Re: [boost] [valid_ptr] proposing a new type of pointer object that allows validity tracking without memory management and object ownership

Subject: Re: [boost] [valid_ptr] proposing a new type of pointer object that allows validity tracking without memory management and object ownership
From: Rutger ter Borg (rutger_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-03-16 09:20:03

On 03/16/2011 01:57 PM, Dan Walters wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I am posting to propose a new light weight pointer object library
> (boost.valid_ptr) that provides safe validity checking without having
> to take ownership or the the responsibility of memory management of
> the object pointed to.
>
> The intention is to develop a useful pointer object that is easy to
> use and handles validity in a simple and invisible manner, to be used
> just like a normal pointer and in a way that a programmer would be
> familiar with, to produce cleaner and more intuitive code than other
> pointer libraries for its problem domain.
>
> The library would be best used when it is difficult to determine when
> an object will be released, for example, when pointing to objects
> higher on the stack, objects that are members of other objects or
> objects contained within a boost.ptr_container.
>
> The library is to be practically useful and most useful where
> boost.smart_ptr and boost.ptr_container libraries are not appropriate
> (for example, due to memory management or ownership not being
> required).
>
> The valid_ptr library is to be optimized for access rather than fast
> assignment / de-assignment.
>
> Detailed proposal:
> https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1wod4CbeL9x8rLJ2S8815akMAGmYj-fCq90T_2jFlxtw
>
> I am posting here in the hope it will generate suitable interest that
> it may be worth developing as a full library for submission.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Dan
>

Hello,

how and when is this better than what can be achieved by using 
intrusive_ptr<T> and its associated function overloads?

Cheers,

Rutger