changeset 21017:93748bcaec17

maint: Replace emtpy 'std::string ()' calls with "". * Backend.cc, comment-list.h, debug.cc, defaults.in.h, dynamic-ld.h, error.cc, graphics.cc, graphics.in.h, help.cc, hook-fcn.h, load-path.cc, load-path.h, ls-ascii-helper.cc, ls-mat-ascii.cc, ls-mat5.cc, ls-mat5.h, ls-oct-text.cc, oct-iostrm.h, oct-lvalue.h, oct-stream.cc, oct-stream.h, oct-strstrm.h, regexp.cc, schur.cc, sqrtm.cc, strfns.cc, symtab.cc, symtab.h, sysdep.cc, toplev.cc, urlwrite.cc, variables.cc, variables.h, ov-builtin.h, ov-cell.cc, ov-class.cc, ov-classdef.cc, ov-classdef.h, ov-dld-fcn.h, ov-fcn-handle.cc, ov-fcn-inline.cc, ov-fcn-inline.h, ov-fcn.h, ov-lazy-idx.cc, ov-mex-fcn.h, ov-struct.cc, ov-typeinfo.cc, ov-typeinfo.h, ov-usr-fcn.cc, ov-usr-fcn.h, ov.h, ovl.h, octave.cc, lex.h, parse.h, pt-classdef.h, pt-exp.cc, pt-pr-code.h, token.h, version.cc, version.in.h, oct-rand.h, dir-ops.h, file-ops.cc, file-ops.h, file-stat.h, oct-env.cc, oct-group.cc, oct-passwd.cc, oct-syscalls.cc, cmd-edit.cc, cmd-edit.h, cmd-hist.cc, cmd-hist.h, kpse.cc, lo-array-gripes.h, pathsearch.cc, pathsearch.h, str-vec.h, url-transfer.h: Replace emtpy 'std::string ()' calls with "".
author Rik <rik@octave.org>
date Wed, 30 Dec 2015 12:33:33 -0800
parents c22219b8a6a6
children cb1eb7d9a89f
files libgui/graphics/Backend.cc libinterp/corefcn/comment-list.h libinterp/corefcn/debug.cc libinterp/corefcn/defaults.in.h libinterp/corefcn/dynamic-ld.h libinterp/corefcn/error.cc libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc libinterp/corefcn/graphics.in.h libinterp/corefcn/help.cc libinterp/corefcn/hook-fcn.h libinterp/corefcn/load-path.cc libinterp/corefcn/load-path.h libinterp/corefcn/ls-ascii-helper.cc libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat-ascii.cc libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat5.cc libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat5.h libinterp/corefcn/ls-oct-text.cc libinterp/corefcn/oct-iostrm.h libinterp/corefcn/oct-lvalue.h libinterp/corefcn/oct-stream.cc libinterp/corefcn/oct-stream.h libinterp/corefcn/oct-strstrm.h libinterp/corefcn/regexp.cc libinterp/corefcn/schur.cc libinterp/corefcn/sqrtm.cc libinterp/corefcn/strfns.cc libinterp/corefcn/symtab.cc libinterp/corefcn/symtab.h libinterp/corefcn/sysdep.cc libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc libinterp/corefcn/urlwrite.cc libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc libinterp/corefcn/variables.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-builtin.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-cell.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-class.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-classdef.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-classdef.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-dld-fcn.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-handle.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-inline.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-inline.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-lazy-idx.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-mex-fcn.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-struct.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-typeinfo.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-typeinfo.h libinterp/octave-value/ov-usr-fcn.cc libinterp/octave-value/ov-usr-fcn.h libinterp/octave-value/ov.h libinterp/octave-value/ovl.h libinterp/octave.cc libinterp/parse-tree/lex.h libinterp/parse-tree/parse.h libinterp/parse-tree/pt-classdef.h libinterp/parse-tree/pt-exp.cc libinterp/parse-tree/pt-pr-code.h libinterp/parse-tree/token.h libinterp/version.cc libinterp/version.in.h liboctave/numeric/oct-rand.h liboctave/system/dir-ops.h liboctave/system/file-ops.cc liboctave/system/file-ops.h liboctave/system/file-stat.h liboctave/system/oct-env.cc liboctave/system/oct-group.cc liboctave/system/oct-passwd.cc liboctave/system/oct-syscalls.cc liboctave/util/cmd-edit.cc liboctave/util/cmd-edit.h liboctave/util/cmd-hist.cc liboctave/util/cmd-hist.h liboctave/util/kpse.cc liboctave/util/lo-array-gripes.h liboctave/util/pathsearch.cc liboctave/util/pathsearch.h liboctave/util/str-vec.h liboctave/util/url-transfer.h
diffstat 80 files changed, 273 insertions(+), 273 deletions(-) [+]
line wrap: on
line diff
--- a/libgui/graphics/Backend.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libgui/graphics/Backend.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
     qCritical ("QtHandles::Backend: no __object__ property known for object "
                "of type %s", go.type ().c_str ());
 
-  return std::string ();
+  return "";
 }
 
 Backend::Backend (void)
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/comment-list.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/comment-list.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
     copyright
   };
 
-  octave_comment_elt (const std::string& s = std::string (),
+  octave_comment_elt (const std::string& s = "",
                       comment_type t = unknown)
     : txt (s), typ (t) { }
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/debug.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/debug.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
 // current call stack.
 
 static octave_user_code *
-get_user_code (const std::string& fname = std::string ())
+get_user_code (const std::string& fname = "")
 {
   octave_user_code *dbg_fcn = 0;
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
 {
   int idx = 0;
   int list_idx = 0;
-  symbol_name = std::string ();
+  symbol_name = "";
   lines = bp_table::intmap ();
 
   if (args.length () == 0)
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/defaults.in.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/defaults.in.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -231,9 +231,9 @@
 extern OCTINTERP_API void install_defaults (void);
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API void
-set_exec_path (const std::string& path = std::string ());
+set_exec_path (const std::string& path = "");
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API void
-set_image_path (const std::string& path = std::string ());
+set_image_path (const std::string& path = "");
 
 #endif
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/dynamic-ld.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/dynamic-ld.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@
 
   static octave_function *
   load_oct (const std::string& fcn_name,
-            const std::string& file_name = std::string (),
+            const std::string& file_name = "",
             bool relative = false);
 
   static octave_function *
   load_mex (const std::string& fcn_name,
-            const std::string& file_name = std::string (),
+            const std::string& file_name = "",
             bool relative = false);
 
   static bool remove_oct (const std::string& fcn_name, octave_shlib& shl);
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@
 
   octave_function *
   do_load_oct (const std::string& fcn_name,
-               const std::string& file_name = std::string (),
+               const std::string& file_name = "",
                bool relative = false);
 
   octave_function *
   do_load_mex (const std::string& fcn_name,
-               const std::string& file_name = std::string (),
+               const std::string& file_name = "",
                bool relative = false);
 
   bool do_remove_oct (const std::string& fcn_name, octave_shlib& shl);
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/error.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/error.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@
                           std::string& id)
 {
   nargs = args;
-  id = std::string ();
+  id = "";
 
   int nargin = args.length ();
 
@@ -1859,8 +1859,8 @@
           if (args(0).string_value () != "reset")
             error ("lasterror: unrecognized string argument");
 
-          Vlast_error_message = std::string ();
-          Vlast_error_id = std::string ();
+          Vlast_error_message = "";
+          Vlast_error_id = "";
 
