Abstract
This column starts off my series on experiences learned using
the Standard C++ library on real world projects. This particular
column describes the standard string class in
some detail, pointing out a number of little idiosyncrasies. It
then presents my own alternate string class: stringx,
which is derived from string. The intent is to
both to warn people about some of the more obscure aspects of the
standard string class, but at the same time to
show that it is powerful enough to be used to implement its own
replacement.