How Does Smart_ptr Fit with the Standard Library?

The Smart_ptr library has been proposed for inclusion in the Standard Library, and there are primarily three reasons for this:

• The Standard Library currently offers only auto_ptr, which is but one type of smart pointer, covering only one part of the smart pointer spectrum. shared_ptr offers different, arguably even more important, functionality.

• The Boost smart pointers are specifically designed to work well with, and be a natural extension to, the Standard Library. For example, before shared_ptr, there were no standard smart pointers that could be used as elements in containers.

• Real-world programmers have proven these smart pointer classes through heavy use in their own programs for a long time.

The preceding reasons make the Smart_ptr library a very useful addition to the C++ Standard Library. Boost.Smart_ptr's shared_ptr (and the accompanying helper enable_shared_from_this) and weak_ptr have been accepted for the upcoming Library Technical Report.