RE: [boost] Usefulness of weak_ptr

From: Wyss, Felix (felixw_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-02-10 19:26:08

> Yes, you are right. Keeping a weak_ptr in thread A while all shared_ptr
> owners are in thread B is asking for trouble. This is an inherent property
> of weak_ptr (and any non-owning pointer in general, starting with raw
> pointers) and cannot be fixed.

This can be fixed by providing a way to obtain a strong pointer from the weak pointer.  Instead of the get() method, I suggest providing a strong() method which returns a shared_ptr.  To make operator->() thread safe, it also must return a shared_ptr instead of T*.  

Felix