Professional .NET 2.0 Generics

12.3. No Limits

The sections that follow demonstrate how each of the generic constructs can be implemented and consumed with C++. As you look at each of these generic constructs, you'll quickly discover that the C++ implementation of generics is very complete. In fact, except for a few mild variations, the C++ language supports all the functionality that is available to VB and C# developers.

As part of supporting all the same generic capabilities you've seen with VB and C#, you'll also discover that the C++ implementation inherits all the same rules and constraints that are associated with these other languages. It's clear that each of these languages is attempting to support a uniform vision of generics as a part of their compliance with the CLS specification.

So, as you examine the examples that follow, you'll find that they intentionally avoid re-iterating the global set of rules that accompany each generic construct. Those rules are littered throughout the other chapters of this book. The goal here is to focus exclusively on the C++ generics nuances without rehashing all the same, common issues that are already covered elsewhere.