           Vlast_error_stack = initialize_last_error_stack ();
         }
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -6926,7 +6926,7 @@
             exponent = gnulib::floor (std::log10 (values(i)));
           significand = values(i) * std::pow (10., -exponent);
 
-          os.str (std::string ());
+          os.str ("");
           if ((std::abs (significand) - 1) >
               std::numeric_limits<double>::epsilon())
             os << significand << ".";
@@ -6950,7 +6950,7 @@
     {
       for (int i = 0; i < values.numel (); i++)
         {
-          os.str (std::string ());
+          os.str ("");
           os << values(i);
           c(i) = os.str ();
         }
@@ -8094,7 +8094,7 @@
   Matrix zd = get_zdata ().matrix_value ();
   NDArray cd = get_cdata ().array_value ();
 
-  bad_data_msg = std::string ();
+  bad_data_msg = "";
   if (xd.dims () != yd.dims ()
       || (xd.dims () != zd.dims () && ! zd.is_empty ()))
     {
@@ -8181,7 +8181,7 @@
   octave_idx_type nvert = vert.rows ();
 
   // Check all vertices in faces are defined
-  bad_data_msg = std::string ();
+  bad_data_msg = "";
   if (static_cast<double> (nvert) < idx.row_max ().max ())
     {
       bad_data_msg = "some vertices in \"faces\" property are undefined";
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.in.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/graphics.in.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@
 
   std::string string_value (void) const
   {
-    return value.empty () ? std::string () : value[0];
+    return value.empty () ? "" : value[0];
   }
 
   string_vector string_vector_value (void) const { return value; }
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@
 class radio_values
 {
 public:
-  OCTINTERP_API radio_values (const std::string& opt_string = std::string ());
+  OCTINTERP_API radio_values (const std::string& opt_string = "");
 
   radio_values (const radio_values& a)
     : default_val (a.default_val), possible_vals (a.possible_vals) { }
@@ -2305,7 +2305,7 @@
 
   static std::string default_toolkit (void)
   {
-    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_default_toolkit () : std::string ();
+    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_default_toolkit () : "";
   }
 
 private:
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/help.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/help.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1201,7 +1201,7 @@
 {
   std::string file;
 
-  type = std::string ();
+  type = "";
 
   octave_value val = symbol_table::find_function (name);
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/hook-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/hook-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
   virtual ~base_hook_function (void) { }
 
-  virtual std::string id (void) { return std::string (); }
+  virtual std::string id (void) { return ""; }
 
   virtual bool is_valid (void) { return false; }
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/load-path.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/load-path.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1099,11 +1099,11 @@
           retval = find_method (class_name, meth, dir_name);
         }
       else
-        retval = std::string ();
+        retval = "";
     }
   else
     {
-      dir_name = std::string ();
+      dir_name = "";
 
       const_fcn_map_iterator p = fcn_map.find (fcn);
 
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@
                   break;
                 }
               else
-                retval = std::string ();
+                retval = "";
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1173,7 +1173,7 @@
 
   //  update ();
 
-  dir_name = std::string ();
+  dir_name = "";
 
   const_method_map_iterator q = method_map.find (class_name);
 
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@
                   break;
                 }
               else
-                retval = std::string ();
+                retval = "";
             }
         }
     }
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/load-path.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/load-path.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -96,24 +96,24 @@
   static std::string find_method (const std::string& class_name,
                                   const std::string& meth,
                                   std::string& dir_name,
-                                  const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                  const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader (pack_name).find_method (class_name, meth,
                                                       dir_name)
-      : std::string ();
+      : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_method (const std::string& class_name,
                                   const std::string& meth,
-                                  const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                  const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     std::string dir_name;
     return find_method (class_name, meth, dir_name, pack_name);
   }
 
   static std::list<std::string> methods (const std::string& class_name,
-                                         const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                         const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader(pack_name).methods (class_name)
@@ -141,15 +141,15 @@
   }
 
   static std::string find_fcn (const std::string& fcn, std::string& dir_name,
-                               const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                               const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader (pack_name).find_fcn (fcn, dir_name)
-      : std::string ();
+      : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_fcn (const std::string& fcn,
-                               const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                               const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     std::string dir_name;
     return find_fcn (fcn, dir_name, pack_name);
@@ -157,53 +157,53 @@
 
   static std::string find_private_fcn (const std::string& dir,
                                        const std::string& fcn,
-                                       const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                       const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader (pack_name).find_private_fcn (dir, fcn)
-      : std::string ();
+      : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_fcn_file (const std::string& fcn,
-                                    const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                    const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     std::string dir_name;
 
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader (pack_name).find_fcn (fcn, dir_name, M_FILE)
-      : std::string ();
+      : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_oct_file (const std::string& fcn,
-                                    const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                    const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     std::string dir_name;
 
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader (pack_name).find_fcn (fcn, dir_name, M_FILE)
-      : std::string ();
+      : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_mex_file (const std::string& fcn,
-                                    const std::string& pack_name = std::string ())
+                                    const std::string& pack_name = "")
   {
     std::string dir_name;
 
     return instance_ok ()
       ? instance->get_loader (pack_name).find_fcn (fcn, dir_name, M_FILE)
-      : std::string ();
+      : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_file (const std::string& file)
   {
     return instance_ok ()
-           ? instance->do_find_file (file) : std::string ();
+           ? instance->do_find_file (file) : "";
   }
 
   static std::string find_dir (const std::string& dir)
   {
     return instance_ok ()
-           ? instance->do_find_dir (dir) : std::string ();
+           ? instance->do_find_dir (dir) : "";
   }
 
   static string_vector find_matching_dirs (const std::string& dir)
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@
   static std::string find_first_of (const string_vector& files)
   {
     return instance_ok () ?
-           instance->do_find_first_of (files) : std::string ();
+           instance->do_find_first_of (files) : "";
   }
 
   static string_vector find_all_first_of (const string_vector& files)
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
 
   static std::string path (void)
   {
-    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_path () : std::string ();
+    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_path () : "";
   }
 
   static void display (std::ostream& os)
@@ -272,12 +272,12 @@
   static std::string get_command_line_path (void)
   {
     return instance_ok () ? instance->do_get_command_line_path ()
-                          : std::string ();
+                          : "";
   }
 
   static std::string system_path (void)
   {
-    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_system_path () : std::string ();
+    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_system_path () : "";
   }
 
 private:
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@
   class loader
   {
   public:
-    loader (const std::string& pfx = std::string ())
+    loader (const std::string& pfx = "")
       : prefix (pfx), dir_list (), fcn_map (), private_fcn_map (),
         method_map () { }
 
@@ -635,10 +635,10 @@
   void do_move (dir_info_list_iterator i, bool at_end);
 
   void move (const dir_info& di, bool at_end,
-             const std::string& pname = std::string ());
+             const std::string& pname = "");
 
   void remove (const dir_info& di,
-               const std::string& pname = std::string ());
+               const std::string& pname = "");
 
   void do_initialize (bool set_initial_path);
 
