Re: How can you implement a copy constructor for ADT queue

From:
"Alf P. Steinbach" <alfps@start.no>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:50:55 +0100
Message-ID:
<13i9j01o8pph3db@corp.supernews.com>
* ecestd:

how do you implement a copy constructor for this pointer-based ADT
queue


typedef std::queue<QueueItemType> Queue;

Otherwise, iterate through all elements and add them to the new queue.

#include <cassert> // for assert
#include <new> // for bad_alloc

using namespace std;
//private:{Queue::Queue(const Queue& Q)}

Queue::Queue() : backPtr(0), frontPtr(0)
{
} // end default constructor

Queue::Queue(const Queue& Q)


Preferentially reserve all uppercase names for macros (one exception is
the idiom of nameing a template parameter T).

throw(OutOfStorageException)
{


It's not a good idea to use exception specifications other than the
empty one, and even that is by some regarded as Not A Good Idea.

                           /////////// Implementation
here!!!!!!///////////////


What's the problem?

} // end copy constructor

Queue::~Queue()
{
   while (!isEmpty() )
   {
      dequeue();
   } // end while
   assert ( (backPtr == 0) && (frontPtr == 0) );
} // end destructor

bool Queue::isEmpty() const
{
   return backPtr == 0;
} // end isEmpty

void Queue::enqueue(const QueueItemType& newItem)
   throw(OutOfStorageException)
{
   try
   {
      QueueNode *newPtr = new QueueNode;

      newPtr->item = newItem;


This requires QueueItemType to be assignable. It's an unnecessary
requirement. Instead, pass newItem to the QueueNode constructor.

      newPtr->next = 0;

      if (isEmpty() )
      {
     frontPtr = newPtr;
      }
      else
      {
     backPtr->next = newPtr;
      } // end if

      backPtr = newPtr;
   }
   catch(bad_alloc e)


Catch by reference, preferentially reference to const.

   {
      throw OutOfStorageException("Memory allocation failed.");


It's not a good idea to translate a standard exception to a custom one
that means the same.

   } // end try/catch
} // end enqueue

void Queue::dequeue() throw(OutOfDataException)
{
   if (isEmpty() )
   {
      throw OutOfDataException("Empty queue, cannot dequeue");
   }
   else
   { // queue is not empty; remove front


Generally it doesn't add any clarity to use an 'else' where it's not
needed, because its presence indicates that it is needed, hence it just
obscures.

      QueueNode *tempPtr = frontPtr;
      if (frontPtr == backPtr) // special case?
      { // yes, one node in queue
         frontPtr = 0;
         backPtr = 0;
      }
      else
      {
         frontPtr = frontPtr->next;
      } // end if
     tempPtr->next = 0; // defensive strategy


Don't do "defensive strategy". You're introducing something that
seemingly can be relied on but can't be relied on. It's just an
invitation to disaster.

      delete tempPtr;
   } // end if
} // end dequeue

void Queue::dequeue(QueueItemType& queueFront)
   throw(OutOfDataException)
{
   if (isEmpty() )
   {
      throw OutOfDataException("Empty queue, cannot dequeue");
   }
   else
   { // queue is not empty; retrieve front
      queueFront = frontPtr->item;
      dequeue(); // delete front
   } // end if
} // end dequeue


This design requires the client code to declare a variable just in order
to dequeue.

Consider at least adding a wrapper that returns the front item as
function result.

void Queue::getFront(QueueItemType& queueFront) const
   throw(OutOfDataException)
{
   if (isEmpty() )
   {
      throw OutOfDataException("Empty queue, cannot getFront");
   }
   else
   {
      // queue is not empty; retrieve front
      queueFront = frontPtr->item;
   } // end if
} // end getFront


Ditto.

Cheers, & hth.,

- Alf

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