Re: [boost] [GTL] - geometric template library - determininginterest

From: Simonson, Lucanus J (lucanus.j.simonson_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-10-09 17:38:00

Steven wrote:
>Suppose that I want to write
>template<class Rectangle, class T>
>void move_up(Rectangle&, T offset);
>to modify a rectangle in place.
>if I need to copy the rectangle this isn't
>going to work.

You don't need to copy the rectangle.  It does work.  Inheritance and
composition are just syntactical ways that I can view your data as a
rectangle of my type in place.  The whole point of my design pattern is
that you don't need to copy the rectangle.  mimic doesn't copy, it
returns a reference to your object of the subclass type with a (safe)
reinterpret_cast.

Luke