Re: object-model: Return by value, reference or pointer? (or something else?)

2010/10/13 Hyrum K. Wright <hyrum_wright_at_mail.utexas.edu>
> Another option is a custom SVN::String type which looks / smells /
> acts like a string, but also allows wrapping the NULL value, in a
> manner you suggest above.

Sorry to intrude, but just an additional possibility : can the strings
manipulated by SVN contain embedded NUL characters ( "\0" ) ?

If they can't, then you could use an std::string containing a single
NUL character to represent the NULL string :

    #define SVN_NULL_STRING std::string(1, '\0')

    inline std::string getAuthor() const { return ptr ?
std::string(ptr) : SVN_NULL_STRING; }

-- 
Julien Cugnière