[4] Recent changes to this document
(Part of C++ FAQ Lite, Copyright © 1991-99, Marshall Cline, cline@parashift.com)

FAQs in section [4]:

• [4.1] What updates were made for the 10/99 release?
• [4.2] What updates were made for the 07/99 release?
• [4.3] What updates were made for the 06/98 release?
• [4.4] What updates were made for the 05/98 release?
• [4.5] What updates were made for the 09/97 release?
• [4.6] What updates were made for the 01/97 release?
• [4.7] What updates were made for the 11/96 release?
• [4.8] What updates were made for the 10/96 release?
• [4.9] What updates were made for the 09/96 release?
• [4.10] What updates were made for the 08/96 release?
• [4.11] What updates were made for the 07/96 release?
• [4.12] What updates were made for the 06/96 release?
• [4.13] What updates were made for the 05/96 release?
• [4.14] What updates were made for the 04/96 release?
• [4.15] What updates were made for the 03/96 release?
• [4.16] What updates were made for the 09/95 release?
• [4.17] What updates were made for the 06/95 release?
• [4.18] What updates were made for the 04/95 release?
• [4.19] What updates were made for the 03/95 release?
• [4.20] What updates were made for the 01/95 release?
• [4.21] What updates were made for the 12/94 release?
• [4.22] What updates were made for the 11/94 release?
• [4.23] What updates were made for the 08/94 release?
• [4.24] What updates were made before 08/94?

[4.1] What updates were made for the 10/99 release?

New FAQs:

• [2.7] Where can I download a French translation of this on-line document?
• [4.1] What updates were made for the 10/99 release?
• [13.9] Why shouldn't my Matrix class's interface look like an array-of-array?
• [32.1] What is the "STL"?
• [34.6] How can I create two classes that both know about each other?
  (thanks to Steve Horne)
• [34.7] What special considerations are needed when forward declarations are used with member objects?
  (thanks to Steve Horne)
• [34.8] What special considerations are needed when forward declarations are used with inline functions?
  (thanks to Steve Horne)
• [34.9] Why can't I put a forward-declared class in a vector<>?
  (thanks to Steve Horne)

Changed FAQs:

• [6.11] Is C++ standardized?
  (changed "International Standards Organization" to "International Organization for Standardization"; thanks to savvysoft2@aol.com)
• [7.1] What is a class?
  (cleaned up wording so no one thinks int is a class thanks to Ron Natalie)
• [8.1] What is a reference?
  (added return type to main())
• [8.2] What happens if you assign to a reference?
  (inserted "state of the" to avoid ambiguity thanks to Donna)
• [8.3] What happens if you return a reference?
  (added return type to main())
• [10.5] Which constructor gets called when I create an array of Fred objects?
  (added return type to main(), plus added stuff about "explicit initialization of arrays" thanks to Keller Beyer)
• [10.7] What is the "Named Constructor Idiom"?
  (added return type to main())
• [12.1] What is "self assignment"?
  (added return type to main())
• [13.4] But operator overloading makes my class look ugly; isn't it supposed to make my code clearer?
  (added return type to main())
• [13.5] What operators can/cannot be overloaded?
  (added return type to main())
• [13.6] Can I overload operator== so it lets me compare two char[] using a string comparison?
  (replaced "class type" with "user-defined type" in first paragraph thanks to Daryle Walker)
• [13.8] How do I create a subscript operator for a Matrix class?
  (added return type to main(); added parameters to the instantiation of m in main() thanks to Boris Pulatov)
• [13.10] Should I design my classes from the outside (interfaces first) or from the inside (data first)?
  (added an admonition to not "roll your own" container classes)
• [15.2] Why does my program go into an infinite loop when someone enters an invalid input character?
  (added return type to main())
• [15.4] Why does my input seem to process past the end of file?
  (strengthened the message with another example)
• [15.6] How can I provide printing for my class Fred?
  (added return type to main())
• [15.7] How can I provide input for my class Fred?
  (added return type to main())
• [15.10] Why can't I open a file in a different directory such as "..\test.dat"?
  (added return type to main())
• [16.6] How can I convince my (older) compiler to automatically check new to see if it returns NULL?
  (added return type to main())
• [16.19] How can I force objects of my class to always be created via new rather than as locals or global/static objects?
  (added return type to main())
• [18.12] Why does the compiler allow me to change an int after I've pointed at it with a const int*?
  (added return type to main())
• [18.13] Does "const Fred* p" mean that *p can't change?
  (added return type to main())
• [21.2] Derived* —> Base* works OK; why doesn't Derived** —> Base** work?
  (added return type to main(); added methods openGasCap() and fireNuclearMissle() -- makes the example more exciting)
• [21.4] Is an array of Derived a kind-of array of Base?
  (added return type to main())
• [24.4] Should I pointer-cast from a private derived class to its base class?
  (changed PrivateDer to PrivatelyDer in last paragraph)
• [24.6] What are the access rules with private and protected inheritance?
  (rewritten with the using syntax; thanks to Stephen Vance)
• [29.2] How can I include a standard C header file in my C++ code?
  (added return type to main())
• [29.3] How can I include a non-system C header file in my C++ code?
  (added return type to main())
• [29.4] How can I modify my own C header files so it's easier to #include them in C++ code?
  (added return type to main())
• [29.5] How can I call a non-system C function f(int,char,float) from my C++ code?
  (added return type to main())
• [30.2] How do I pass a pointer to member function to a signal handler, X event callback, etc?
  (added return type to main())
• [31.1] How can I make a perl-like associative array in C++?
  (added return type to main())
• [31.5] What's the syntax / semantics for a "function template"?
  (added return type to main())
• [31.6] What's the syntax / semantics for a "class template"?
  (added return type to main())
• [33.1] Where can I download a free C++ compiler?
  (fixed the URL)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (added Edison Design Group C++ thanks to Matt Page)
• [34.5] Why is floating point so inaccurate? Why doesn't this print 0.43?
  (added return type to main())
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (added Artistic Style thanks to Philipp Berndt, fixed the URL for C++2LaTeX thanks to Vinay Kumar Nallamothu, fixed the URL for C-Clearly thanks to Bill Robertson; fixed the plaintext version (the "grind" definition didn't show up there) thanks to Nimrod Zimerman)

