--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/liboctave/oct-refcount.h	Thu Jan 20 11:10:27 2011 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (C) 2011 Jaroslav Hajek
+
+This file is part of Octave.
+
+Octave is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your
+option) any later version.
+
+Octave is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with Octave; see the file COPYING.  If not, see
+<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+*/
+
+#if !defined (octave_refcount_h)
+#define octave_refcount_h 1
+
+// Encapsulates a reference counter.
+template <class T>
+class octave_refcount
+{
+public:
+  typedef T count_type;
+
+  octave_refcount(count_type initial_count) : count(initial_count) {}
+
+  // Increment/Decrement. int is postfix.
+  count_type operator++(void) 
+    { 
+      return ++count; 
+    }
+
+  count_type operator++(int) 
+    { 
+      return count++; 
+    }
+
+  count_type operator--(void)
+    { 
+      return --count; 
+    }
+
+  count_type operator--(int)
+    { 
+      return count--; 
+    }
+
+  operator count_type (void) const { return count; }
+
+  // For low-level optimizations only.
+  count_type& direct (void) const { return count; }
+
+private:
+  count_type count;
+};
+
+#endif