what is std::container_base12 and std::container_base0

[caperover2000]

Hi, folks,

I am trying to pass a std::string from one dll to another by boost::any. It is odd that the first 4 letters are always lost during this process, i.e. the buffer pointer is shifted by 4 bytes. When I looked into the code, it turned out that in one dll, std::container_base0 is used while in native C++ std::container_base12 is used instead. I suspect that is what caused the problem. Does anyone know how to tell the compilers to use the same container?

Thanks a lot,
CR

[caperover2000]

problem has been solved. It is due to release/debug difference. Thanks.

[superbonzo]

no, it has not been solved; the c++ standard library does not define an ABI so passing std::string ( or any other container ) across DLL boundaries is dangerous at best; any change in the compiler settings or version or even in your own source code ( templates instantiations usually occurs on a per translation unit basis ) could change the resulting binary layout of your classes, resulting in undefined behavior when accessed from both sides. So, either avoid STL containers in favor of c-buffers or some abstract interface, or use some binary object model ( COM and the like ), or employ some form of safe transport of your c++ types ( boost serialization, google protocol buffers, etc ... ).

[Igor Vartanov]

or employ some form of safe transport of your c++ types ( boost serialization, google protocol buffers, etc ... ).

... Win32 API guaranteed compatible types like plain C-string (LPCTSTR), or BSTR ...