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diff --git a/libstdc++-v3/doc/xml/manual/auto_ptr.xml b/libstdc++-v3/doc/xml/manual/auto_ptr.xml new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..a7a0e97bc6c --- /dev/null +++ b/libstdc++-v3/doc/xml/manual/auto_ptr.xml @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ +<sect1 id="manual.util.memory.auto_ptr" xreflabel="auto_ptr"> +<?dbhtml filename="auto_ptr.html"?> + +<sect1info> + <keywordset> + <keyword> + ISO C++ + </keyword> + <keyword> + auto_ptr + </keyword> + </keywordset> +</sect1info> + +<title>auto_ptr</title> + +<sect2 id="auto_ptr.limitations" xreflabel="auto_ptr.limitations"> +<title>Limitations</title> + + <para>Explaining all of the fun and delicious things that can + happen with misuse of the <classname>auto_ptr</classname> class + template (called <acronym>AP</acronym> here) would take some + time. Suffice it to say that the use of <acronym>AP</acronym> + safely in the presence of copying has some subtleties. + </para> + <para> + The AP class is a really + nifty idea for a smart pointer, but it is one of the dumbest of + all the smart pointers -- and that's fine. + </para> + <para> + AP is not meant to be a supersmart solution to all resource + leaks everywhere. Neither is it meant to be an effective form + of garbage collection (although it can help, a little bit). + And it can <emphasis>not</emphasis>be used for arrays! + </para> + <para> + <acronym>AP</acronym> is meant to prevent nasty leaks in the + presence of exceptions. That's <emphasis>all</emphasis>. This + code is AP-friendly: + </para> + <programlisting> + // Not a recommend naming scheme, but good for web-based FAQs. + typedef std::auto_ptr<MyClass> APMC; + + extern function_taking_MyClass_pointer (MyClass*); + extern some_throwable_function (); + + void func (int data) + { + APMC ap (new MyClass(data)); + + some_throwable_function(); // this will throw an exception + + function_taking_MyClass_pointer (ap.get()); + } + </programlisting> + <para>When an exception gets thrown, the instance of MyClass that's + been created on the heap will be <function>delete</function>'d as the stack is + unwound past <function>func()</function>. + </para> + <para>Changing that code as follows is not <acronym>AP</acronym>-friendly: + </para> + <programlisting> + APMC ap (new MyClass[22]); + </programlisting> + <para>You will get the same problems as you would without the use + of <acronym>AP</acronym>: + </para> + <programlisting> + char* array = new char[10]; // array new... + ... + delete array; // ...but single-object delete + </programlisting> + <para> + AP cannot tell whether the pointer you've passed at creation points + to one or many things. If it points to many things, you are about + to die. AP is trivial to write, however, so you could write your + own <code>auto_array_ptr</code> for that situation (in fact, this has + been done many times; check the mailing lists, Usenet, Boost, etc). + </para> +</sect2> + +<sect2 id="auto_ptr.using" xreflabel="auto_ptr.using"> +<title>Use in Containers</title> + + <para> + </para> + <para>All of the <ulink url="../23_containers/howto.html">containers</ulink> + described in the standard library require their contained types + to have, among other things, a copy constructor like this: + </para> + <programlisting> + struct My_Type + { + My_Type (My_Type const&); + }; + </programlisting> + <para> + Note the const keyword; the object being copied shouldn't change. + The template class <code>auto_ptr</code> (called AP here) does not + meet this requirement. Creating a new AP by copying an existing + one transfers ownership of the pointed-to object, which means that + the AP being copied must change, which in turn means that the + copy ctors of AP do not take const objects. + </para> + <para> + The resulting rule is simple: <emphasis>Never ever use a + container of auto_ptr objects</emphasis>. The standard says that + <quote>undefined</quote> behavior is the result, but it is + guaranteed to be messy. + </para> + <para> + To prevent you from doing this to yourself, the + <ulink url="../19_diagnostics/howto.html#3">concept checks</ulink> built + in to this implementation will issue an error if you try to + compile code like this: + </para> + <programlisting> + #include <vector> + #include <memory> + + void f() + { + std::vector< std::auto_ptr<int> > vec_ap_int; + } + </programlisting> + <para> +Should you try this with the checks enabled, you will see an error. + </para> +</sect2> + +</sect1>
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