Imperfect C++ Inventions: introduction

Recently, I've been asked by a couple of readers to enumerate the inventions and new definitions (as opposed to techniques, or already established technologies) introduced in Imperfect C++. Specifically, what are the (C++) programming components/techniques/technologies that I invented that are documented in the book.

To satisfy this request, I will make a series of posts covering the inventions and new definitions, including:

• array_proxy
• auto_buffer
• dimensionof
• Empty Derived Optimization (EDO)
  
• explicit_cast
• fast integer to string conversion
• fast string concatenation
• interface_cast
• multi-dimensional array(s)
• portable vtables
• (C++) properties
• ranges
• shims
• true typedefs

Each post will discuss technical details of the invention, any related art, the circumstances of its creation (usually necessity for something that the C++ language did not afford me), any technical limitations, and any well-known uses of it in projects or other software libraries.

Note 1: I'm only discussing inventions that are described in Imperfect C++. Things that I've later concocted are/will be discussed elsewhere. For example: the Type Tunnel and Handle::Ref+Wrapper patterns and the Principle of Intersecting Conformance will be discussed in Breaking Up The Monolith; C# Static Extension Methods will be discussed in Imperfect C#; and so on.

Note 2: I'm not claiming in every case that the invention is creditable only to me. Some were joint efforts (e.g. Ranges, with John Torjo); some are my taking an existing technique to new lengths and depths (e.g. Shims); some are my satisfying a known problem in a different way, or providing greater portability over existing forms (e.g. C++ properties). Other than those caveats, however, and the obvious "standing on the shoulders of giants" that is the business of all software designers, these are mine, and any similarity to other inventions, living or dead, is purely coincidental. ;-)

And, of course, there's something of an ulterior motive, in that the full descriptions and design decisions regarding each invention are to be found only in the book, which you may wish to consider getting hold of if you've not done so (particularly now that the reprint will shortly be available).