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[4.2] What updates were made for the 07/99 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.2] What updates were made for the 07/99 release?
• [33.1] Where can I download a free C++ compiler?

Changed FAQs:

• [1.6] C++-FAQ-Lite != C++-FAQ-Book
  (updated due to the Second Edition of the book)
• [2.1] Where's the closest mirror site to access this document?
  (added Ireland mirror site: http://snet.wit.ie/GreenSpirit/c++-faq-lite)
• [2.2] How can I get a Copy of all the HTML files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
  (added "Windows 98" to last paragraph)
• [3.1] Is there a C++ FAQ Book I can buy in a bookstore?
  (updated due to the Second Edition of the book)
• [3.3] How can I download a free copy of the C++ FAQ Book?
  (fixed URL of book at Addison-Wesley, added amazon.com URL)
• [6.5] Who uses C++?
  (corrected the growth rate)
• [6.8] Are virtual functions (dynamic binding) central to OO/C++?
  (added STL and generic programming)
• [6.12] Where can I get a copy of the ANSI/ISO C++ standard?
  (added new ways to get a copy via the web)
• [12.3] OK, OK, already; I'll handle self-assignment. How do I do it?
  (tightened the wording of the last paragraph thanks to Andy Glew)
• [15.3] How does that funky while (cin >> foo) syntax work?
  (corrected a serious bug: changed operator bool() to operator void*(); thanks to Rajinikanth Sivalingam)
• [16.22] How do I provide reference counting with copy-on-write semantics for a hierarchy of classes?
  (fixed a bug by making Fred a friend of Fred::Data)
• [18.9] What is a "const member function"?
  (changed "const pointer" to "pointer-to-const" thanks to Saieb Khalil)
• [20.4] When should my destructor be virtual?
  (changed "explicit destructor" to "explicitly defined destructor" to avoid confusion with the explicit keyword used with constructors)
• [23.2] Should a derived class replace ("override") a non-virtual function from a base class?
  (reworded first full paragraph)
• [25.10] Are there any other sources of coding standards?
  (updated the URL for the anti-guide thanks to Stan Brown; removed the URL for the anti-guide (thanks to Bill Seymour for letting me know that the anti-guide disappeared))
• [26.5] What are some best-of-breed C++ morality guides?
  (updated info on C++ FAQs book because of its Second Edition)
• [26.6] What are some best-of-breed C++ legality guides?
  (fixed the ISBN for Bjarne Stroustrup's book)
• [28.1] What is value and/or reference semantics, and which is best in C++?
  (wordsmithing changes thanks to Lance Ware)
• [31.3] How can I insert/access/change elements from a linked list/hashtable/etc?
  (reworded item #3 thanks to John Millaway)
• [32.3] How can I find a Fred object in an STL container of Fred* such as vector<Fred*>?
  (fixed a typo in the code thanks to Scott Maxwell and Bill Sloan)
• [33.4] How can I decompile an executable program back into C++ source code?
  (wordsmithing changes thanks to Lance Ware)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (corrected the URL for KAI C++ and added Rational APEX C/C++ thanks to Kevin Broadey; corrected the URL for Borland C++ FAQ thanks to Kent Reisdorph and Michael J. Reeves)
• [34.2] Does C++ have new scoping rules for for loops?
  (wordsmithing changes thanks to Lance Ware)

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[4.3] What updates were made for the 06/98 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.3] What updates were made for the 06/98 release?
• [10.13] How can I handle a constructor that fails?

