reference semantic for pimpl class

I have a basic class with a pimpl, with agressive instantiation:

Code:

---

class MyClassImpl;

class MyClass
{
public:
  MyClass() : pImpl(new MyClassImpl) {}
  ~MyClass(){delete pImpl;}

private:
  MyClass(const MyClass&) = delete;
  MyClass& operator=(const MyClass&) = delete;

  MyClassImpl* pImpl;
};

---

Classic/Standard. However, I do hate having to use pointer semantics for all of my operations. So I thought: If I never ever manipulate the actual pointer itself, why not just keep a reference?

Code:

---

class MyClassImpl;

class MyClass
{
public:
  MyClass() : impl(*new MyClassImpl) {}
  ~MyClass(){delete &impl;}

private:
  MyClassImpl& impl;
};

---

Everything seems legit to me...

The only downside that I see, is that I can't swap or move, but this particular object is not meant to be swapped or moved.

Did I miss anything here, or can I go ahead and do this.

You wouldn't be able to store it in a container either.

BTW, probably it was just for brevity, but the code snippet is wrong because you're new-ing an incomplete type ( this is an error ) and you're deleting an incomplete type ( this is UB, in general ).

as far as the reference is concerned, the only problem I see is in the event of "new" returning 0; anyway, nothing really serious ... :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superbonzo

as far as the reference is concerned, the only problem I see is in the event of "new" returning 0; anyway, nothing really serious ...

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Doesn't sound like a problem though since nothrow new was not used.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superbonzo

BTW, probably it was just for brevity, but the code snippet is wrong because you're new-ing an incomplete type ( this is an error ) and you're deleting an incomplete type ( this is UB, in general ).

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Yeah, you caught that. It was for brevity. The code is actually in a cpp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superbonzo

as far as the reference is concerned, the only problem I see is in the event of "new" returning 0; anyway, nothing really serious ... :)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by laserlight

Doesn't sound like a problem though since nothrow new was not used.

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Yup.

Thanks for your feedbacks.