Thread: GC'd C++

I've heard rumors of a GC'd C++. Is it possible, and what are the implications? Wouldn't it just have to end up being an (compiled) interpreter that gets embedded into the executable at runtime?

I mean, you have some people saying things like:

"Garbage collection can be easily implemented with smart pointers (objects that wrap pointers with a reference count, which auto delete themselves when the reference count reaches 0)."

No, that's not GC. Thats reference counting. It doesn't handle cyclical data structures.

If you're compiling to straight ASM, I don't see how you can get GC at that level, without implementing another level on top to keep track of the root sets. And if you're implementing another level on top, you're not in straight ASM anymore..

Hmm, what if someone can implement GC at the hardware level..?