Changed FAQs:

• [32.9] Where can I get tons and tons of more information on C++ class libraries?
  (fixed the URL)

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[4.4] What updates were made for the 05/98 release?

Global changes:

• Removed the grey background color on the HTML version. It now displays in the Web Browser's own preferences.

New FAQs:

• [1.5] Trademarks
• [2.4] Why is the download via email? Why not via ftp?
• [2.6] Where can I download a Portuguese translation of this on-line document?
• [4.4] What updates were made for the 05/98 release?
• [10.6] Should my constructors use "initialization lists" or "assignment"?
• [26.8] But those books are too advanced for me since I've never used any programming language before; is there any hope for me?
• [33.2] Where can I get more information on using MFC and Visual C++?

Changed FAQs:

• [2.2] How can I get a Copy of all the HTML files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
  (made it clearer why there is no FTP or HTTP address for downloading the FAQ)
• [2.3] How can I get a Copy of all the "plaintext" files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
  (made it clearer why there is no FTP or HTTP address for downloading the FAQ)
• [6.11] Is C++ standardized?
  (rewrote now that the standard is here)
• [6.12] Where can I get a copy of the ANSI/ISO C++ standard?
  (rewrote now that the standard is here)
• [16.17] But the above Matrix class is specific to Fred! Isn't there a way to make it generic?
  (fixed Matrix's ctor thanks to Dhavide Aruliah)
• [16.21] How do I provide reference counting with copy-on-write semantics?
  (fixed Fred's default ctor thanks to Scott Harris)
• [32.3] How can I find a Fred object in an STL container of Fred* such as vector<Fred*>?
  (changed operator==() to operator()() thanks to Ali Tajeldin alit@clinicomp.com)
• [32.4] Where can I get help on how to use STL?
  (added the URL for the STL FAQ)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (corrected the URL for Borland C++ & HP C++; added GNU C++, Intel Reference C++, KAI C++, and Portland Group C++)
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (added a URL for "GNU indent")

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[4.5] What updates were made for the 09/97 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.5] What updates were made for the 09/97 release?
• [10.10] What's the "static initialization order fiasco"?
• [10.11] How do I prevent the "static initialization order fiasco"?
• [10.12] How do I prevent the "static initialization order fiasco" for my static data members?
• [16.17] But the above Matrix class is specific to Fred! Isn't there a way to make it generic?

Changed FAQs:

• [1.3] Copying Permissions
  (clarified)
• [5.1] What does IMHO mean? (or IMO, IMNSHO, FWIW, OTOH, etc.)?
  (added silly acronym-laden comment at the bottom (adapted from e-mail from Erik Corry)
• [16.16] But the previous FAQ's code is SOOOO tricky and error prone! Isn't there a simpler way?
  (fixed some inconsistencies between FredMatrix and Matrix thanks to Jeff Baker)
• [16.20] How do I do simple reference counting?
  (fixed FredPtr's constructor thanks to Chichiang Wan)
• [23.3] What's the meaning of, Warning: Derived::f(float) hides Base::f(int)?
  (rewritten with the using syntax; thanks to Matt Seitz)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (corrected the URL for Symantec C++ thanks to Michel Joly de Lotbiniere and added the URL for HP C++ thanks to David Green)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (corrected the URL for Microsoft Visual C++ thanks to Leila Rannanjarvi, and added the URL for Sun C++ thanks to Aryan Mirsepassi)
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (added information about tgrind)

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[4.6] What updates were made for the 01/97 release?

Global changes:

• Added the (much requested!) one-click download feature. This automagically sends you a copy of the entire FAQ so you can browse off-line. There's a similar feature to get a copy of the "plaintext" version of the FAQ.
• Removed those pesky "hit counters" from each HTML page.
• Added nifty forward and backward links just after each FAQ.
• Added more nifty navigation aids at the bottom of each page.
• Renamed section [6] from "Management Issues" to "Big Picture Issues."

