Topic: Contradicting definition of empty shared_ptr on
Author: =?UTF-8?B?RGFuaWVsIEtyw7xnbGVy?=<daniel.kruegler@googlemail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 00:03:32 -0700 (PDT)
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Am 23.06.2012 22:13, schrieb Kazutoshi Satoda:
> 20.7.2.2/1 (N3376) says:
>>
>> A shared_ptr object is empty if it does not own a pointer.
>
> Please note that it says "own a pointer". This definition was added as
> the resolution for LWG defect #813.
> 813. "empty" undefined for shared_ptr
> http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/lwg-defects.html#813
>
> 20.7.2.2.1/9 says about the effect of shared_ptr(nullptr_t p, D d):
>>
>> Effects: Constructs a shared_ptr object that owns the object p and the
>> deleter d.
>
> Please note that it says "owns the object". This was intentionally
> changed from "the pointer" as a part of resolution for LWG defect #758,
> to cover nullptr_t case.
> 758. shared_ptr and nullptr
> http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/lwg-defects.html#758
>
> Since shared_ptr(nullptr, d) owns an object of type nullptr_t, but does
> not own a pointer, it is said as "empty" by a strict reading of the
> above definition.
>
> This causes a contradiction:
> 20.7.2.2.1/10 sets a postcondition use_count() == 1 on
> shared_ptr(nullptr, d). But 20.7.2.2.5/7 says the return value of
> use_count() is "0 when *this is empty".
>
>
> Proposed resolution:
> Replace the last 2 words in 20.7.2.2/1
> ... empty if it does not own a pointer.
> to
> ... empty if it does not own an object.
I agree with your analysis, this looks like a library defect to me.
> Besides that, I want to know if it is (or was) possible or not to define
> shared_ptr(nullptr) (including some variants with deleter and allocator)
> is empty.
I assume you mean these constructors:
template<class D> shared_ptr(nullptr_t p, D d);
template<class D, class A> shared_ptr(nullptr_t p, D d, A a);
should create empty shared_ptr objects, right?
Note that
constexpr shared_ptr(nullptr_t) : shared_ptr() { }
is already empty by definition.
> It seems to be less surprising.
I agree that the current state is confusing. But I'm not sure whether
your suggested fix would cause less confusion taking all other
constructors together. Personally I would have preferred that for
template<class Y> explicit shared_ptr(Y* p);
template<class Y, class D> shared_ptr(Y* p, D d);
template<class Y, class D, class A> shared_ptr(Y* p, D d, A a);
template<class Y> shared_ptr(auto_ptr<Y>&& r);
template<class Y, class D> shared_ptr(unique_ptr<Y, D>&&r);
constructed with null pointer values the state would be empty in all cases.
I suspect it is too late for this change, though.
HTH& Greetings from Bremen,
Daniel Kr gler
--
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Author: Kazutoshi Satoda <k_satoda@f2.dion.ne.jp>
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:49:13 -0700 (PDT)
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Daniel Kr gler wrote:
>
> Am 23.06.2012 22:13, schrieb Kazutoshi Satoda:
(snip)
>>
>> Proposed resolution:
>> Replace the last 2 words in 20.7.2.2/1
>> ... empty if it does not own a pointer.
>> to
>> ... empty if it does not own an object.
>
>
> I agree with your analysis, this looks like a library defect to me.
Yes. I forgot to put "Defect report:" on the subject. Sorry about that.
>> Besides that, I want to know if it is (or was) possible or not to define
>> shared_ptr(nullptr) (including some variants with deleter and allocator)
>> is empty.
>
>
> I assume you mean these constructors:
>
> template<class D> shared_ptr(nullptr_t p, D d);
> template<class D, class A> shared_ptr(nullptr_t p, D d, A a);
>
> should create empty shared_ptr objects, right?
That's right.
> Note that
>
> constexpr shared_ptr(nullptr_t) : shared_ptr() { }
>
> is already empty by definition.
I wasn't aware of the delegating constructor at the first post. Thanks.
... it seems also lack noexcept though. unique_ptr(nullptr_t) has
noexcept. Another defect or editorial thing?
> I agree that the current state is confusing. But I'm not sure whether
> your suggested fix would cause less confusion taking all other
> constructors together. Personally I would have preferred that for
>
> template<class Y> explicit shared_ptr(Y* p);
> template<class Y, class D> shared_ptr(Y* p, D d);
> template<class Y, class D, class A> shared_ptr(Y* p, D d, A a);
> template<class Y> shared_ptr(auto_ptr<Y>&& r);
> template<class Y, class D> shared_ptr(unique_ptr<Y, D>&&r);
>
> constructed with null pointer values the state would be empty in all cases.
It would require a runtime check for null pointer for each and probably
more. The design choice seems have been made on Boost design period not
to have such checks.
http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_31_0/libs/smart_ptr/shared_ptr.htm#constructors
>
> The postcondition that use count is 1 holds even if p is 0; invoking
> delete on a pointer that has a value of 0 is harmless.
(I can see this note at least through 1.31 to 1.49 (latest). I'm not
sure the design rationale was really avoiding the runtime checks.)
So I think this confusion is not really a new thing and somewhat
acceptable, but was probably avoidable for really new nullptr_t case.
> I suspect it is too late for this change, though.
I also suspect that. Then I propose to fix just the apparent
contradiction.
--
k_satoda
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