c++11 std containers must construct value_type using allocator?

From:
Frank Birbacher <bloodymir.crap@gmx.net>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++.moderated
Date:
Sun, 13 Jan 2013 14:24:10 CST
Message-ID:
<alfh3iF8cmdU1@mid.dfncis.de>
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Hi!

I'm playing around with allocators in c++11 using clang+libcxx. I've
come across a problem in range-constructing a list from iterators over
a different value_type.

My central question: Is a std container allowed to construct any
instances of its value_type without using the construct method of the
allocator?

I have the expectation that it should. Suppose the following
implementation of a std::list range constructor. If the
Iter::value_type differs from the list::value_type, may the list
construct a temporary list::value_type in the call to push_back? This
one would bypass the allocator.

template<typename T, typename Alloc>
template<typename Iter>
list<T, Alloc>::list(Iter first, Iter last, Alloc const& a)
    : alloc_instance(a)
{
    for(; first!=last; ++first)
        push_back(*first); //temporary without allocator
}

If using a list with a custom allocator that augments the construction
of the value_type (like scoped_allocator_adaptor) it follows that the
range Iter::value_type must be the same as the list::value_type. Any
convenience of conversions within the constructor are gone.

Complete example here:

#include <cstdlib>
#include <memory>
#include <scoped_allocator>
#include <string>
#include <list>

//**********************************
// custom allocator
// simple example using malloc/free:
template<typename T>
struct mallocfree
{
    /* Any allocator with state may have no
     * default constructor.
     */
    mallocfree(char) {} // no default ctor

    // converting constructor:
    template<typename U>
    mallocfree(mallocfree<U> const& other) {}

    typedef T value_type;
    T* allocate(size_t const n)
    {
        if(void* const p = std::malloc(sizeof(T)*n))
            return static_cast<T*>(p);
        throw std::bad_alloc();
    }
    void deallocate(T* const p, size_t) noexcept
    {
        std::free(static_cast<void*>(p));
    }
};

template<typename T>
inline constexpr bool operator == (
        mallocfree<T> const&,
        mallocfree<T> const&
    )
{ return true; }

//**************************************
// Typedefs for list<string> with alloc:
template<typename T>
using my_alloc = std::scoped_allocator_adaptor<
        mallocfree<T>>;

typedef std::basic_string<
        char,
        std::char_traits<char>,
        my_alloc<char>
    AugmentedString;

typedef std::list<
        AugmentedString,
        my_alloc<AugmentedString>
    AugmentedList;

//*************
// MAIN
int main()
{
    auto inits = {"a", "b", "c"};
    // ctor fails on push_back:
    AugmentedList l(
            inits.begin(),
            inits.end(),
            my_alloc<AugmentedString>('a')
        );
}

Errors from clang 3.3 shows default ctor of mallocfree is requested
from a list constructor that uses push_back:

/opt/local/libexec/llvm-3.3/bin/../lib/c++/v1/scoped_allocator:270:5:
error: constructor for
'std::__1::__scoped_allocator_storage<mallocfree<char> >' must
explicitly initialize the base class 'mallocfree<char>' which does not
have a default constructor
     __scoped_allocator_storage() _NOEXCEPT {}
     ^
/opt/local/libexec/llvm-3.3/bin/../lib/c++/v1/scoped_allocator:410:5:
note: in instantiation of member function
'std::__1::__scoped_allocator_storage<mallocfree<char>

::__scoped_allocator_storage' requested here

     scoped_allocator_adaptor() _NOEXCEPT {}
     ^
....
/opt/local/libexec/llvm-3.3/bin/../lib/c++/v1/list:1104:19: note: in
instantiation of member function 'std::__1::basic_string<char,
std::__1::char_traits<char>,
std::__1::scoped_allocator_adaptor<mallocfree<char> > >::basic_string'
requested here
         push_back(*__f);
                   ^
....

Frank
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