New FAQs:

• [4.6] What updates were made for the 01/97 release?
• [15.2] Why does my program go into an infinite loop when someone enters an invalid input character?
• [15.3] How does that funky while (cin >> foo) syntax work?
• [16.16] But the previous FAQ's code is SOOOO tricky and error prone! Isn't there a simpler way?
• [25.4] Is the ?: operator evil since it can be used to create unreadable code?

Changed FAQs:

• [1.3] Copying Permissions
  (simplified)
• [2.1] Where's the closest mirror site to access this document?
  (removed the "USA-2" site)
• [2.2] How can I get a Copy of all the HTML files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
  (rewrote and added a one-click feature to get .zip, .tar.Z or .tar.gz format)
• [2.3] How can I get a Copy of all the "plaintext" files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
  (rewrote and added a one-click feature to get .zip, .tar.Z or .tar.gz format)
• [5.1] What does IMHO mean? (or IMO, IMNSHO, FWIW, OTOH, etc.)?
  (added KUTGW (thanks to Bengt Richter))
• [15.6] How can I provide printing for my class Fred?
  (added note about cascading operator<< calls)
• [15.7] How can I provide input for my class Fred?
  (added note about cascading operator<< calls)
• [16.6] How can I convince my (older) compiler to automatically check new to see if it returns NULL?
  (fixed bugs: new handlers don't take arguments, thanks to Scott Aaron; changed set_new_hanlder to set_new_handler, thanks to Peter Andersson)
• [16.15] How do I allocate multidimensional arrays using new?
  (rewritten and expanded with a rectangular-matrix case)
• [18.1] What is "const correctness"?
  (rewrote because of helpful feedback from Nor Jaidi)
• [21.6] Is a Circle a kind-of an Ellipse?
  (added a caveat that setSize(x,y) isn't sacred)
• [21.7] Are there other options to the "Circle is/isnot kind-of Ellipse" dilemma?
  (added a caveat that setSize(x,y) isn't sacred)
• [21.8] But I have a Ph.D. in Mathematics, and I'm sure a Circle is a kind of an Ellipse! Does this mean Marshall Cline is stupid? Or that C++ is stupid? Or that OO is stupid?
  (added a caveat that setSize(x,y) isn't sacred)
• [23.1] When my base class's constructor calls a virtual function, why doesn't my derived class's override of that virtual function get invoked?
  (rewrote)
• [29.8] How can I pass an object of a C++ class to/from a C function?
  (added #ifndef FRED_H / #define FRED_H to code)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (added HP C++)
• [35.4] Where can I get OS-specific questions answered (e.g., BC++, DOS, Windows, etc)?
  (added Borland C++ URLs thanks to Simon Edlund)

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[4.7] What updates were made for the 11/96 release?

New FAQs:

• [2.2] How can I get a Copy of all the HTML files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
• [4.7] What updates were made for the 11/96 release?
• [20.3] What's the difference between how virtual and non-virtual member functions are called?
• [33.3] How do I display text in the status bar using MFC?
  (with the help of Paul Ganney)

Changed FAQs:

• [8.4] How can you reseat a reference to make it refer to a different object?
  (changed last line from "pointer to const" to "const pointer" thanks to Neelesh Pandit)
• [25.10] Are there any other sources of coding standards?
  (rewrote and added more URLs)
• [33.8] If name mangling was standardized, could I link code compiled with compilers from different compiler vendors?
  (reworded and added v-table and v-pointer references)

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[4.8] What updates were made for the 10/96 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.8] What updates were made for the 10/96 release?

Changed FAQs:

• [5.8] Which newsgroup should I post my questions?
  (added comp.sys.mac.programmer.* and comp.sys.mac.oop.*)
• [16.6] How can I convince my (older) compiler to automatically check new to see if it returns NULL?
  (added comments on constructors of globals; thanks to William Carroll carrolw@ttc.com)
• [25.10] Are there any other sources of coding standards?
  (added URLs)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (added URL for Metrowerks and Watcom compilers)

[ Top | Bottom | Previous section | Next section ]

[4.9] What updates were made for the 09/96 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.9] What updates were made for the 09/96 release?
• [5.1] What does IMHO mean? (or IMO, IMNSHO, FWIW, OTOH, etc.)?
• [5.2] How do I get comp.lang.c++ to do my homework problem for me?
• [5.3] What should I do if I see someone else posting a homework problem?
  (with the help of Phil Staite pstaite@vnet.ibm.com)
• [18.4] What does "const Fred* p" mean?
• [18.5] What's the difference between "const Fred* p", "Fred* const p" and "const Fred* const p"?
• [18.6] What does "const Fred& x" mean?
• [18.7] Does "Fred& const x" make any sense?
• [18.8] What does "Fred const& x" mean?
• [18.13] Does "const Fred* p" mean that *p can't change?
• [25.10] Are there any other sources of coding standards?
• [33.4] How can I decompile an executable program back into C++ source code?
  (with the help of Phil Staite pstaite@vnet.ibm.com)

