Smart Pointers, Dumb Mistakes

C++ smart pointers promise to make memory management easier—but they also introduce a new world of gotchas, performance quirks, and hidden complexities. From unique_ptr ownership mix-ups to shared_ptr reference cycles, even experienced developers fall into subtle traps that lead to memory leaks, undefined behavior, or just plain bad performance.

This session dives deep into modern C++ memory management, exploring both the power and pitfalls of smart pointers. We’ll start by revisiting raw pointers (because, yes, they still matter) before dissecting unique_ptr, shared_ptr, and weak_ptr—how they work, when to use them, and how they can backfire. Along the way, we’ll unravel aliasing surprises, control block overhead, exception safety risks, and the lesser-known optimizations in C++20+.

Expect real-world mistakes, debugging horror stories, and practical solutions using Address Sanitizer, static analysis tools, and modern C++ techniques. By the end, you'll walk away with the confidence to write memory-safe, performant code—without falling into the "smart" pointer traps.