intrusive_ptr

From: nobody (yg-boost-users_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-09-20 09:23:03

Hi!

There is a intrusive_ptr.cpp in boost 1.28, but I did not find any doc 
for that... exept for in the timing .

Why?

Guessing from the name, intrusive_ptr requires the pointed-to object to 
store the reference count or something like that, doesn't it?

And what does anybody think of typedefing std::auto_ptr to 
boost::single_ptr?

Finally I have a suggestion for a new type of smart pointer one could 
call "notifying_ptr": Sometimes all weak pointing objects need to be 
notified when the object pointed to is destroyed: e.g. in a game some 
units are set to attack some building, so they store a weak_ptr to the 
building, but when that building is destroyed, it would be easier to 
implement and faster performing, if the units got a message so they can 
look for a new target, instead of having strong pointers, marking the 
building as dead, and polling for that state every time the unit does 
something. It could be quite some time until all units have realized 
that the building is gone and it really can be released from memory.

Regards