Changed FAQs:

• [8.4] How can you reseat a reference to make it refer to a different object?
  (added a cross reference regarding pointer to const)
• [9.4] How do you tell the compiler to make a non-member function inline?
  (strengthened the "Note:" at the end)
• [16.19] How can I force objects of my class to always be created via new rather than as locals or global/static objects?
  (reworded and added a paragraph on using friend to soften the original goal)
• [16.21] How do I provide reference counting with copy-on-write semantics?
  (added links to the self assignment discussion)
• [16.22] How do I provide reference counting with copy-on-write semantics for a hierarchy of classes?
  (added links to the self assignment discussion)
• [17.2] How should I handle resources if my constructors may throw exceptions?
  (added cross-references for reference-counted and remote smart-pointers)
• [21.2] Derived* —> Base* works OK; why doesn't Derived** —> Base** work?
  (fixed a bug with help from William Wu)
• [22.4] What is a "pure virtual" member function?
  (reworded)
• [32.4] Where can I get help on how to use STL?
  (fixed the URL for Kenny Zalewski's STL guide)
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?
  (added URLs for Silicon Graphics and Symantec compilers)
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (added a URL for "V Communications")

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[4.10] What updates were made for the 08/96 release?

Global changes:

• Recently added/changed FAQs are now chained together using hyper-links (mainly for those who want to find out what has changed since the last time they read this document)
• Recently added FAQs are now decorated with ("recently" = "in the current or previous release")
• Recently changed FAQs are now decorated with ("recently" = "in the current or previous release")
• The look-and-feel of hyper-linked cross references is changed
  • The old look-and-feel "looks like this[4.10]"
  • The new look-and-feel "looks like this"
• Added section [12] Assignment operators
• Added section [26] Learning OO/C++

New FAQs:

• [4.10] What updates were made for the 08/96 release?
• [7.3] When is an interface "good"?
• [7.4] What is encapsulation?
• [7.5] How does C++ help with the tradeoff of safety vs. usability?
• [9.2] How can inline functions help with the tradeoff of safety vs. speed?
• [12.1] What is "self assignment"?
• [12.2] Why should I worry about "self assignment"?
• [12.3] OK, OK, already; I'll handle self-assignment. How do I do it?
• [13.3] What are some examples of operator overloading?
• [15.10] Why can't I open a file in a different directory such as "..\test.dat"?
• [26.1] What is mentoring?
• [26.2] Should I learn C before I learn OO/C++?
• [26.3] Should I learn Smalltalk before I learn OO/C++?
• [26.4] Should I buy one book, or several?
• [26.5] What are some best-of-breed C++ morality guides?
• [26.6] What are some best-of-breed C++ legality guides?
• [26.7] Are there other OO books that are relevant to OO/C++?
• [33.5] Where can I get information about the C++ compiler from {Borland, IBM, Microsoft, Semantic, Sun, etc.}?

Changed FAQs:

• [6.4] Is C++ better than Ada? (or Visual Basic, C, FORTRAN, Pascal, Smalltalk, or any other language?)
  (reworded the last paragraph)
• [6.6] How long does it take to learn OO/C++?
  (added management-level hints for training developers in OO/C++)
• [9.3] Why should I use inline functions? Why not just use plain old #define macros?
  (moved)
• [13.4] But operator overloading makes my class look ugly; isn't it supposed to make my code clearer?
  (rewritten)
• [13.8] How do I create a subscript operator for a Matrix class?
  (fixed a bug: "double** data_" is now "double* data_")
• [25.8] Are there any lint-like guidelines for C++?
  (added links to the self assignment discussion)
• [26.6] What are some best-of-breed C++ legality guides?
  (fixed the ISBN for Stan Lippman's book)
• [27.1] What's the difference between C++ and Smalltalk?
  (rewritten)
• [32.5] How can you tell if you have a dynamically typed C++ class library?
  (moved from the section on Smalltalk)
• [32.6] What is the NIHCL? Where can I get it?
  (moved from the section on Smalltalk)
• [32.9] Where can I get tons and tons of more information on C++ class libraries?
  (updated the URL)
• [34.1] Why can't the compiler find my header file in #include "c:\test.hpp" ?
  (updated to refer to [15.10])

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[4.11] What updates were made for the 07/96 release?

