Automatic reference counting

arc.cpp

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

template <class T>
class Smart {
private:
	T* pointee;
	int* ref_count;
public:
	Smart(T* ptr) : pointee(ptr), ref_count(new int(0)) {
		(*ref_count)++;
		cout << "number of refs is " << *ref_count << endl;
	}

	Smart(const Smart<T>& tmp) : pointee(tmp.pointee), ref_count(tmp.ref_count) {
		(*ref_count)++;
		cout << "number of refs is " << *ref_count << endl;
	}

	~Smart() {
		(*ref_count)--;
		if(*ref_count == 0) {
			cout << "pointee deleted" << endl;
			delete pointee;
			delete ref_count;
		}
	}

	T& operator*(){
		return *pointee;
	}
};

void print(Smart<int> copy) {
	cout << *copy << endl;
}

void test_func() {
	Smart<int> smart(new int(10));
	print(smart);
}

int main() {
	test_func();
	return 0;
}