[boost] Re: Question about smart_ptr

From: Philippe A. Bouchard (philippeb_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-10-08 14:52:21

David B. Held wrote:

[...]

> I'm confused as to whether you are talking about shared_ptr
> or smart_ptr.  It looks like you were replying to Peter, who was
> talking about shared_ptr, but it looks like here you are talking
> about smart_ptr.

I was talking about smart_ptr because it wouldn't be possible to change the
members of shared_ptr unless we start using partial specializations that
nobody likes ;(

... same thing with reinterpret_cast<>s ;((

[...]

> Whether such policies *could* be written, I don't know, until
> somebody tries it.  I don't understand shifted_ptr well enough
> to write one myself, although it's been a while since I looked
> at it.  I think a pointer that helps collection would be a nice
> policy to have, but I don't have a lot of time to write new
> policies right now.  In fact, I haven't even been following this
> thread very closely, so I don't really know where it's at or
> what has been said.  But I think you should try to address
> the concerns brought up during the review, especially the
> documentation, to help make shifted_ptr stand on its own.
> If it can stand on its own, then it might make sense to try to
> implement it in terms of smart_ptr.  But to help us out, some
> good documentation would help. ;)

Ok, I just wanted to know the present alternatives & eventual possible
policies before going further with shifted_ptr.  I'll keep collector_traits
but I am going to remove the default garbage collector example because it
just confuses people for nothing.

But, I am going to use partial specializations for now because I am not
familiar with the best eventual smart_ptr policies.  I am just going to make
it "work", benchmark it by after.

Philippe