Re: [boost] Improving the assignment operators of various Boost types

Subject: Re: [boost] Improving the assignment operators of various Boost types
From: Peter Dimov (pdimov_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-09-09 19:00:53

Niels Dekker:

> Basically it was concluded that /if/ an assignment operator is
> implemented by means of copy-and-swap, it should preferably be done as
> follows:
>
>  T& operator=(T arg)
>  {
>    arg.swap(*this);
>    return *this;
>  }

This is well known (although the typical form is swap(arg) instead of 
arg.swap(*this)). It is not widely used in Boost because it creates problems 
with some compilers (I recall Borland being one). The "classic" form is, 
unsurprisingly, much better supported across the board. Things may have 
improved now, of course.