Set shared_ptr to point existing object

Question

For the code below, I would like to know how to set std::shared_ptr to point the given objects in the two member functions. The Vector3 object whic

Answer 1

There is not much point in using a shared_ptr for an automatically allocated object.

Technically you can do it, by giving the shared_ptr a deleter that doesn't do anything, and changing your vtx to be a vector of shared pointers to const vectors.

E.g. changing the declaration to

vector < shared_ptr  > vtx;

and adding a pointer like this:

vtx.push_back( shared_ptr( &vt, [](Vector3 const*){} ) );

Disclaimer: untested code, not touched by a compiler.

However, unless you're going to also add pointers to vectors that need to be deleted, just use a vector of raw pointers. Or, just use a vector of vectors, and copy the in-data.

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It's not a good idea to use raw pointers to hold ownership. For that use smart pointers.

But conversely, it's not a good idea to use ownership smart pointers to hold pure references to static or automatic objects. For that, use raw pointers or references.

In general.