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@
   { return command_line_path; }
 
   void add (const dir_info& di, bool at_end,
-            const std::string& pname = std::string (),
+            const std::string& pname = "",
             bool updating = false) const;
 
   friend dir_info::fcn_file_map_type get_fcn_files (const std::string& d);
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/ls-ascii-helper.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/ls-ascii-helper.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 read_until_newline (std::istream& is, bool keep_newline)
 {
   if (! is)
-    return std::string ();
+    return "";
 
   std::ostringstream buf;
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat-ascii.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat-ascii.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 static void
 get_lines_and_columns (std::istream& is,
                        octave_idx_type& nr, octave_idx_type& nc,
-                       const std::string& filename = std::string (),
+                       const std::string& filename = "",
                        bool quiet = false, bool check_numeric = false)
 {
   std::streampos pos = is.tellg ();
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat5.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat5.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@
 
                     tc = cls;
                     if (load_path::find_method (classname, "loadobj")
-                        != std::string ())
+                        != "")
                       {
                         try
                           {
@@ -2601,7 +2601,7 @@
 
       if (tc.is_object ()
           && load_path::find_method (tc.class_name (),
-                                     "saveobj") != std::string ())
+                                     "saveobj") != "")
         {
           try
             {
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat5.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/ls-mat5.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 extern int
 read_mat5_binary_file_header (std::istream& is, bool& swap,
                               bool quiet = false,
-                              const std::string& filename = std::string ());
+                              const std::string& filename = "");
 extern std::string
 read_mat5_binary_element (std::istream& is, const std::string& filename,
                           bool swap, bool& global, octave_value& tc);
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/ls-oct-text.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/ls-oct-text.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
         error ("load: empty name keyword or no data found in file '%s'",
                filename.c_str ());
 
-      return std::string ();
+      return "";
     }
 
   if (! (name == ".nargin." || name == ".nargout."
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/oct-iostrm.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/oct-iostrm.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  octave_base_iostream (const std::string& n = std::string (),
+  octave_base_iostream (const std::string& n = "",
                         std::ios::openmode m = std::ios::in|std::ios::out,
                         oct_mach_info::float_format ff
                           = oct_mach_info::native_float_format ())
@@ -78,14 +78,14 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  octave_istream (std::istream *arg = 0, const std::string& n = std::string ())
+  octave_istream (std::istream *arg = 0, const std::string& n = "")
     : octave_base_iostream (n, std::ios::in,
                             oct_mach_info::native_float_format ()),
       is (arg)
   { }
 
   static octave_stream
-  create (std::istream *arg = 0, const std::string& n = std::string ());
+  create (std::istream *arg = 0, const std::string& n = "");
 
   // Return nonzero if EOF has been reached on this stream.
 
@@ -117,14 +117,14 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  octave_ostream (std::ostream *arg, const std::string& n = std::string ())
+  octave_ostream (std::ostream *arg, const std::string& n = "")
     : octave_base_iostream (n, std::ios::out,
                             oct_mach_info::native_float_format ()),
       os (arg)
   { }
 
   static octave_stream
-  create (std::ostream *arg, const std::string& n = std::string ());
+  create (std::ostream *arg, const std::string& n = "");
 
   // Return nonzero if EOF has been reached on this stream.
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/oct-lvalue.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/oct-lvalue.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 
   void set_index (const std::string& t, const std::list<octave_value_list>& i);
 
-  void clear_index (void) { type = std::string (); idx.clear (); }
+  void clear_index (void) { type = ""; idx.clear (); }
 
   std::string index_type (void) const { return type; }
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/oct-stream.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/oct-stream.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -4108,7 +4108,7 @@
 std::string
 octave_stream_list::list_open_files (void)
 {
-  return (instance_ok ()) ? instance->do_list_open_files () : std::string ();
+  return (instance_ok ()) ? instance->do_list_open_files () : "";
 }
 
 octave_value
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/oct-stream.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/oct-stream.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 
   scanf_format_elt (const char *txt = 0, int w = 0, bool d = false,
                     char typ = '\0', char mod = '\0',
-                    const std::string& ch_class = std::string ())
+                    const std::string& ch_class = "")
     : text (strsave (txt)), width (w), discard (d), type (typ),
       modifier (mod), char_class (ch_class) { }
 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  scanf_format_list (const std::string& fmt = std::string ());
+  scanf_format_list (const std::string& fmt = "");
 
   ~scanf_format_list (void);
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
 
   void add_elt_to_list (int width, bool discard, char type, char modifier,
                         octave_idx_type& num_elts,
-                        const std::string& char_class = std::string ());
+                        const std::string& char_class = "");
 
   void process_conversion (const std::string& s, size_t& i, size_t n,
                            int& width, bool& discard, char& type,
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@
 public:
 
   printf_format_elt (const char *txt = 0, int n = 0, int w = -1,
-                     int p = -1, const std::string& f = std::string (),
+                     int p = -1, const std::string& f = "",
                      char typ = '\0', char mod = '\0')
     : text (strsave (txt)), args (n), fw (w), prec (p), flags (f),
       type (typ), modifier (mod) { }
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  printf_format_list (const std::string& fmt = std::string ());
+  printf_format_list (const std::string& fmt = "");
 
   ~printf_format_list (void);
 
@@ -692,14 +692,14 @@
   static int insert (octave_stream& os);
 
   static octave_stream
-  lookup (int fid, const std::string& who = std::string ());
+  lookup (int fid, const std::string& who = "");
 
   static octave_stream
-  lookup (const octave_value& fid, const std::string& who = std::string ());
+  lookup (const octave_value& fid, const std::string& who = "");
 
-  static int remove (int fid, const std::string& who = std::string ());
+  static int remove (int fid, const std::string& who = "");
   static int remove (const octave_value& fid,
-                     const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                     const std::string& who = "");
 
   static void clear (bool flush = true);
 
@@ -727,13 +727,13 @@
   int do_insert (octave_stream& os);
 
   octave_stream do_lookup (int fid,
-                           const std::string& who = std::string ()) const;
+                           const std::string& who = "") const;
   octave_stream do_lookup (const octave_value& fid,
-                           const std::string& who = std::string ()) const;
+                           const std::string& who = "") const;
 
-  int do_remove (int fid, const std::string& who = std::string ());
+  int do_remove (int fid, const std::string& who = "");
   int do_remove (const octave_value& fid,
-                 const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                 const std::string& who = "");
 
   void do_clear (bool flush = true);
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/oct-strstrm.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/oct-strstrm.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 
   // The name of the file.
 
-  std::string name (void) const { return std::string (); }
+  std::string name (void) const { return ""; }
 
   virtual std::streambuf *rdbuf (void) = 0;
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/regexp.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/regexp.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@
       regexp::match_data::const_iterator p = rx_lst.begin ();
 
       retval(4) = sz ? p->tokens () : Cell ();
-      retval(3) = sz ? p->match_string () : std::string ();
+      retval(3) = sz ? p->match_string () : "";
       retval(2) = sz ? p->token_extents () : Matrix ();
 
       if (sz)
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/schur.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/schur.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -143,12 +143,12 @@
 
   if (ord == "real")
     {
-      ord = std::string ();
+      ord = "";
     }
   else if (ord == "complex")
     {
       force_complex = true;
-      ord = std::string ();
+      ord = "";
     }
   else
     {
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/sqrtm.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/sqrtm.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
 
             do
               {
-                ComplexSCHUR schur (x, std::string (), true);
+                ComplexSCHUR schur (x, "", true);
                 x = schur.schur_matrix ();
                 u = schur.unitary_matrix ();
               }
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/strfns.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/strfns.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@
 
           boolNDArray output (cell_val.dims (), false);
 
-          std::string s = r == 0 ? std::string () : str[0];
+          std::string s = r == 0 ? "" : str[0];
 
           if (cell_val.is_cellstr ())
             {
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/symtab.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/symtab.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -185,8 +185,8 @@
 static inline bool
 load_out_of_date_fcn (const std::string& ff, const std::string& dir_name,
                       octave_value& function,
-                      const std::string& dispatch_type = std::string (),
-                      const std::string& package_name = std::string ())
+                      const std::string& dispatch_type = "",
+                      const std::string& package_name = "")
 {
   bool retval = false;
 
