Re: [boost] [smart_ptr] copyable_ptr?

Subject: Re: [boost] [smart_ptr] copyable_ptr?
From: Mathias Gaunard (mathias.gaunard_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-07-16 19:10:58

Gottlob Frege wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 16, 2009 at 4:46 PM, Ross Levine<ross.levine_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>> I was wondering if boost has considered a smart pointer that is similar to
>> scoped_ptr but supports deep copy semantics. This would be useful in classes
>> which use the pimpl idiom, as a common way to program these classes is with
>> a scoped_ptr or auto_ptr, but then a copy constructor and copy assignment
>> operator needs to be defined. Herb Sutter worked on an implementation at
>> http://www.gotw.ca/gotw/062.htm, so there's precedent. Is there any interest
>> for this?
> 
> You might want to consider copy on write.

Copy on write is nothing more than a possible implementation for the 
utility he's requesting, and arguably a pretty bad one (it's only useful 
in the absence of move semantics).