O’Reilly: C++ Memory Management: From Fear to Triumph

“Everyone knows that memory management is a difficult and
dangerous chore in C++. This series of three articles will show you
that the conventional wisdom is not true. When approached
correctly, C++’s seemingly archaic memory-management scheme
actually provides an opportunity to create spectacular
programs–programs that would not be possible with more modern
languages that handle memory automatically.

“This article, part one in a series, discusses C++ in the
context of several other popular languages. It also describes the
kinds of memory errors that can occur in C++ programs. The most
common specific errors are then presented in a set of tables, for
easy reference when developing your own code.

“Subsequent articles in the series will demonstrate a different
way of thinking about memory management–not as a dreaded danger to
be faced with stoic resolve, but as a powerful and subtle tool for
improving your work. In many situations, the C++ approach to memory
resources is not cause to avoid the language, but actually the
reason why it should be used…!”

Complete
Story