How Can I Design A Lab Assignment That Effectively Demonstrates The Trade-offs Between Using Std::array And Std::vector To Implement A Dynamic Stack Data Structure, While Also Ensuring That Students Understand The Implications Of Size Limits And Iterator Invalidation In C++11?

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To design a lab assignment that effectively demonstrates the trade-offs between using std::array and std::vector for implementing a dynamic stack in C++, while ensuring students understand size limits and iterator invalidation, follow this structured approach:

Lab Assignment: Implementing a Dynamic Stack with std::array and std::vector

Learning Objectives:

  1. Understand the differences between std::array and std::vector in terms of memory management and performance.
  2. Learn how to implement a dynamic stack using both containers.
  3. Appreciate the implications of size limits and iterator invalidation.

Assignment Structure:

Part 1: Implementing a Stack with std::array

  1. Objective: Understand fixed-size container limitations.
  2. Implementation:
    • Create a StackArray class using std::array.
    • Include constructor for setting max size, and methods: push(), pop(), top(), size(), empty().
    • Handle overflow by throwing an exception when push() exceeds capacity.
  3. Discussion Points:
    • Fixed size constraints.
    • No iterator invalidation due to fixed size.

Part 2: Implementing a Stack with std::vector

  1. Objective: Explore dynamic resizing and performance implications.
  2. Implementation:
    • Develop a StackVector class using std::vector.
    • Include default initial capacity, methods for stack operations, and dynamic resizing (e.g., double capacity when full).
    • Handle iterator invalidation by throwing exceptions when using invalidated iterators.
  3. Discussion Points:
    • Dynamic memory management and reallocation.
    • Iterator invalidation on reallocation.

Part 3: Iterator Invalidation Exploration

  1. Objective: Observe iterator invalidation in std::vector.
  2. Tasks:
    • Write code to demonstrate iterator invalidation when push() causes reallocation.
    • Compare with std::array where iterators remain valid.
  3. Discussion Points:
    • Consequences of iterator invalidation in std::vector.
    • Safety of iterators in std::array.

Part 4: Comparison and Reflection

  1. Objective: Compare both implementations.
  2. Tasks:
    • Compare performance, memory usage, and use cases.
    • Discuss trade-offs and appropriate scenarios for each container.

Assessment:

  • Code Submission: Implement both stacks with specified functionality.
  • Report: Include observations on iterator behavior and trade-offs.

Suggested Extensions:

  • Performance Testing: Measure push/pop times for large data.
  • Container Exploration: Compare with std::deque for alternative dynamic memory management.

Conclusion:

This assignment guides students through implementing and comparing stacks using std::array and std::vector, emphasizing size limits and iterator invalidation. It provides practical experience with C++ containers, enhancing understanding of their trade-offs and appropriate use cases.