I'm currently 110 pages into the aforementioned STL Tutorial and Reference Guide, and I'm standing by my earlier statement that it's a Good Thing. I now understand how the whole generic algorithm thing works and how the various types of iterators make 'em possible. Before now, the whole concept of generic algorithms seemed like some kind of esoteric pixie-magic that just worked, but in an inexplicable way.

I haven't tried it yet, but the latest C++ User's Journal has a neat-looking utility for STL fans. It's a replacement for the CL.EXE that comes with Visual C++ that first calls the original compiler (which you rename CL2.EXE) and then filters the error messages through a little Perl script. This is necessary because the amount of inlines and templates in STL can make your error messages downright impossible to read. Here's the example error message from the article. . .

error.cpp(16) : error C2664: 'class std::_Tree,class std::allocator >,struct std::pair,class std::allocator > const ,int>,struct std::multimap,class std::allocator >,int,struct std::lesschar_traits,class std::allocator > >,class std::allocator >::_Kfn,struct std::less,class std::allocator > >,class std::allocator >::iterator __thiscall std::multimap,class std::allocator >,int,struct std::less,class std::allocator > >,class std::allocator >::insert(const struct std::pair,class std::allocator > const ,int> &)' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'const int' to 'const struct std::pair,class std::allocator > const ,int> &'
Reason: cannot convert from 'const int' to 'const struct std::pair,class std::allocator > const ,int>' No constructor could take the source type, or constructor overload resolution was ambiguous

Here's what the filter converts it to. . .

error.cpp(16) : error C2664:
'iter multimap::insert(pair &)' : cannot convert parameter 1 from 'const int' to 'pair &'
Reason: cannot convert from 'const int' to 'const pair'
No constructor could take the source type, or constructor overload resolution was ambiguous

Still rather long-winded, but a heckuva lot better than the first.



Speaking of Good Things, I really like Corel Photo-Paint. I bought the older version of Corel Draw at softwareoutlet.com because I wanted to print out some tracks for Formula De that are out on the internet in Corel Draw format. Just as a lark, I installed Photo-Paint, and I was sorely impressed by its capabilities. I'm still getting used to it, but there's a lot of it that I like better than the old standby Paint Shop Pro.

Anyway, if you're looking for a high-end bitmap editor for a good price, this is a great buy. Pricewatch.com has Corel Draw 8 even cheaper, but I've been very happy with the service at softwareoutlet.com. As a bonus, you can buy an old copy of Delphi from 'em for 99 cents!

P.S. Use the code "PARIS" when checking out, and you'll get $10 off a $30 order!