Trampling roughshod over the global namespace (and all other namespaces) with the macro preprocessor is one of the least friendly things you can do in C++. Why, then, is it the case that many popular APIs do exactly that? The authors look at this nasty problem, and demonstrate a simple technique that can be used to obviate it, and be good C++itizens.

Welcome to the first installment of Smart Pointers, a monthly- ish column written exclusively for The C++ Source. Here, two seasoned [1] programmers—Bjorn Karlsson and Matthew Wilson—carefully dissect C++ idioms, tricks, and power techniques. To make up for the fact that these are very serious topics, we shall occasionally expose you to really crummy programming jokes, too. Now, who said there was no such thing as a free lunch? In this instalment the authors update The Law of The Big Three, and explain which of the three magic member functions is often not needed.

C++0x is under construction. Get your licks in while there's still time.

STL meets glob(): Power, robustness, and genericity without sacrificing efficiency.

This article explains how to define and use metafunctions, the compile-time equivalent of functions, and introduces the Boost Metaprogramming Library.

Learn how to validate objects in a boolean context without the usual harmful side effects.

Veteran developer Greg Colvin traces the evolution of C, C++ and Java with an eye to a better future.

This article shows how to easily process UNIX-style directory entries as STL sequences. Copyright © 2004, Matthew

Good Things are happening in the C++ world.