reference to a pointer example and pitfalls

[kryton9]

In Java you can use the New operator to create an object from Free System Memory and assign it to a Reference. In C++ you have to use New with Pointers.
I thought well, what if I make a reference to the pointer and then delete it to avoid memory leaks later. I thought this would a be a cool work around, but alas it didn't work.

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class v3
{
    private:
        int x;
        int y;
        int z;


    public:
    v3(int X = 0, int Y = 0, int Z = 0)
    {
        x = X;
        y = Y;
        z = Z;
    }


    void print( void )
    {
        cout << "x: " << x << "    y: " << y << "    z: " << z << "\n";
        cout << "\n\n\n\n";
    }
};


int main()
{
    cout << " Program memory v3 variable v" << "\n\n";
    v3 v( 36, 24, 36 );
    v.print();


    v3* vp = new v3( 44, 27, 40 );
    cout << " Free memory using new operator creating pointer vp" << "\n\n";
    vp->print();


    v3& vr = *vp;
    cout << " vr reference to the pointer vp" << "\n\n";
    vr.print();


    delete vp;
    cout << " Deleted pointer vp to avoid memory leaks" << "\n\n\n\n";


    cout << " Our reference vr has garbage now" << "\n\n";
    vr.print();


    cout << " Shame that you can't use the new operator with references in c++" << "\n";
    cout << " like you can in Java. I thought perhaps this work around would have worked" << "\n";
    cout << " but it didn't." << "\n\n";


    cout << " Press Enter to Exit" << "\n\n";

    cin.get();

    return 0;
}