Global changes:

• Created an extensive subject index
• Added hyper-linked internal cross references throughout
• Changed the name of the document from On-Line C++ FAQs to C++ FAQs Lite
• Created section [23] Inheritance — what your mother never told you
• Split sections [10] Constructors and [11] Destructors into two distinct sections
• Major reorganization of sections [19] Inheritance — basics, [20] Inheritance — virtual functions, [21] Inheritance — proper inheritance and substitutability, and [22] Inheritance — abstract base classes (ABCs)
• Added example code throughout section [29] How to mix C and C++

New FAQs:

• [4.11] What updates were made for the 07/96 release?
• [5.5] What do I do if someone else posts a question that's already in the FAQ?
• [5.6] What makes a good Subject: line?
• [6.8] Are virtual functions (dynamic binding) central to OO/C++?
• [6.9] I'm from Missouri. Can you give me a simple reason why virtual functions (dynamic binding) make a big difference?
• [7.6] How can I prevent other programmers from violating encapsulation by seeing the private parts of my class?
• [7.7] Is Encapsulation a Security device?
• [10.4] Is the default constructor for Fred always Fred::Fred()?
• [10.5] Which constructor gets called when I create an array of Fred objects?
• [10.7] What is the "Named Constructor Idiom"?
• [10.8] Why can't I initialize my static member data in my constructor's initialization list?
• [11.2] What's the order that local objects are destructed?
• [11.3] What's the order that objects in an array are destructed?
• [11.4] Can I overload the destructor for my class?
• [11.5] Should I explicitly call a destructor on a local variable?
• [11.6] What if I want a local to "die" before the close } of the scope in which it was created? Can I call a destructor on a local if I really want to?
• [11.7] OK, OK already; I won't explicitly call the destructor of a local; but how do I handle the above situation?
• [11.8] What if I can't wrap the local in an artificial block?
• [11.9] But can I explicitly call a destructor if I've allocated my object with new?
• [11.10] What is "placement new" and why would I use it?
• [11.11] When I write a destructor, do I need to explicitly call the destructors for my member objects?
• [13.6] Can I overload operator== so it lets me compare two char[] using a string comparison?
• [13.8] How do I create a subscript operator for a Matrix class?
• [13.10] Should I design my classes from the outside (interfaces first) or from the inside (data first)?
• [15.7] How can I provide input for my class Fred?
• [16.5] Do I need to check for NULL after p = new Fred()?
• [16.6] How can I convince my (older) compiler to automatically check new to see if it returns NULL?
• [16.7] Do I need to check for NULL before delete p?
• [16.8] What are the two steps that happen when I say delete p?
• [16.9] In p = new Fred(), does the Fred memory "leak" if the Fred constructor throws an exception?
• [16.12] Can I drop the [] when deleteing array of some built-in type (char, int, etc)?
• [16.13] After p = new Fred[n], how does the compiler know there are n objects to be destructed during delete[] p?
• [16.20] How do I do simple reference counting?
• [16.21] How do I provide reference counting with copy-on-write semantics?
• [16.22] How do I provide reference counting with copy-on-write semantics for a hierarchy of classes?
• [17.3] How do I change the string-length of an array of char to prevent memory leaks even if/when someone throws an exception?
• [18.12] Why does the compiler allow me to change an int after I've pointed at it with a const int*?
• [22.5] How do you define a copy constructor or assignment operator for a class that contains a pointer to a (abstract) base class?
• [23.4] What does it mean that the "virtual table" is an unresolved external?
• [25.9] Which is better: identifier names that_look_like_this or identifier names thatLookLikeThis?
  (with the help of James Robinson james-robinson@uiowa.edu)
• [29.1] What do I need to know when mixing C and C++ code?
• [30.5] How can I avoid syntax errors when calling a member function using a pointer-to-member-function?
• [31.1] How can I make a perl-like associative array in C++?
• [32.3] How can I find a Fred object in an STL container of Fred* such as vector<Fred*>?
• [32.9] Where can I get tons and tons of more information on C++ class libraries?
• [33.6] How do compilers use "over-allocation" to remember the number of elements in an allocated array?
• [33.7] How do compilers use an "associative array" to remember the number of elements in an allocated array?
• [34.1] Why can't the compiler find my header file in #include "c:\test.hpp" ?
• [34.2] Does C++ have new scoping rules for for loops?

