More C++ Idioms/Free Function Allocators

Free Function Allocators Intent Allow containers to use custom allocators without creating a new type Also Known As Motivation C++ standard allocators have serious problems, because they change the underlying type of the container. Solution and Sample Code This idiom is superior to the way that std::allocators work the whole idiom is outlined here. struct user_allocator_nedmalloc { typedef std::size_t size_type; typedef std::ptrdiff_t difference_type; static inline char* malloc(const size_type bytes) { return reinterpret_cast<char*>(nedmalloc(bytes)); } static inline void free(char* const block) { nedfree(block); } }; Known Uses boost::ptr_container Related Idioms References http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2005/n1850.pdf