refcountobject.h

//
// author Kazys Stepanas
//
// Copyright (c) CSIRO 2015
//
#ifndef REFCOUNTOBJECT_H_
#define REFCOUNTOBJECT_H_

namespace plotutil
{
  template <class T>
  class RefCountObject
  {
  public:
    inline RefCountObject() : _referenceCount(0) {}

    inline RefCountObject(int initialCount) : _referenceCount(initialCount) {}

    inline int referenceCount() const { return _referenceCount; }

    inline int addReference() { return ++_referenceCount; }

    int decReference();

  private:
    int _referenceCount;  
  };


  template <class T>
  int RefCountObject<T>::decReference()
  {
    int postDecCount = --_referenceCount;
    if (postDecCount <= 0)
    {
      delete static_cast<T *>(this);
    }
    return postDecCount;
  }
}

#endif // REFCOUNTOBJECT_H_