Post your tips for making life easier in C and C++. I'll start:


Standard vector object initialization

The biggest problem with the standard vector class is that one can't use an array initializer. This forces us to do something like this:

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#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  vector<int> v;

  v.push_back(1);
  v.push_back(2);
  v.push_back(3);
  v.push_back(4);
  v.push_back(5);

  // Use the vector
}

#include <iostream> #include <vector> using namespace std; int main() { vector<int> v; v.push_back(1); v.push_back(2); v.push_back(3); v.push_back(4); v.push_back(5); // Use the vector }

Anyone who's had the rule of redundancy pounded into their head knows that the previous code could be wrapped in a loop:

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#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  vector<int> v;

  for (int i = 1; i < 6; i++)
    v.push_back(i);

  // Use the vector
}

#include <iostream> #include <vector> using namespace std; int main() { vector<int> v; for (int i = 1; i < 6; i++) v.push_back(i); // Use the vector }

However, it's not terribly elegant, especially for a vector of complex types. So, Narue's first timesaving tip for C++ is to use a temporary array so that you can make use of an initializer. Because the vector class defines a constructor that takes a range of iterators, you can use the array to initialize your vector:

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#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  int a[] = {1,2,3,4,5};
  vector<int> v(a, a + 5);

  // Use the vector
}

#include <iostream> #include <vector> using namespace std; int main() { int a[] = {1,2,3,4,5}; vector<int> v(a, a + 5); // Use the vector }