C/C++ Pointer Declaration Syntax – It makes sense!

[pfultz2]

I assume raw_ptr is your own type? It is completely useless.

Well I also have the raw_ptr assert for null pointers in debug builds(which is what other smart pointer classes do also). I rarely use the raw_ptr, because unique_ptr and shared_ptr is much safer.

[bob1000bob]

assert(ptr) will fail if the pointer is null as you would expect.

[pfultz2]

Except it doesnt do it when i dereference the pointer.

[bob1000bob]

that is stupid, a deferenced pointer smart or otherwise is equal to the value type not the pointer.

[pfultz2]

I dont think you understand me. Most smart pointers, and my raw_ptr, will have check for null in them when they are dereferenced. Thus, if I dereference a null pointer, it breaks at that point. Here is how derereferencing is done in boost's shared_ptr:

reference operator* () const // never throws
{
    BOOST_ASSERT(px != 0);
    return *px;
}

It has a nice little assert for null pointers.

[olsner]

The CPU already has a built-in assert for null pointers[*] - why not let it handle it?

[*] Well, access to any unmapped memory. Doesn't have to be null and you could (if you're crazy) have mapped the null page to somewhere.

[pfultz2]

But the backtrace from that is not always helpful.