Re: filling vectors in the parameter list

    {
       vector<string> v(3);
       v.push_back("str1");
       v.push_back("str2");
       v.push_back("str3");

       foo(v);
    }

If you find this too verbose you can write a vector_filler<> class
template to fill a vector via an overloaded << operator (like streams do.)

    template <typename T, typename A = std::allocator<T> >
    class vector_filler
    {
       std::vector<T, A> v;
    public:

       const std::vector<T, A>& vec() const{return v;}
       std::vector<T,A>& vec(){return v;}

       template <typename U>
          vector_filler&
          operator<<(const U& u){v.push_back(u);}
    };

    vector_filler<string> vf;
    vf << "str1" << "str2" << "str3";

    foo(vf.vec());

    vector<string> v = {"str1", "str2", "str3"};
    foo(v);

Or

    foo({"str1", "str2", "str3"});

I hope it is true.