Faster Virtual Method Dispatch

[Walter Bright]

James Dunne wrote:
> Walter Bright wrote:
>> I.e. the problem crops up when the data in memory just doesn't fit 
>> into a strictly heirarcical format.
> If you parent the memory you're creating in the tree data structures to 
> a structure that is higher up the chain than both tree data structures, 
> then the data doesn't get lost simply because you freed the data 
> structure that held references to that memory.

I've designed data structures around the memory management requirement 
for keeping a sole 'parent' around for it that can free it. But I'd 
rather design data structures around how they are used instead.

For example, if I have an associative array of strings, I can stuff any 
old string into it - even static strings - without having to worry about 
who 'owns' those strings. It's quite liberating <g>.