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@
 {
   const octave_function *f = fcn.function_value ();
 
-  return f ? f->fcn_file_name () : std::string ();
+  return f ? f->fcn_file_name () : "";
 }
 
 void
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/symtab.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/symtab.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@
   public:
 
     symbol_record (scope_id s = xcurrent_scope,
-                   const std::string& nm = std::string (),
+                   const std::string& nm = "",
                    const octave_value& v = octave_value (),
                    unsigned int sc = local)
       : rep (new symbol_record_rep (s, nm, v, sc)) { }
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@
     void set_curr_fcn (octave_user_function *fcn) { rep->set_curr_fcn (fcn); }
 
     void
-    dump (std::ostream& os, const std::string& prefix = std::string ()) const
+    dump (std::ostream& os, const std::string& prefix = "") const
     {
       rep->dump (os, prefix);
     }
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@
 
   public:
 
-    fcn_info (const std::string& nm = std::string ())
+    fcn_info (const std::string& nm = "")
       : rep (new fcn_info_rep (nm)) { }
 
     fcn_info (const fcn_info& fi) : rep (fi.rep)
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@
     }
 
     void
-    dump (std::ostream& os, const std::string& prefix = std::string ()) const
+    dump (std::ostream& os, const std::string& prefix = "") const
     {
       rep->dump (os, prefix);
     }
@@ -2912,7 +2912,7 @@
 };
 
 extern bool out_of_date_check (octave_value& function,
-                               const std::string& dispatch_type = std::string (),
+                               const std::string& dispatch_type = "",
                                bool check_relative = true);
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API std::string
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/sysdep.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/sysdep.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@
 
   std::string val = (nargin == 2
                      ? args(1).xstring_value ("setenv: VALUE must be a string")
-                     : std::string ());
+                     : "");
 
   octave_env::putenv (var, val);
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 std::string
 octave_call_stack::stack_frame::fcn_file_name (void) const
 {
-  return m_fcn ? m_fcn->fcn_file_name () : std::string ();
+  return m_fcn ? m_fcn->fcn_file_name () : "";
 }
 
 std::string
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/urlwrite.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/urlwrite.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@
 
   std::string passwd = (nargin > 2)
     ? args(2).xstring_value ("__ftp__: PASSWD must be a string")
-    : std::string ();
+    : "";
 
   curl_handle ch
     = ch_manager::make_curl_handle (host, user, passwd, octave_stdout);
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/variables.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@
   struct symbol_info
   {
     symbol_info (const symbol_table::symbol_record& sr,
-                 const std::string& expr_str = std::string (),
+                 const std::string& expr_str = "",
                  const octave_value& expr_val = octave_value ())
       : name (expr_str.empty () ? sr.name () : expr_str),
         varval (expr_val.is_undefined () ? sr.varval () : expr_val),
@@ -1589,7 +1589,7 @@
 
 static octave_value
 do_who (int argc, const string_vector& argv, bool return_list,
-        bool verbose = false, std::string msg = std::string ())
+        bool verbose = false, std::string msg = "")
 {
   octave_value retval;
 
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/variables.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/variables.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@
 extern OCTINTERP_API void clear_mex_functions (void);
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API octave_function *
-is_valid_function (const octave_value&, const std::string& = std::string (),
+is_valid_function (const octave_value&, const std::string& = "",
                    bool warn = false);
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API octave_function *
-is_valid_function (const std::string&, const std::string& = std::string (),
+is_valid_function (const std::string&, const std::string& = "",
                    bool warn = false);
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API octave_function *
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-builtin.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-builtin.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
 
   typedef octave_value_list (*fcn) (const octave_value_list&, int);
 
-  octave_builtin (fcn ff, const std::string& nm = std::string (),
-                  const std::string& ds = std::string ())
+  octave_builtin (fcn ff, const std::string& nm = "",
+                  const std::string& ds = "")
     : octave_function (nm, ds), f (ff), file (), jtype (0) { }
 
   octave_builtin (fcn ff, const std::string& nm, const std::string& fnm,
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-cell.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-cell.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@
       else if (pad)
         retval[k++] = std::string (max_len, ' ');
       else
-        retval[k++] = std::string ();
+        retval[k++] = "";
     }
 
   return retval;
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@
           bool dummy;
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
-          std::string nm = read_text_data (is, std::string (),
+          std::string nm = read_text_data (is, "",
                                            dummy, t2, i);
 
           if (nm != CELL_ELT_TAG)
@@ -829,7 +829,7 @@
                   bool dummy;
 
                   // recurse to read cell elements
-                  std::string nm = read_text_data (is, std::string (),
+                  std::string nm = read_text_data (is, "",
                                                    dummy, t2, i);
 
                   if (nm != CELL_ELT_TAG)
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@
       std::string doc;
 
       // recurse to read cell elements
-      std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, std::string (),
+      std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, "",
                                          dummy, t2, doc);
 
       if (nm != CELL_ELT_TAG)
@@ -1282,7 +1282,7 @@
     {
       string_vector s = args(0).xstring_vector_value ("cellstr: argument STRING must be a 2-D character array");
 
-      return ovl (s.is_empty () ? Cell (octave_value (std::string ()))
+      return ovl (s.is_empty () ? Cell (octave_value (""))
                                 : Cell (s, true));
     }
 }
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-class.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-class.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1168,7 +1168,7 @@
 {
   os << "# classname: " << class_name () << "\n";
   octave_map m;
-  if (load_path::find_method (class_name (), "saveobj") != std::string ())
+  if (load_path::find_method (class_name (), "saveobj") != "")
     {
       octave_value in = new octave_class (*this);
       octave_value_list tmp = feval ("saveobj", in, 1);
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
           std::string nm
-            = read_text_data (is, std::string (), dummy, t2, j);
+            = read_text_data (is, "", dummy, t2, j);
 
           if (! is)
             break;
@@ -1241,7 +1241,7 @@
         warning ("load: unable to reconstruct object inheritance");
 
       if (load_path::find_method (classname, "loadobj")
-          != std::string ())
+          != "")
         {
           octave_value in = new octave_class (*this);
           octave_value_list tmp = feval ("loadobj", in, 1);
@@ -1269,7 +1269,7 @@
   os << class_name ();
 
   octave_map m;
-  if (load_path::find_method (class_name (), "saveobj") != std::string ())
+  if (load_path::find_method (class_name (), "saveobj") != "")
     {
       octave_value in = new octave_class (*this);
       octave_value_list tmp = feval ("saveobj", in, 1);
@@ -1338,7 +1338,7 @@
           std::string doc;
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
-          std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, std::string (),
+          std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, "",
                                              dummy, t2, doc);
 
           if (! is)
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@
           if (! reconstruct_parents ())
             warning ("load: unable to reconstruct object inheritance");
 
-          if (load_path::find_method (c_name, "loadobj") != std::string ())
+          if (load_path::find_method (c_name, "loadobj") != "")
             {
               octave_value in = new octave_class (*this);
               octave_value_list tmp = feval ("loadobj", in, 1);
@@ -1429,7 +1429,7 @@
   if (data_hid < 0)
     goto error_cleanup;
 
-  if (load_path::find_method (class_name (), "saveobj") != std::string ())
+  if (load_path::find_method (class_name (), "saveobj") != "")
     {
       octave_value in = new octave_class (*this);
       octave_value_list tmp = feval ("saveobj", in, 1);
@@ -1591,7 +1591,7 @@
       if (! reconstruct_parents ())
         warning ("load: unable to reconstruct object inheritance");
 
