C++ FAQ / Section 4 / FAQ 4.35

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Revised Jul 4, 2012

[4.35] What updates were made for the 09/02 release?

Big-picture changes:

• Hyperlinks now have "hover text" — text that most browsers show when your mouse hovers over a hyperlink (though please don't write me if your particular browser doesn't have this feature; most browsers have it but some do not).
• Added a new mirror site in Poland.
• Made things easier to find by adding lots more index-terms to the permuted subject index.

9 New FAQs:

• [4.35] What updates were made for the 09/02 release?
  (created)
• [6.16] Will I sometimes use any so-called "evil" constructs?
  (created)
• [9.2] What's a simple example of procedural integration?
  (created)
• [15.7] Should I end my output lines with std::endl or '\n'?
  (created thanks to Moshe Shimoni)
• [15.20] How can I clear the screen? Is there something like clrscr()?
  (created)
• [15.21] How can I change the colors on the screen?
  (created)
• [23.6] Okay, but is there a way to simulate that behavior as if dynamic binding worked on the this object within my base class's constructor?
  (created thanks to Alf Steinbach for inspiration, ideas, and constructive criticism)
• [29.3] Should I use void main() or int main()?
  (created)
• [29.4] Should I use f(void) or f()?
  (created thanks to a question from Mario Knezovic)

32 Changed FAQs:

• [2.6] Where can I find the C++ FAQ translated into Chinese?
  (updated the URL for the Big5 encoding)
• [5.1] What does IMHO mean? (or IMO, IMNSHO, FWIW, OTOH, etc.)?
  (added PMFJI)
• [5.4] How can I find out about general netiquette so I don't embarrass myself?
  (added admonitions against top-posting, HTML/rich-text postings, attachments, "C/C++," and confusing classes with objects; also removed "include a valid email address")
• [6.9] Are virtual functions (dynamic binding) central to OO/C++?
  (minor clarifications)
• [6.14] What are some "interview questions" I could ask that would let me know if candidates really know their stuff?
  (fixed a spelling error thanks to Martin Linklater)
• [9.1] What's the deal with inline functions?
  (rewrote, adding several new points)
• [9.3] Do inline functions improve performance?
  (rewrote, added numerous new points)
• [9.5] Why should I use inline functions instead of plain old #define macros?
  (wordsmithed)
• [10.3] Can one constructor of a class call another constructor of the same class to initialize the this object? Updated!
  (rewrote for clarification thanks to Nikolai Borissov)
• [10.4] Is the default constructor for Fred always Fred::Fred()?
  (partially rewrote for clarity)
• [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?
  (wordsmithed)
• [17.10] How should I handle resources if my constructors may throw exceptions?
  (added the example and the admonition to use a typedef)
• [17.11] How do I change the string-length of an array of char to prevent memory leaks even if/when someone throws an exception?
  (rewrote to clarify/strengthen)
• [18.8] What does "const X& x" mean?
  (rewrote to address the "guru approach")
• [20.7] When should my destructor be virtual?
  (rewrote)
• [21.3] Is a parking-lot-of-Car a kind-of parking-lot-of-Vehicle?
  (strengthened in several places)
• [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?
  (fixed typo in first paragraph thanks to Jim Fischer)
• [21.12] If SortedList has exactly the same public interface as List, is SortedList a kind-of List?
  (strengthened the wording in a few places)
• [23.5] When my base class's constructor calls a virtual function on its this object, why doesn't my derived class's override of that virtual function get invoked?
  (rewrote completely and added an example program)
• [23.8] Should a derived class redefine ("override") a member function that is non-virtual in a base class?
  (reworded the question — clarification)
• [23.9] What's the meaning of, Warning: Derived::f(char) hides Base::f(double)?
  (changed typo f(double) to f(float) thanks to Tarjei Knapstad)
• [26.9] When initializing static data members of built-in / intrinsic / primitive types, should I worry about the "static initialization order fiasco"?
  (reworded thanks to Orjan Petersson)
• [29.2] Where do I start? Why do I feel so confused, so stupid?
  (added sites for "sample problems")
• [29.16] Why is floating point so inaccurate? Why doesn't this print 0.43?
  (moved from the Miscellaneous Technical Issues section)
• [29.17] Why doesn't my floating-point comparison work?
  (added links to David Goldberg's paper and to Doug Priest's supplement thanks to Kevin Quitt; added a definition for isEqual(double,double) thanks to Steve Summit; moved from the Miscellaneous Technical Issues section)
• [32.5] How can I call a non-system C function f(int,char,float) from my C++ code?
  (changed "C code" to "C++ code" in the first sentence thanks to Sreenivas Sunil Penumarthy)
• [33.5] How can I avoid syntax errors when creating pointers to members?
  (made it clearer there is an and between the recommended typedef and macro)
• [33.6] How can I avoid syntax errors when calling a member function using a pointer-to-member-function?
  (made it clearer there is an and between the recommended typedef and macro)
• [33.7] How do I create and use an array of pointer-to-member-function?
  (made it clearer there is an and between the recommended typedef and macro)
• [37.4] Where can I get help on how to use STL?
  (wordsmithed for clarity)
• [37.9] Where can I get tons and tons of more information on C++ class libraries?
  (added the "with frames" URL for the C++ Libraries FAQ and the comment about google, both thanks to Henrik Haraldsson)
• [40.1] How can I generate HTML documentation for my classes? Does C++ have anything similar to javadoc?
  (moved from the Miscellaneous Technical Issues section)