[Lib2geom-devel] C++ questions when looking at header file for Quadtree Class.

[Sunburned S. <sun...@gm...>]

I haven't had time for lib2geom like I wanted the last couple of
weeks, but I finally had time to sit down and look at the header file
for the Quadtree Class. I had a couple of C++ questions that came up
while I was doing this, and I was hoping you guys would be able to
help. The questions are on C++ syntax.

Let me ask about a couple of statements in the portion of the header
file where the Quad class is defined:

[1] What are we doing in the "std::vector<int> data;" statement? I
think we are declaring a data type from the standard namespace named
"data" that has a data type of "vector", but I'm a little confused
about the "<int>". What is that doing in their? Also, is std:vector a
struct or a class, and how would I find this out on my own?

[2] It looks like we define a function, perhaps a constructor, named
Quad() in this portion of the header file. I'm confused because it
looks like this function has statements in its body, and I thought
header files only contained function prototypes. Was I mistaken about
this? Are constructors an exception to this rule?

[3] The statement "typedef std::vector<int>::iterator iterator;" has
me totally lost. :]
I know the keyword "typedef" can be used to create an alias of sorts.
I think this statement is creating and alias for the std:vector data
type. Are we saying that we want to be able to refer to an instance of
"std:vector" as "iterator"? What is that "<int>" doing in there again?
Is that something like Java Generics?

Thanks for your patience with my efforts to learn C++ and the lib2geom
code base. I'm sorry its been so long since you guys have heard from
me. I hope all is going well.

Scott Huey