-      if (load_path::find_method (c_name, "loadobj") != std::string ())
+      if (load_path::find_method (c_name, "loadobj") != "")
         {
           octave_value in = new octave_class (*this);
           octave_value_list tmp = feval ("loadobj", in, 1);
@@ -1929,7 +1929,7 @@
 
   std::string method = args(1).string_value ();
 
-  if (load_path::find_method (class_name, method) != std::string ())
+  if (load_path::find_method (class_name, method) != "")
     return ovl (true);
   else
     return ovl (false);
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-classdef.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-classdef.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -310,8 +310,8 @@
 
 static bool
 check_access (const cdef_class& cls, const octave_value& acc,
-              const std::string& meth_name = std::string (),
-              const std::string& prop_name = std::string (),
+              const std::string& meth_name = "",
+              const std::string& prop_name = "",
               bool is_prop_set = false)
 {
   if (acc.is_string ())
@@ -655,8 +655,8 @@
   cls.put ("Abstract", false);
   cls.put ("ConstructOnLoad", false);
   cls.put ("ContainingPackage", Matrix ());
-  cls.put ("Description", std::string ());
-  cls.put ("DetailedDescription", std::string ());
+  cls.put ("Description", "");
+  cls.put ("DetailedDescription", "");
   cls.put ("Events", Cell ());
   cls.put ("Hidden", false);
   cls.put ("InferiorClasses", Cell ());
@@ -728,8 +728,8 @@
   cdef_property prop (name);
 
   prop.set_class (cdef_class::meta_property ());
-  prop.put ("Description", std::string ());
-  prop.put ("DetailedDescription", std::string ());
+  prop.put ("Description", "");
+  prop.put ("DetailedDescription", "");
   prop.put ("Abstract", false);
   prop.put ("Constant", false);
   prop.put ("GetAccess", get_access);
@@ -772,8 +772,8 @@
   meth.put ("Abstract", false);
   meth.put ("Access", m_access);
   meth.put ("DefiningClass", to_ov (cls));
-  meth.put ("Description", std::string ());
-  meth.put ("DetailedDescription", std::string ());
+  meth.put ("Description", "");
+  meth.put ("DetailedDescription", "");
   meth.put ("Hidden", false);
   meth.put ("Sealed", true);
   meth.put ("Static", is_static);
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@
 
 static cdef_package
 make_package (const std::string& nm,
-              const std::string& parent = std::string ())
+              const std::string& parent = "")
 {
   cdef_package pack (nm);
 
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@
   { return object.meta_is_postfix_index_handled (type); }
 
   bool
-  is_classdef_constructor (const std::string& cname = std::string ()) const
+  is_classdef_constructor (const std::string& cname = "") const
   {
     bool retval = false;
 
@@ -3016,7 +3016,7 @@
 {
   cdef_class cls (to_cdef (get ("DefiningClass")));
 
-  return ::check_access (cls, get ("GetAccess"), std::string (),
+  return ::check_access (cls, get ("GetAccess"), "",
                          get_name (), false);
 
   return false;
@@ -3027,7 +3027,7 @@
 {
   cdef_class cls (to_cdef (get ("DefiningClass")));
 
-  return ::check_access (cls, get ("SetAccess"), std::string (),
+  return ::check_access (cls, get ("SetAccess"), "",
                          get_name (), true);
 
   return false;
@@ -3692,7 +3692,7 @@
           size_t pos = name.find ('.');
 
           if (pos == std::string::npos)
-            retval = make_package (name, std::string ());
+            retval = make_package (name, "");
           else
             {
               std::string parent_name = name.substr (0, pos);
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-classdef.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-classdef.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -938,15 +938,15 @@
     bool is_constant (void) const { return get("Constant").bool_value (); }
 
     octave_value get_value (bool do_check_access = true,
-                            const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                            const std::string& who = "");
 
     octave_value get_value (const cdef_object& obj,
                             bool do_check_access = true,
-                            const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                            const std::string& who = "");
 
     void set_value (cdef_object& obj, const octave_value& val,
                     bool do_check_access = true,
-                    const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                    const std::string& who = "");
 
     bool check_get_access (void) const;
 
@@ -992,16 +992,16 @@
   }
 
   octave_value get_value (const cdef_object& obj, bool do_check_access = true,
-                          const std::string& who = std::string ())
+                          const std::string& who = "")
   { return get_rep ()->get_value (obj, do_check_access, who); }
 
   octave_value get_value (bool do_check_access = true,
-                          const std::string& who = std::string ())
+                          const std::string& who = "")
   { return get_rep ()->get_value (do_check_access, who); }
 
   void set_value (cdef_object& obj, const octave_value& val,
                   bool do_check_access = true,
-                  const std::string& who = std::string ())
+                  const std::string& who = "")
   { get_rep ()->set_value (obj, val, do_check_access, who); }
 
   bool check_get_access (void) const
@@ -1060,12 +1060,12 @@
 
     octave_value_list execute (const octave_value_list& args, int nargout,
                                bool do_check_access = true,
-                               const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                               const std::string& who = "");
 
     octave_value_list execute (const cdef_object& obj,
                                const octave_value_list& args, int nargout,
                                bool do_check_access = true,
-                               const std::string& who = std::string ());
+                               const std::string& who = "");
 
     bool is_constructor (void) const;
 
@@ -1127,14 +1127,14 @@
   // normal invocation
   octave_value_list execute (const octave_value_list& args, int nargout,
                              bool do_check_access = true,
-                             const std::string& who = std::string ())
+                             const std::string& who = "")
   { return get_rep ()->execute (args, nargout, do_check_access, who); }
 
   // dot-invocation: object is pushed as 1st argument
   octave_value_list execute (const cdef_object& obj,
                              const octave_value_list& args, int nargout,
                              bool do_check_access = true,
-                             const std::string& who = std::string ())
+                             const std::string& who = "")
   { return get_rep ()->execute (obj, args, nargout, do_check_access, who); }
 
   bool check_access (void) const { return get_rep ()->check_access (); }
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-dld-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-dld-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@
   { }
 
   octave_dld_function (octave_builtin::fcn ff, const octave_shlib& shl,
-                       const std::string& nm = std::string (),
-                       const std::string& ds = std::string ());
+                       const std::string& nm = "",
+                       const std::string& ds = "");
 
   ~octave_dld_function (void);
 
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@
 
   static octave_dld_function* create (octave_builtin::fcn ff,
                                       const octave_shlib& shl,
-                                      const std::string& nm = std::string (),
-                                      const std::string& ds = std::string ());
+                                      const std::string& nm = "",
+                                      const std::string& ds = "");
 
   octave_shlib get_shlib (void) const
   { return sh_lib; }
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-handle.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-handle.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
 {
   octave_value_list retval;
 
-  out_of_date_check (fcn, std::string (), false);
+  out_of_date_check (fcn, "", false);
 
   if (has_overloads)
     {
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@
   else
     {
       octave_function *f = function_value ();
-      std::string fnm = f ? f->fcn_file_name () : std::string ();
+      std::string fnm = f ? f->fcn_file_name () : "";
 
       os << "# octaveroot: " << OCTAVE_EXEC_PREFIX << "\n";
       if (! fnm.empty ())
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
                   bool dummy;
 
                   std::string name
-                    = read_text_data (is, std::string (), dummy, t2, i);
+                    = read_text_data (is, "", dummy, t2, i);
 
                   if (! is)
                     error ("load: failed to load anonymous function handle");
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@
       std::ostringstream nmbuf;
 
       octave_function *f = function_value ();
-      std::string fnm = f ? f->fcn_file_name () : std::string ();
+      std::string fnm = f ? f->fcn_file_name () : "";
 
       nmbuf << nm << "\n" << OCTAVE_EXEC_PREFIX << "\n" << fnm;
 
