Re: [boost] Re: container design (Was: std::complex design (Was: N-Dimensional array))

From: Howard Hinnant (hinnant_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-03-08 11:03:16

On Friday, March 8, 2002, at 10:33  AM, David Abrahams wrote:

>> What problem does this solve that vector<T>(n, uninitialized_flag)
>> doesn't solve?
>
> Using uninitialized_flag allows people to make vectors with broken
> invariants, and the invariants stay broken for an arbitrary amount of
> time. The memory adoption suggestion keeps the vector invariants intact,
> assuming that the user doesn't lie to the vector when she tells it to
> adopt (and that's just the usual danger that the user must not break her
> end of the contract).
>
> I think that's a big advantage, assuming that the other needs are met.

Sorry to be dense, but what vector invariant is broken?

-Howard