ATL / WTL / STL

STDMETHODIMP CMotoCar::GetHeader(/*[out, retval]*/ IHeader** pHeader) 
{
    *pHeader = m_pHeader;
    if(*pHeader)
       (*pHeader)->AddRef();
    return S_OK;
}

Retrieving a copy of an internally stored pointer When a function retrieves a copy of a pointer that is stored internally by the object called, that object's code must call AddRef on the pointer before the function returns. Once the pointer has been retrieved, the originating object has no other way of determining how its lifetime relates to that of the internally stored copy of the pointer.

Out parameters from functions, including return values To set the out parameter, the function must have a stable copy of the interface pointer. On return, the caller is responsible for releasing the pointer. Therefore, the out parameter does not need a separate reference count.

• If you are returning a value by reference - AddRef() is required
  
• If you are returning a value by value - AddRef() should NOT be called
  

STDMETHODIMP CClient::get_Devices(IDevices **pVal)
{
  //return a pointer to the devices collection...
  HRESULT hr = m_Devices->QueryInterface(__uuidof(IDevices), (void**)pVal);
  if (FAILED(hr))
  {
    return E_FAIL;
  }
  return S_OK;
}

typedef struct __Item
{
   int m_iXX1;
   int m_iXX2;
   list<__Item> m_Right; // <- This one
}_Item;

struct list { 
   int value;
   list next; // Ouchie!
};

////////////////////
Convenience typedefs
typedef set< IProjectObserver *>     ProjectObserverSet;
typedef ProjectObserverSet::iterator ProjectObserverSetIterator;

typedef set< IProjectObserver *>     ProjectObserverSet;
typedef std::set< IProjectObserver *>::iterator ProjectObserverSetIterator;