Practical Guide to Mastering C++ Smart Pointers - Part 02: Mastering std::shared_ptr, std::make_shared, and std::weak_ptr in Modern C++

This course provides a rigorous, hands-on journey through the core and advanced capabilities of std::shared_ptr, std::make_shared, and std::weak_ptr. Starting with the fundamentals of shared ownership, you'll understand reference counting, copy semantics, and argument passing. This lays the groundwork for how and when to use shared pointers effectively in practical scenarios. From there, the course explores how to replace raw pointers with shared pointers, tackling common memory pitfalls such as uninitialized or dangling pointers and memory leaks. You’ll apply these concepts across real-world programming contexts like container management, polymorphism, and multithreading. Special attention is given to how smart pointers behave in systems programming environments, including file descriptors, DLL handles, and platform-specific resources. In the final modules, you’ll uncover the internals of custom deleters, control block memory layouts, and dynamic allocation strategies using std::make_shared. The course culminates with an in-depth study of std::weak_ptr, showing how to break circular dependencies and implement safe, temporary ownership models. Whether you're dealing with shared libraries, multithreaded code, or resource-bound systems, this course gives you the knowledge to handle C++ smart pointers with precision and confidence.

This course is intended for intermediate to advanced C++ developers who already have a solid understanding of pointers, references, and object-oriented programming. Familiarity with C++11 or later standards is required. Completion of Part 01 of this series is highly recommended, as this course builds directly on the foundational concepts established earlier.