Re: memory management and productivity

["Frank J. Lhota" <NOSPAM.lhota.adarose@verizon.net>]

"Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen"
<ole-hjalmar.kristensen@substitute_employer_here.com> wrote in message
news:wvbrsmcp2uqd.fsf@europa1.Norway.Sun.COM...
> > Russ wrote:
> Yes, *IF* it has been allocated with new.

In C++, all memory allocation / deallocation should be done using the new /
delete operators. This is true even for pointers to classes that do not have
constructors or destructors. This is because classes often have default
constructor / destructor actions that need to be performed for the object to
be usable. For example, if the class has any virtual methods, then "jump
table" must be set up. Also, if any field / sub-field / sub-sub-field has a
constructor / destructor, then this constructor / destructor cannot be
ignored.

The safe way to change the memory management algorithms for a given C++
class is to define new / delete operators for that class. This will permit
the user-defined algorithms for allocation / deallocation to be used for the
class without interfering with constructor / destructor actions. This is the
C++ equivalent of the Ada "for Name'Storage_Pool use ...;" clause.

> This is exactly the same as C++.  I would say that Ada and C++ are
> more or less on equal footing when it comes to garbage collection in
> practice.

I agree. It would be more accurate to say that in both Ada and C++, the
tools are there to implement your types with GC.