turings-tarpit/scratchpad/badref.cpp

#include <string>
#include <memory>
#include <iostream>

using std::string, std::unique_ptr,
      std::shared_ptr, std::make_unique;

class BadRef {
  string &name;

public:
  BadRef(string &name) : name(name) {}

  void set_name(string &n) {
    name = n;
  }
};

class GoodRef {
  string *name;

public:
  /*
   * After calling, name is owned.
   */
  GoodRef(string *n) : name(n) {}

  void print() {
    std::cout << "My name is " << *name << std::endl;
  }
};

int main() {
  string my_name = "Zed";
  string your_name = "Alex";
  string &ref_test = my_name;
  string *ptr_name = new string("Pointer");

  ref_test = your_name;

  auto br = BadRef(my_name);
  br.set_name(your_name);

  auto gr = GoodRef(ptr_name);
  gr.print();

  return 0;
}