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@
               std::string doc;
 
               std::string name =
-                read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, std::string (),
+                read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, "",
                                   dummy, t2, doc);
 
               if (! is)
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@
       std::string octaveroot = OCTAVE_EXEC_PREFIX;
 
       octave_function *f = function_value ();
-      std::string fpath = f ? f->fcn_file_name () : std::string ();
+      std::string fpath = f ? f->fcn_file_name () : "";
 
       H5Sclose (space_hid);
       hdims[0] = 1;
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-inline.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-inline.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@
                   terminate_arg = true;
                 else
                   {
-                    tmp_arg = std::string ();
+                    tmp_arg = "";
                     is_arg = false;
                   }
               }
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@
                   && tmp_arg != "e" && tmp_arg != "eps")
                 fargs.append (tmp_arg);
 
-              tmp_arg = std::string ();
+              tmp_arg = "";
               is_arg = false;
             }
         }
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-inline.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn-inline.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     : octave_fcn_handle (), iftext (), ifargs () { }
 
   octave_fcn_inline (const std::string& f, const string_vector& a,
-                     const std::string& n = std::string ());
+                     const std::string& n = "");
 
   octave_fcn_inline (const octave_fcn_inline& fi)
     : octave_fcn_handle (fi), iftext (fi.iftext), ifargs (fi.ifargs) { }
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -59,14 +59,14 @@
 
   virtual bool is_system_fcn_file (void) const { return false; }
 
-  virtual std::string fcn_file_name (void) const { return std::string (); }
+  virtual std::string fcn_file_name (void) const { return ""; }
 
-  virtual std::string src_file_name (void) const { return std::string (); }
+  virtual std::string src_file_name (void) const { return ""; }
 
   // The name to show in the profiler (also used as map-key).
   virtual std::string profiler_name (void) const { return name (); }
 
-  virtual std::string parent_fcn_name (void) const { return std::string (); }
+  virtual std::string parent_fcn_name (void) const { return ""; }
 
   virtual symbol_table::scope_id parent_fcn_scope (void) const { return -1; }
 
@@ -82,14 +82,14 @@
 
   virtual bool is_subfunction (void) const { return false; }
 
-  virtual bool is_class_constructor (const std::string& = std::string ()) const
+  virtual bool is_class_constructor (const std::string& = "") const
   { return false; }
 
   virtual bool
-  is_classdef_constructor (const std::string& = std::string ()) const
+  is_classdef_constructor (const std::string& = "") const
   { return false; }
 
-  virtual bool is_class_method (const std::string& = std::string ()) const
+  virtual bool is_class_method (const std::string& = "") const
   { return false; }
 
   virtual bool takes_varargs (void) const { return false; }
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
   std::string package_name (void) const { return xpackage_name; }
 
   virtual void
-  mark_as_private_function (const std::string& cname = std::string ())
+  mark_as_private_function (const std::string& cname = "")
   {
     private_function = true;
     xdispatch_class = cname;
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
   { return private_function && xdispatch_class == nm; }
 
   virtual bool
-  is_anonymous_function_of_class (const std::string& = std::string ()) const
+  is_anonymous_function_of_class (const std::string& = "") const
   { return false; }
 
   std::string dir_name (void) const { return my_dir_name; }
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
 protected:
 
   octave_function (const std::string& nm,
-                   const std::string& ds = std::string ())
+                   const std::string& ds = "")
     : relative (false), locked (false), private_function (false),
       xdispatch_class (), my_name (nm), my_dir_name (), doc (ds) { }
 
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-lazy-idx.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-lazy-idx.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
 {
   bool dummy;
 
-  std::string nm = read_text_data (is, std::string (), dummy, value, 0);
+  std::string nm = read_text_data (is, "", dummy, value, 0);
 
   if (nm != value_save_tag)
     error ("lazy_index: corrupted data on load");
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
 bool octave_lazy_index::save_binary (std::ostream& os, bool& save_as_floats)
 {
   return save_binary_data (os, make_value (), value_save_tag,
-                           std::string (), false, save_as_floats);
+                           "", false, save_as_floats);
 }
 
 bool octave_lazy_index::load_binary (std::istream& is, bool swap,
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
   bool dummy;
   std::string doc;
 
-  std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, std::string (),
+  std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, "",
                                      dummy, value, doc);
 
   if (nm != value_save_tag)
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-mex-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-mex-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
       t_checked (), system_fcn_file () { }
 
   octave_mex_function (void *fptr, bool fmex, const octave_shlib& shl,
-                       const std::string& nm = std::string ());
+                       const std::string& nm = "");
 
   ~octave_mex_function (void);
 
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-struct.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-struct.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
           std::string nm
-            = read_text_data (is, std::string (), dummy, t2, j);
+            = read_text_data (is, "", dummy, t2, j);
 
           if (! is)
             break;
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@
           std::string doc;
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
-          std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, std::string (),
+          std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, "",
                                              dummy, t2, doc);
 
           if (! is)
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
           std::string nm
-            = read_text_data (is, std::string (), dummy, t2, j);
+            = read_text_data (is, "", dummy, t2, j);
 
           if (! is)
             break;
@@ -1454,7 +1454,7 @@
           std::string doc;
 
           // recurse to read cell elements
-          std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, std::string (),
+          std::string nm = read_binary_data (is, swap, fmt, "",
                                              dummy, t2, doc);
 
           if (! is)
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-typeinfo.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-typeinfo.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
     {
       len *= 2;
 
-      types.resize (dim_vector (len, 1), std::string ());
+      types.resize (dim_vector (len, 1), "");
 
       vals.resize (dim_vector (len, 1), octave_value ());
 
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-typeinfo.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-typeinfo.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
 protected:
 
   octave_value_typeinfo (void)
-    : num_types (0), types (dim_vector (init_tab_sz, 1), std::string ()),
+    : num_types (0), types (dim_vector (init_tab_sz, 1), ""),
       vals (dim_vector (init_tab_sz, 1)),
       unary_class_ops (dim_vector (octave_value::num_unary_ops, 1), 0),
       unary_ops (dim_vector (octave_value::num_unary_ops, init_tab_sz), 0),
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-usr-fcn.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-usr-fcn.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
 octave_user_function::octave_user_function
   (symbol_table::scope_id sid, tree_parameter_list *pl,
    tree_parameter_list *rl, tree_statement_list *cl)
-  : octave_user_code (std::string (), std::string ()),
+  : octave_user_code ("", ""),
     param_list (pl), ret_list (rl), cmd_list (cl),
     lead_comm (), trail_comm (), file_name (),
     location_line (0), location_column (0),
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov-usr-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov-usr-fcn.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 protected:
 
   octave_user_code (const std::string& nm,
-                    const std::string& ds = std::string ())
+                    const std::string& ds = "")
     : octave_function (nm, ds) { }
 
 private:
@@ -89,10 +89,10 @@
 
   octave_user_script (const std::string& fnm, const std::string& nm,
                       tree_statement_list *cmds,
-                      const std::string& ds = std::string ());
+                      const std::string& ds = "");
 
   octave_user_script (const std::string& fnm, const std::string& nm,
-                      const std::string& ds = std::string ());
+                      const std::string& ds = "");
 
   ~octave_user_script (void);
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
 
   bool takes_var_return (void) const;
 