Changed FAQs:

• [5.4] How can I find out about general netiquette so I don't embarrass myself?
  (rewritten)
• [5.7] How do I post a question about code that doesn't work correctly?
  (rewritten)
• [7.8] What's the difference between the keywords struct and class?
  (rewritten)
• [10.9] Why are classes with static data members getting linker errors?
  (rewritten)
• [11.12] When I write a derived class's destructor, do I need to explicitly call the destructor for my base class?
  (added example code to illustrate the compiler's automagic calls to destructors of member objects and base class subobjects)
• [15.6] How can I provide printing for my class Fred?
  (added example code to illustrate operator<< on an ostream)
• [15.8] How can I provide printing for an entire hierarchy of classes?
  (moved from the section on Abstraction)
• [16.19] How can I force objects of my class to always be created via new rather than as locals or global/static objects?
  (added a reference to the Named Constructor Idiom)
• [29.2] How can I include a standard C header file in my C++ code?
  (rewritten)
• [29.3] How can I include a non-system C header file in my C++ code?
  (rewritten)
• [29.4] How can I modify my own C header files so it's easier to #include them in C++ code?
  (rewritten)
• [33.10] Is there a yacc-able C++ grammar?
  (updated the URL for the yacc-able C++ grammar)
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (added "C-Clearly" and GNU indent to the list of pretty-printers)

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[4.12] What updates were made for the 06/96 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.12] What updates were made for the 06/96 release?
• [10.2] Is there any difference between List x; and List x();?
• [34.5] Why is floating point so inaccurate? Why doesn't this print 0.43?
  (with the help of Phil Staite pstaite@vnet.ibm.com)

Changed FAQs:

• [2.1] Where's the closest mirror site to access this document?
  (added Finland mirror site: http://www.utu.fi/~sisasa/oasis/cppfaq/)
• [3.2] Is this on-line ("Lite") document the same as the C++ FAQ Book?
  (fixed URL of book at Addison-Wesley)
• [3.3] How can I download a free copy of the C++ FAQ Book?
  (fixed URL of book at Addison-Wesley)
• [18.1] What is "const correctness"?
  (added info on what happens when you try to pass a const parameter to a non-const function)
• [20.4] When should my destructor be virtual?
  (added the nitty-gritty rule for when you need to have a virtual destructor)
• [21.4] Is an array of Derived a kind-of array of Base?
  (fixed bug in code)
• [22.3] What is an ABC?
  (reworded)
• [22.4] What is a "pure virtual" member function?
  (reworded)
• [28.4] Should I normally use pointers to freestore allocated objects for my data members, or should I use "composition"?
  (reworded)
• [29.8] How can I pass an object of a C++ class to/from a C function?
  (fixed a bug in the code)
• [31.4] What's the idea behind templates?
  (reworded)
• [31.6] What's the syntax / semantics for a "class template"?
  (reworded)
• [35.1] Is there a TeX or LaTeX macro that fixes the spacing on "C++"?
  (added a new LaTeX macro)
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (fixed URL of C++2LaTeX)

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[4.13] What updates were made for the 05/96 release?

Updated everything. Transformed the source from raw text to HTML. Reorganized, reworded, expanded, added example code, etc, etc.

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[4.14] What updates were made for the 04/96 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.14] What updates were made for the 04/96 release?
• [29.2] How can I include a standard C header file in my C++ code?
• [29.3] How can I include a non-system C header file in my C++ code?
• [29.4] How can I modify my own C header files so it's easier to #include them in C++ code?

Changed FAQs:

• [2.1] Where's the closest mirror site to access this document?
  (added European mirror site: http://www.informatik.uni-konstanz.de/~kuehl/cpp/cppfaq.htm)
• [16.14] Is it legal (and moral) for a member function to say delete this?
  (rewritten)
• [22.4] What is a "pure virtual" member function?
  (rewritten)

[ Top | Bottom | Previous section | Next section ]

[4.15] What updates were made for the 03/96 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.15] What updates were made for the 03/96 release?
• [6.4] Is C++ better than Ada? (or Visual Basic, C, FORTRAN, Pascal, Smalltalk, or any other language?)
• [31.2] How can I build a <favorite container> of objects of different types?
  (with the help of Phil Staite pstaite@vnet.ibm.com)

Changed FAQs:

