Re: [boost] std::map::find() wrapper

Subject: Re: [boost] std::map::find() wrapper
From: Rob Riggs (rob_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-05-04 08:37:10

On 05/04/2011 04:33 AM, Olaf van der Spek wrote:
>> It's also a special case, which is best avoided if possible, that doesn't
>> >  seem to offer
>> >  any real benefit.
> Containers of pointers occur quite frequently. There's even a Ptr Container lib.
>
Those containers manage the lifetimes of heap allocated objects just as 
smart pointers manage the lifetimes of theirs.

One of the hallmarks of modern C++ programming is the absence of bare 
pointers.  We have iterators, smart pointers and pointer containers to 
manage and hide pointers for us.  We have a healthy distrust of bare 
pointers because they are so easily misused.

boost::optional solves the problem without introducing bare pointers.  
In fact, optional solves the problem specifically so we can avoid using 
bare pointers.

Rob