-  void mark_as_private_function (const std::string& cname = std::string ())
+  void mark_as_private_function (const std::string& cname = "")
   {
     symbol_table::mark_subfunctions_in_scope_as_private (local_scope, cname);
 
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@
   bool is_anonymous_function (void) const { return anonymous_function; }
 
   bool is_anonymous_function_of_class
-  (const std::string& cname = std::string ()) const
+  (const std::string& cname = "") const
   {
     return anonymous_function
            ? (cname.empty ()
@@ -330,13 +330,13 @@
 
   void mark_as_classdef_constructor (void) { class_constructor = classdef; }
 
-  bool is_class_constructor (const std::string& cname = std::string ()) const
+  bool is_class_constructor (const std::string& cname = "") const
   {
     return class_constructor == legacy
       ? (cname.empty () ? true : cname == dispatch_class ()) : false;
   }
 
-  bool is_classdef_constructor (const std::string& cname = std::string ()) const
+  bool is_classdef_constructor (const std::string& cname = "") const
   {
     return class_constructor == classdef
       ? (cname.empty () ? true : cname == dispatch_class ()) : false;
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@
 
   void mark_as_class_method (void) { class_method = true; }
 
-  bool is_class_method (const std::string& cname = std::string ()) const
+  bool is_class_method (const std::string& cname = "") const
   {
     return class_method
            ? (cname.empty () ? true : cname == dispatch_class ()) : false;
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ov.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ov.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -1256,7 +1256,7 @@
   bool is_copy_of (const octave_value &val) const { return rep == val.rep; }
 
   void print_info (std::ostream& os,
-                   const std::string& prefix = std::string ()) const;
+                   const std::string& prefix = "") const;
 
   bool save_ascii (std::ostream& os) { return rep->save_ascii (os); }
 
--- a/libinterp/octave-value/ovl.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave-value/ovl.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
 
   bool has_magic_colon (void) const;
 
-  string_vector make_argv (const std::string& = std::string ()) const;
+  string_vector make_argv (const std::string& = "") const;
 
   void stash_name_tags (const string_vector& nm) { names = nm; }
 
--- a/libinterp/octave.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/octave.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -272,9 +272,9 @@
 
 static void
 safe_source_file (const std::string& file_name,
-                  const std::string& context = std::string (),
+                  const std::string& context = "",
                   bool verbose = false, bool require_file = true,
-                  const std::string& warn_for = std::string ())
+                  const std::string& warn_for = "")
 {
   try
     {
--- a/libinterp/parse-tree/lex.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/parse-tree/lex.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  octave_push_lexer (const std::string& input = std::string (),
+  octave_push_lexer (const std::string& input = "",
                      bool eof = false)
     : octave_base_lexer (), pflag (1)
   {
--- a/libinterp/parse-tree/parse.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/parse-tree/parse.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -103,17 +103,17 @@
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API octave_function *
 load_fcn_from_file (const std::string& file_name,
-                    const std::string& dir_name = std::string (),
-                    const std::string& dispatch_type = std::string (),
-                    const std::string& package_name = std::string (),
-                    const std::string& fcn_name = std::string (),
+                    const std::string& dir_name = "",
+                    const std::string& dispatch_type = "",
+                    const std::string& package_name = "",
+                    const std::string& fcn_name = "",
                     bool autoload = false);
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API void
 source_file (const std::string& file_name,
-             const std::string& context = std::string (),
+             const std::string& context = "",
              bool verbose = false, bool require_file = true,
-             const std::string& warn_for = std::string ());
+             const std::string& warn_for = "");
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API octave_value_list
 feval (const std::string& name,
--- a/libinterp/parse-tree/pt-classdef.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/parse-tree/pt-classdef.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@
                  tree_classdef_superclass_list *sc,
                  tree_classdef_body *b, octave_comment_list *lc,
                  octave_comment_list *tc,
-                 const std::string& pn = std::string (), int l = -1,
+                 const std::string& pn = "", int l = -1,
                  int c = -1)
     : tree_command (l, c), attr_list (a), id (i),
       supclass_list (sc), element_list (b), lead_comm (lc), trail_comm (tc),
--- a/libinterp/parse-tree/pt-exp.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/parse-tree/pt-exp.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -77,5 +77,5 @@
 std::string
 tree_expression::original_text (void) const
 {
-  return std::string ();
+  return "";
 }
--- a/libinterp/parse-tree/pt-pr-code.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/parse-tree/pt-pr-code.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 public:
 
   tree_print_code (std::ostream& os_arg,
-                   const std::string& pfx = std::string (),
+                   const std::string& pfx = "",
                    bool pr_orig_txt = true)
     : os (os_arg), prefix (pfx), nesting (),
       print_original_text (pr_orig_txt),
--- a/libinterp/parse-tree/token.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/parse-tree/token.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
   token (int tv, bool is_keyword, int l = -1, int c = -1);
   token (int tv, const char *s, int l = -1, int c = -1);
   token (int tv, const std::string& s, int l = -1, int c = -1);
-  token (int tv, double d, const std::string& s = std::string (),
+  token (int tv, double d, const std::string& s = "",
          int l = -1, int c = -1);
   token (int tv, end_tok_type t, int l = -1, int c = -1);
   token (int tv, symbol_table::symbol_record *s, int l = -1, int c = -1);
--- a/libinterp/version.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/version.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include "version.h"
 
 static std::string
-octave_warranty_statement (const std::string& extra_info = std::string ())
+octave_warranty_statement (const std::string& extra_info = "")
 {
   return "There is ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or\n\
 FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE."
--- a/libinterp/version.in.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/libinterp/version.in.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -58,11 +58,11 @@
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API std::string
 octave_name_version_copyright_copying_and_warranty
-  (bool html = false, const std::string& extra_info = std::string ());
+  (bool html = false, const std::string& extra_info = "");
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API std::string
 octave_name_version_copyright_copying_warranty_and_bugs
-  (bool html = false, const std::string& extra_info = std::string ());
+  (bool html = false, const std::string& extra_info = "");
 
 extern OCTINTERP_API std::string octave_startup_message (bool html = false);
 
--- a/liboctave/numeric/oct-rand.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/numeric/oct-rand.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -66,14 +66,14 @@
   }
 
   // Return the current state.
-  static ColumnVector state (const std::string& d = std::string ())
+  static ColumnVector state (const std::string& d = "")
   {
     return instance_ok () ? instance->do_state (d) : ColumnVector ();
   }
 
   // Set the current state/
   static void state (const ColumnVector &s,
-                     const std::string& d = std::string ())
+                     const std::string& d = "")
   {
     if (instance_ok ())
       instance->do_state (s, d);
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
   // Return the current distribution.
   static std::string distribution (void)
   {
-    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_distribution () : std::string ();
+    return instance_ok () ? instance->do_distribution () : "";
   }
 
   // Set the current distribution.  May be either "uniform" (the
--- a/liboctave/system/dir-ops.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/dir-ops.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  dir_entry (const std::string& n = std::string ())
+  dir_entry (const std::string& n = "")
     : name (n), dir (0), fail (false), errmsg ()
   {
     if (! name.empty ())
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 
   ~dir_entry (void) { close (); }
 
-  bool open (const std::string& = std::string ());
+  bool open (const std::string& = "");
 
   string_vector read (void);
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 
   operator bool () const { return ok (); }
 
-  std::string error (void) const { return ok () ? std::string () : errmsg; }
+  std::string error (void) const { return ok () ? "" : errmsg; }
 
 private:
 
