[boost] Re: smart pointer delete parameterization

From: Greg Colvin (gcolvin_at_[hidden])
Date: 1999-11-23 13:17:19

Howard Hinnant wrote
> I think the smart pointers are getting too smart for their own good.  I
> have a new proposal that pretty much follows from the code Michel Andri
> posted.  The basic idea is to disallow ordinary functions as Deleter's,
> rename Deleter to Allocator, and adopt something very close to the
> std::allocator interface.
>
> Motivations include:
>
> 1.  Cleaner and more efficient code (guaranteed empty member
> optimization).
> 2.  Perhaps these animals could be put to good use in implementing the
> std lib.

Simplicity good.  Complexity bad.

I like the idea of being able to pass a function pointer, but for such
a tiny class we can't afford the space overhead, and the struggle to
get the empty base optimization working was too much.  Of course the
allocator approach has it's own twists and turns.

Between immanent house guests and failing regression tests at work
(on what was supposed be our final label) I won't have time to look
at this until next week.