[kwhitefoot]

The compile time allocated array is to avoid allocations at run time, if that is a requirement. In a language with proper macros such as Nim or Lisp this can be done at compile time using exactly your approach. That way it executes fast and is just as simple .

[ivanhoe]

I've been looking into nim lately (just for fun with the Advent of Code problems) and it looks fantastic. I plan to allocate more time to it in future definitely.