You can also make everything a smart pointer and be done with it.
I can count on more than one hand the number of large scale projects where converting everything to smart pointers fixed major memory issues. Even if smart pointers can’t handle circular references, the number of projects that just don’t manage their memory correctly at all and were fixed by introducing these tools is way too high.
Which kind of smart pointer, with which kind of footgun? I mean, it’s better than not even trying I guess, but if it was actually a full solution you’d just have Rust.
You’re right. It’s a stop gap, but when you’re talking about a code base that has been maintained for 20 years plus you can’t really sell re-implementation.
Most recently it was with an older version of C++ using shared pointers.
Ah, C++. An endless supply of footguns where the difference between a junior and a senior dev is knowing what parts of the language to never use.
I thought C++ was meant to get rid of C’s footguns?
It’s almost backwards compatible. You can use old or new foot guns.
Hooray, choice!
Real C++ programmers pass by const ref and tell pointers to fuck off.
You can also make everything a smart pointer and be done with it.
I can count on more than one hand the number of large scale projects where converting everything to smart pointers fixed major memory issues. Even if smart pointers can’t handle circular references, the number of projects that just don’t manage their memory correctly at all and were fixed by introducing these tools is way too high.
Which kind of smart pointer, with which kind of footgun? I mean, it’s better than not even trying I guess, but if it was actually a full solution you’d just have Rust.
You’re right. It’s a stop gap, but when you’re talking about a code base that has been maintained for 20 years plus you can’t really sell re-implementation.
Most recently it was with an older version of C++ using shared pointers.
This is a bit embarrassing but the last time I actively worked in C++ it was with Qt and pre C++11.
Almost the same as me. All kinds of programming jobs. I usually end up working in Python or C, for embedded systems work.
Of course, if you’re talking hobby, it could be anything.
const ref or unique_ptr if you need ownership