TopCoder Test SRM, new c++ features

Have you heard, there will be a Test SRM in just a couple of hours. The intention of the SRM is to test new* compiler versions. (* Relatively speaking). But if you want to practice, a test SRM is a good chance, because the problems will be reused but a surprise, and the time limit will simulate a real contest. It also introduces Python as an usable language. Unfortunately for python coders though, Arena plugins shall take a while to get updated to work with python.

Speaking of the new language versions. The new version for the g++ compiler is 4.4. It is a bit old, but at least it can be found in most Linux repositories (unlike the ultra old version that was in use before). The admins say that even newer versions will be used later.

The upgrade will remove some deprecated features. Most notably, the cool min/max operators like <?, >?, <?= and >?=.

Most importantly, there are new features! Specially because g++ is called with -std=c++0x. In other words, some features planned for c++0x will be available in TopCoder SRMs in the future and in today's match. Of course, not all of them. g++ 4.4 only has some of them implemented. But I found a list: http://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-4.4/cxx0x_status.html

There are a couple of things that C++ coders should know.

auto keyword

While it is in terrible taste to use the word auto instead of var, the new auto keyword will prove to be very useful when dealing with the STL.

void doSomething( vector< pair<string, pair<int,int> > > toocomplex ) 
{
    auto copy = toocomplex; //makes a copy of toocomplex.
    //blah blah blah...
    
    

read more

Initializer lists

This is now possible:

// a quick array:
int A[] = {1,2,3,4,5,6};
cout << A[3]<<endl;

// a vector<int>:
vector<int> B = {5,6,7,89};
cout << B[2] << endl;

// Or how about a set?
set<int> B = {1,2,3,7,8,9};
// Is 3 in the set? (will show 1)
cout << B.count(3) << endl;
// Is 4 in the set? (will show 0)
cout << B.count(3) << endl;

// Yep, you can use any expression, not just constants:
int x = 5, y = 7, z = 8;
set<int> b = {x,y,z};

// Forget about make_pair:
pair<int,int> v = {2,3};

Nuff said.

long

Have I ever complained about having to type long long instead of just long? Yes, yes I did.. Fear not, because long is 64 bits now, without having to type long long.

More

Plenty of changes for templates, look at the gcc 4.4 table linked above for more. Most of these template features would be useful if you are coding data structure libraries. static assertions could be nice to avoid some pit falls. Also, vector<int, pair<int,int>> is valid syntax. That double closing > has caused plenty of problems in the past to people that are just starting getting hold of the STL.