Re: [boost] shared_array.size()

From: Joe Gottman (joegottman_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-12-12 20:57:34

That's why I said the constructor and the reset would need an extra parameter, so that the user could include the size.  Thus, instead of 
boost::shard_array<int> my_array(new int [10]);

we would have

boost::shared_array<int> my_array(new int[10], 10);

Currently, there is no safe way to get a shared_array as a return value of a function.  If you have code like

boost::shared_array<int> my_array = foo();

how could you subsequently use my_array?  Without knowing the size of my_array, you cannot safely call my_array[10], because there might only be 5 elements.

Joe Gottman
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Schaible, Joerg 
  To: boost_at_[hidden] 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 7:19 AM
  Subject: AW: [boost] shared_array.size()

  Hi Joe,

  this is not in the scope of this class. Since you cannot request the size from an array you've allocated dynamically, the shared_array cannot report either.

  Greetings,
  Jörg

  -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
  Von: Joe Gottman [mailto:joegottman_at_[hidden]]
  Gesendet: Dienstag, 12. Dezember 2000 02:51
  An: boost_at_[hidden]
  Betreff: [boost] shared_array.size()

      I have been using the shared_ptr from "smart_ptr.hpp" and have found it very useful.  However, I am afraid to try using the shared_array from the same file.  The problem is that shared_array does not have a size() member function.  This makes it very dangerous to use the shared_array if the user doesn't know what size array it was created with, for instance if it was returned from a function.  

     I think the shared_array would be much more useful with a size() member.  However,  this would necessitate changing the constructor and the reset() function to take an extra parameter to indicate the size.  Also, it would necessitate using a third pointer to store the size.  

  Joe Gottman