Why use one vs the other: `boost::shared_array` VS `boost::shared_ptr`?

Question

So to deal with large blobs of memory either for an image or similar there are clearly lots of options.

Since I\'m a fan of smart pointers and RAII I\'m wondering ab

Answer 1

shared_ptr to std::vector

• + allows amortized constant time push_back
• - introduces an extra level of indirection over std::vector

shared_array

• + does not introduce an extra level of indirection
• - does not allow amortized constant time append, unless you implement it yourself, which again would take an extra level of indirection.