Re: 20011231: netCDF C++ interface

>To: address@hidden
>From: Michael Dixon <address@hidden>
>Subject: netCDF C++ interface
>Organization: NCAR/RAP
>Keywords: 200112312242.fBVMg3N20826 netCDF C++

Hi Mike,

> I recently started using the C++ interface for netCDF. I think the
> docs are pretty good and the interface is pretty easy to use.
> 
> I have a couple of comments, as feedback:
> 
> 1. Deleting NcValues objects:
> -----------------------------
> 
> In the docs you do mention that the caller must delete the NcAtt
> pointers after use. However, you do not mention that the caller must
> also delete the NcValues pointers, retrieved with the values() method,
> after use. This leads to memory leaks.
> 
> I'd suggest an addition to the docs.

Thanks, I've made the suggested change and updated the HTML and
PostScript docs at:

  http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/netcdf/cxxdoc_toc.html

and

  http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/netcdf/cxxdoc.ps

> 2. NcError.
> -----------
> 
> Perhaps it would be worth adding a strerror() type function to
> the error class? Or do you have suggestions on how best to use
> the NcError class?

Yes, it might be worth adding a strerror() method to the NcError
class.  I think you can just use strerror() from the C interface
directly on the int returned by NcError::get_err() to get a char*
error message.

You may have guessed this C++ interface was written before the Java
interface (and in fact before the netCDF 3.x interfaces), and has
languished lately for lack of development.  In particular, the current
C++ interface doesn't make any use of C++ templates, exceptions,
String, or other parts of the standard C++ library.  It would probably
benefit by being rewritten to use standard C++ facilities.

Charlie Zender (who used to work at NCAR) has developed a new C++
interface to the netCDF C library that you may want to look at, as it
represents an advance from the current C++ interface:

  http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/glimpse/netcdf/4427

If you have the time to look at it, I'd be interested in your
evaluation ...

--Russ

_____________________________________________________________________

Russ Rew                                         UCAR Unidata Program
address@hidden                     http://www.unidata.ucar.edu