• [2.3] How can I get a Copy of all the "plaintext" files of C++ FAQ Lite so I can read them Off-Line?
  (added URL ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.lang.c++/)
• [6.12] Where can I get a copy of the ANSI/ISO C++ standard?
  (fixed the URL for the ANSI/ISO-C++ Committee Draft)
• [15.1] Why should I use <iostream.h> instead of the traditional <stdio.h>?
  (reworded)
• [16.2] Can I free() pointers allocated with new? Can I delete pointers allocated with malloc()?
  (added an admonition not to mix new and free() or malloc() and delete)
• [25.1] What are some good C++ coding standards?
  (reworded)
• [25.2] Are coding standards necessary? Are they sufficient?
  (reworded)
• [25.3] Should our organization determine coding standards from our C experience?
  (reworded)
• [25.8] Are there any lint-like guidelines for C++?
  (reworded)
• [27.3] Which is a better fit for C++: "static typing" or "dynamic typing"?
  (updated info on dynamic_cast and typeid())
• [35.2] Are there any pretty-printers that reformat C++ source code?
  (fixed URL of C++2LaTeX)

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[4.16] What updates were made for the 09/95 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.16] What updates were made for the 09/95 release?
• [15.9] How can I "reopen" cin and cout in binary mode under DOS and/or OS/2?
• [32.4] Where can I get help on how to use STL?
• [32.7] Where can I ftp the code that accompanies "Numerical Recipes"?
• [32.8] Why is my executable so large?

Changed FAQs:

• [6.12] Where can I get a copy of the ANSI/ISO C++ standard?
  (added info on FTP access for the ANSI/ISO-C++ Committee Draft)
• [8.3] What happens if you return a reference?
  (fixed a bug (variable i was not declared))
• [16.15] How do I allocate multidimensional arrays using new?
  (reworded)
• [32.2] Where can I get a copy of "STL"?
  (reworded)

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[4.17] What updates were made for the 06/95 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.17] What updates were made for the 06/95 release?
• [16.15] How do I allocate multidimensional arrays using new?
  (with the help of Doug Shapter)
• [30.3] Why do I keep getting compile errors (type mismatch) when I try to use a member function as an interrupt service routine?

Changed FAQs:

• [6.12] Where can I get a copy of the ANSI/ISO C++ standard?
  (fixed the US-Mail access for the ANSI/ISO-C++ Committee Draft)
• [16.19] How can I force objects of my class to always be created via new rather than as locals or global/static objects?
  (rewritten)

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[4.18] What updates were made for the 04/95 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.18] What updates were made for the 04/95 release?
• [35.4] Where can I get OS-specific questions answered (e.g., BC++, DOS, Windows, etc)?

Changed FAQs:

• [32.6] What is the NIHCL? Where can I get it?
  (fixed the FTP address)

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[4.19] What updates were made for the 03/95 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.19] What updates were made for the 03/95 release?
• [15.4] Why does my input seem to process past the end of file?
• [15.5] Why is my program ignoring my input request after the first iteration?
• [16.14] Is it legal (and moral) for a member function to say delete this?

Changed FAQs:

• [35.3] Is there a C++-mode for GNU emacs? If so, where can I get it?
  (updated the information on cc-mode.el)

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[4.20] What updates were made for the 01/95 release?

New FAQs:

• [2.5] Where can I download a Chinese translation of this on-line document?
• [4.20] What updates were made for the 01/95 release?

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[4.21] What updates were made for the 12/94 release?

New FAQs:

• [4.21] What updates were made for the 12/94 release?
• [32.2] Where can I get a copy of "STL"?
• [33.8] If name mangling was standardized, could I link code compiled with compilers from different compiler vendors?

Changed FAQs:

• [24.3] Which should I prefer: composition or private inheritance?
  (reworded)

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[4.22] What updates were made for the 11/94 release?

New FAQs:

• [3.1] Is there a C++ FAQ Book I can buy in a bookstore?
• [3.2] Is this on-line ("Lite") document the same as the C++ FAQ Book?
• [3.3] How can I download a free copy of the C++ FAQ Book?
• [3.4] Why would I spend good money on a book when I can download it for free?
• [4.22] What updates were made for the 11/94 release?

[ Top | Bottom | Previous section | Next section ]

[4.23] What updates were made for the 08/94 release?

Rewrote most of the answers to provide general cleanup. Changed the quotation marks to "..." rather than `...' and/or ``...''. Sample code lines now start with a tab (no other lines starts with a tab). Everything was edited; minor modifications everywhere.

New FAQs:

• [4.23] What updates were made for the 08/94 release?
• [18.10] What do I do if I want to update an "invisible" data member inside a const member function?
• [27.3] Which is a better fit for C++: "static typing" or "dynamic typing"?

[ Top | Bottom | Previous section | Next section ]

[4.24] What updates were made before 08/94?

This document was originally written in 1991. I have no record of the specific changes that were made until 8/94.

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