// cow_string.h: copy-on-write strings

#ifndef _cow_string_h
#define _cow_string_h

class cow_string {
public:
  cow_string(const char* text = "");
  virtual ~cow_string();
  cow_string(const cow_string &src);
  cow_string& operator=(const cow_string &src);
  const char& operator[](int index) const;
  char& operator[](int index);
  void get_inspection_data(char *buffer); // assumes buffer is large
private:
  struct shareable_string {
    int count = 0;
    char *contents = nullptr;
    shareable_string(const char *text);
    ~shareable_string();
  } *underlying_string = nullptr;
  static int bytes_allocated; // how many bytes allocated at any one time; must be 0 at end
public:
  static int unreleased_bytes();
};

#endif