Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!polyslo!ttwang
From: ttwang@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Thomas Wang)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: proper behavior of operator new
Message-ID: <14208@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU>
Date: 4 Sep 89 16:45:19 GMT
Reply-To: ttwang@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Thomas Wang)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cal Poly State University -- San Luis Obispo
Lines: 18

When memory on the free store runs out, operator 'new' will call the function
pointed by _new_handler.  When _new_handler finishes, I think the new
operator should try another time to allocate the storage.  This is because
the _new_handler may have deleted some unused storage space, so now there
is enough space after all.

On page 93 of "The C++ Programming Language", Bjarne suggested we re-define
the 'new' operator.  I don't think this is practical.  Re-defining the
'new' operator is difficult, and non-portable across systems.

I raised this issue, because the _new_handler can be used to do garbage
collection.  Right now, even after garbage collection, the new operator
will still return a null pointer.

 -Thomas Wang ("I am, therefore I am."
                 - Akira               )

                                                     ttwang@polyslo.calpoly.edu