How do I call ::std::make_shared on a class with o

Question

I have this code that doesn't work, but I think the intent is clear:

testmakeshared.cpp

#include <memory>

class A {
 public:
   static ::std::shared_ptr<A> create() {
      return ::std::make_shared<A>();
   }

 protected:
   A() {}
   A(const A &) = delete;
   const A &operator =(const A &) = delete;
};

::std::shared_ptr<A> foo()
{
   return A::create();
}

But I get this error when I compile it:

g++ -std=c++0x -march=native -mtune=native -O3 -Wall testmakeshared.cpp
In file included from /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr.h:52:0,
                 from /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/memory:86,
                 from testmakeshared.cpp:1:
testmakeshared.cpp: In constructor ‘std::_Sp_counted_ptr_inplace<_Tp, _Alloc, _Lp>::_Sp_counted_ptr_inplace(_Alloc) [with _Tp = A, _Alloc = std::allocator<A>, __gnu_cxx::_Lock_policy _Lp = (__gnu_cxx::_Lock_policy)2u]’:
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr_base.h:518:8:   instantiated from ‘std::__shared_count<_Lp>::__shared_count(std::_Sp_make_shared_tag, _Tp*, const _Alloc&, _Args&& ...) [with _Tp = A, _Alloc = std::allocator<A>, _Args = {}, __gnu_cxx::_Lock_policy _Lp = (__gnu_cxx::_Lock_policy)2u]’
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr_base.h:986:35:   instantiated from ‘std::__shared_ptr<_Tp, _Lp>::__shared_ptr(std::_Sp_make_shared_tag, const _Alloc&, _Args&& ...) [with _Alloc = std::allocator<A>, _Args = {}, _Tp = A, __gnu_cxx::_Lock_policy _Lp = (__gnu_cxx::_Lock_policy)2u]’
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr.h:313:64:   instantiated from ‘std::shared_ptr<_Tp>::shared_ptr(std::_Sp_make_shared_tag, const _Alloc&, _Args&& ...) [with _Alloc = std::allocator<A>, _Args = {}, _Tp = A]’
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr.h:531:39:   instantiated from ‘std::shared_ptr<_Tp> std::allocate_shared(const _Alloc&, _Args&& ...) [with _Tp = A, _Alloc = std::allocator<A>, _Args = {}]’
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr.h:547:42:   instantiated from ‘std::shared_ptr<_Tp1> std::make_shared(_Args&& ...) [with _Tp = A, _Args = {}]’
testmakeshared.cpp:6:40:   instantiated from here
testmakeshared.cpp:10:8: error: ‘A::A()’ is protected
/usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/bits/shared_ptr_base.h:400:2: error: within this context

Compilation exited abnormally with code 1 at Tue Nov 15 07:32:58

This message is basically saying that some random method way down in the template instantiation stack from ::std::make_shared can't access the constructor because it's protected.

But I really want to use both ::std::make_shared and prevent anybody from making an object of this class that isn't pointed at by a ::std::shared_ptr. Is there any way to accomplish this?

Answer 1

I realise this thread is rather old, but I found an answer that does not require inheritance or extra arguments to the constructor that I couldn't see elsewhere. It is not portable though:

#include <memory>

#if defined(__cplusplus) && __cplusplus >= 201103L
#define ALLOW_MAKE_SHARED(x) friend void __gnu_cxx::new_allocator<test>::construct<test>(test*);
#elif defined(_WIN32) || defined(WIN32)
#if defined(_MSC_VER) && _MSC_VER >= 1800
#define ALLOW_MAKE_SHARED(x) friend class std::_Ref_count_obj;
#else
#error msc version does not suport c++11
#endif
#else
#error implement for platform
#endif

class test {
    test() {}
    ALLOW_MAKE_SHARED(test);
public:
    static std::shared_ptr<test> create() { return std::make_shared<test>(); }

};
int main() {
    std::shared_ptr<test> t(test::create());
}

I have tested on windows and linux, it may need tweaking for different platforms.

Answer 2

struct A {
public:
  template<typename ...Arg> std::shared_ptr<A> static create(Arg&&...arg) {
    struct EnableMakeShared : public A {
      EnableMakeShared(Arg&&...arg) :A(std::forward<Arg>(arg)...) {}
    };
    return std::make_shared<EnableMakeShared>(std::forward<Arg>(arg)...);
  }
  void dump() const {
    std::cout << a_ << std::endl;
  }
private:
  A(int a) : a_(a) {}
  A(int i, int j) : a_(i + j) {}
  A(std::string const& a) : a_(a.size()) {}
  int a_;
};

Answer 3

If you also want to enable a constuctor that takes arguments, this may help a bit.

#include <memory>
#include <utility>

template<typename S>
struct enable_make : public S
{
    template<typename... T>
    enable_make(T&&... t)
        : S(std::forward<T>(t)...)
    {
    }
};

class foo
{
public:
    static std::unique_ptr<foo> create(std::unique_ptr<int> u, char const* s)
    {
        return std::make_unique<enable_make<foo>>(std::move(u), s);
    }
protected:
    foo(std::unique_ptr<int> u, char const* s)
    {
    }
};

void test()
{
    auto fp = foo::create(std::make_unique<int>(3), "asdf");
}

Answer 4

#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

class A : public std::enable_shared_from_this<A>
{
private:
    A(){}
    explicit A(int a):m_a(a){}
public:
    template <typename... Args>
    static std::shared_ptr<A> create(Args &&... args)
    {
        class make_shared_enabler : public A
        {
        public:
            make_shared_enabler(Args &&... args):A(std::forward<Args>(args)...){}
        };
        return std::make_shared<make_shared_enabler>(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
    }

    int val() const
    {
        return m_a;
    }
private:
    int m_a=0;
};

int main(int, char **)
{
    std::shared_ptr<A> a0=A::create();
    std::shared_ptr<A> a1=A::create(10);
    std::cout << a0->val() << " " << a1->val() << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Answer 5

There's a more hairy and interesting problem that happens when you have two strictly related classes A and B that work together.

Say A is the "master class" and B its "slave". If you want to restrict instantiation of B only to A, you'd make B's constructor private, and friend B to A like this

class B
{
public:
    // B your methods...

private:
    B();
    friend class A;
};

Unfortunately calling std::make_shared<B>() from a method of A will make the compiler complain about B::B() being private.

My solution to this is to create a public Pass dummy class (just like nullptr_t) inside B that has private constructor and is friend with A and make B's constructor public and add Pass to its arguments, like this.

class B
{
public:
  class Pass
  {
    Pass() {}
    friend class A;
  };

  B(Pass, int someArgument)
  {
  }
};

class A
{
public:
  A()
  {
    // This is valid
    auto ptr = std::make_shared<B>(B::Pass(), 42);
  }
};

class C
{
public:
  C()
  {
    // This is not
    auto ptr = std::make_shared<B>(B::Pass(), 42);
  }
};

Answer 6

You can use this:

class CVal
{
    friend std::shared_ptr<CVal>;
    friend std::_Ref_count<CVal>;
public:
    static shared_ptr<CVal> create()
    {
        shared_ptr<CVal> ret_sCVal(new CVal());
        return ret_sCVal;
    }

protected:
    CVal() {};
    ~CVal() {};
};