strings and functions

player.cpp

#include <assert.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <unordered_map>

class Player {
 public:
  static void DoAction(std::string action) {
    std::string message;

    const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<void()>> map = {
        {"play",
         [&]() {
           if (!CAN_PLAY) {
             message = "Cannot play";
             return;
           }
           std::cout << "do play" << std::endl;
         }},
        {"pause", [&]() {
           if (!CAN_PAUSE) {
             message = "Cannot pause";
             return;
           }
           std::cout << "do pause" << std::endl;
         }}};

    auto it = map.find(action);
    assert(it != map.end());
    it->second();

    // log errors
    if (!message.empty()) {
      std::cout << message << std::endl;
    }
  }

 private:
  static const bool CAN_PLAY = true;
  static const bool CAN_PAUSE = false;
};

int main() {
  Player::DoAction("play");
  Player::DoAction("pause");
  // Player::DoAction("nexttrack"); // An invalid action hitting the assertion.
  return 0;
}