memory management and copy-constructors

[en254]

I'm trying to understand how to manage memory with
extension types to octave.

I know that octave keeps reference counters for built
in types, thus avoiding unnecessary copying.

I'm wondering if extension types need to duplicate
this functionality or if it is inherited from the
base octave classes.

I've taken a look at the copy-constructor in 
make_int.cc, but since it doesn't need to manage
dynamic memory, it doesn't reveal much

--------cut from make_int.cc ------------
class
octave_integer : public octave_base_value
{
public:
...
  octave_integer (const octave_integer& s)
    : octave_base_value (), scalar (s.scalar) { }
...
--------cut from make_int.cc ------------

Additionally, if I put debug print statements in
the copy-constructor, I never see it used.

My question:

1 When is the copy-constructor used?

2 Do extension classes need to manage their own
  reference counting?


_______________________________________________________
Andy Adler,                               address@hidden




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