--- a/liboctave/system/file-ops.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/file-ops.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@
 int
 octave_mkdir (const std::string& name, mode_t mode, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@
 int
 octave_mkfifo (const std::string& name, mode_t mode, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@
 octave_link (const std::string& old_name,
              const std::string& new_name, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@
 octave_symlink (const std::string& old_name,
                 const std::string& new_name, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@
 {
   int status = -1;
 
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   char buf[MAXPATHLEN+1];
 
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@
 {
   int status = -1;
 
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   status = gnulib::rename (from.c_str (), to.c_str ());
 
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@
 int
 octave_rmdir (const std::string& name, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@
 int
 octave_recursive_rmdir (const std::string& name, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = 0;
 
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@
 int
 octave_unlink (const std::string& name, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@
 octave_tempnam (const std::string& dir, const std::string& pfx,
                 std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   std::string retval;
 
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@
 std::string
 octave_canonicalize_file_name (const std::string& name, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   std::string retval;
 
--- a/liboctave/system/file-ops.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/file-ops.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@
 
   static std::string dir_sep_str (void)
   {
-    return instance_ok () ? instance->xdir_sep_str : std::string ();
+    return instance_ok () ? instance->xdir_sep_str : "";
   }
 
   static std::string dir_sep_chars (void)
   {
-    return instance_ok () ? instance->xdir_sep_chars : std::string ();
+    return instance_ok () ? instance->xdir_sep_chars : "";
   }
 
   static bool is_dir_sep (char c)
--- a/liboctave/system/file-stat.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/file-stat.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
 
   bool exists (void) const { return ok (); }
 
-  std::string error (void) const { return ok () ? std::string () : errmsg; }
+  std::string error (void) const { return ok () ? "" : errmsg; }
 
   // Has the file referenced by this object been modified since TIME?
   bool is_newer (const octave_time& time) const { return fs_mtime > time; }
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  file_stat (const std::string& n = std::string (), bool fl = true)
+  file_stat (const std::string& n = "", bool fl = true)
     : base_file_stat (), file_name (n), follow_links (fl)
   {
     if (! file_name.empty ())
--- a/liboctave/system/oct-env.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/oct-env.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 octave_env::polite_directory_format (const std::string& name)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_polite_directory_format (name) : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_polite_directory_format (name) : "";
 }
 
 bool
@@ -125,49 +125,49 @@
 octave_env::base_pathname (const std::string& s)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_base_pathname (s) : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_base_pathname (s) : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::make_absolute (const std::string& s, const std::string& dot_path)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_make_absolute (s, dot_path) : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_make_absolute (s, dot_path) : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::get_current_directory ()
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_getcwd () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_getcwd () : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::get_home_directory ()
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_get_home_directory () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_get_home_directory () : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::get_temp_directory ()
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_get_temp_directory () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_get_temp_directory () : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::get_program_name (void)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->prog_name : std::string ();
+         ? instance->prog_name : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::get_program_invocation_name (void)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->prog_invocation_name : std::string ();
+         ? instance->prog_invocation_name : "";
 }
 
 void
@@ -181,14 +181,14 @@
 octave_env::get_user_name (void)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_get_user_name () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_get_user_name () : "";
 }
 
 std::string
 octave_env::get_host_name (void)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_get_host_name () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_get_host_name () : "";
 }
 
 std::string
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
 octave_env::getenv (const std::string& name)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_getenv (name) : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_getenv (name) : "";
 }
 
 void
--- a/liboctave/system/oct-group.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/oct-group.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 octave_group::getgrent (std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_GETGRENT)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   return octave_group (::getgrent (), msg);
 #else
   msg = NOT_SUPPORTED ("getgrent");
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
 octave_group::getgrgid (gid_t gid, std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_GETGRGID)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   return octave_group (::getgrgid (gid), msg);
 #else
   msg = NOT_SUPPORTED ("getgruid");
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
 octave_group::getgrnam (const std::string& nm, std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_GETGRNAM)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   return octave_group (::getgrnam (nm.c_str ()), msg);
 #else
   msg = NOT_SUPPORTED ("getgrnam");
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@
 octave_group::setgrent (std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_SETGRENT)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   ::setgrent ();
   return 0;
 #else
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
 octave_group::endgrent (std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_ENDGRENT)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   ::endgrent ();
   return 0;
 #else
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
   : gr_name (), gr_passwd (), gr_gid (0), gr_mem (), valid (false)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_GRP_H)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   if (p)
     {
--- a/liboctave/system/oct-passwd.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/oct-passwd.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 octave_passwd::getpwent (std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined HAVE_GETPWENT
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   return octave_passwd (::getpwent (), msg);
 #else
   msg = NOT_SUPPORTED ("getpwent");
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 octave_passwd::getpwuid (uid_t uid, std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_GETPWUID)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   return octave_passwd (::getpwuid (uid), msg);
 #else
   msg = NOT_SUPPORTED ("getpwuid");
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
 octave_passwd::getpwnam (const std::string& nm, std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_GETPWNAM)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   return octave_passwd (::getpwnam (nm.c_str ()), msg);
 #else
   msg = NOT_SUPPORTED ("getpwnam");
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
 octave_passwd::setpwent (std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_SETPWENT)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   ::setpwent ();
   return 0;
 #else
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 octave_passwd::endpwent (std::string& msg)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_ENDPWENT)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
   ::endpwent ();
   return 0;
 #else
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
     pw_dir (), pw_shell (), valid (false)
 {
 #if defined (HAVE_PWD_H)
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   if (p)
     {
--- a/liboctave/system/oct-syscalls.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/system/oct-syscalls.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 int
 octave_syscalls::dup2 (int old_fd, int new_fd, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 octave_syscalls::execvp (const std::string& file, const string_vector& args,
                          std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@
 int
 octave_syscalls::pipe (int *fildes, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@
                           std::string& msg)
 {
   pid_t retval = -1;
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
 #if defined (HAVE_WAITPID)
   retval = ::octave_waitpid (pid, status, options);
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@
 int
 octave_syscalls::kill (pid_t pid, int sig, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@
 int
 octave_fcntl (int fd, int cmd, long arg, std::string& msg)
 {
-  msg = std::string ();
+  msg = "";
 
   int status = -1;
 
--- a/liboctave/util/cmd-edit.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/cmd-edit.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@
 default_command_editor::do_get_current_line (void) const
 {
   // FIXME
-  return std::string ();
+  return "";
 }
 
 void
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@
 command_editor::decode_prompt_string (const std::string& s)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_decode_prompt_string (s) : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_decode_prompt_string (s) : "";
 }
 
 int
--- a/liboctave/util/cmd-edit.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/cmd-edit.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
 
   static void run_event_hooks (void);
 
-  static void read_init_file (const std::string& file = std::string ());
+  static void read_init_file (const std::string& file = "");
 
   static void re_read_init_file (void);
 
--- a/liboctave/util/cmd-hist.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/cmd-hist.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@
 command_history::file (void)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_file () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_file () : "";
 }
 
 void
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@
 command_history::histcontrol (void)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_histcontrol () : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_histcontrol () : "";
 }
 
 void
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@
 command_history::get_entry (int n)
 {
   return (instance_ok ())
-         ? instance->do_get_entry (n) : std::string ();
+         ? instance->do_get_entry (n) : "";
 }
 
 void
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@
 std::string
 command_history::do_get_entry (int) const
 {
-  return std::string ();
+  return "";
 }
 
 void
--- a/liboctave/util/cmd-hist.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/cmd-hist.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -99,11 +99,11 @@
   static void read_range (const std::string&, int = -1, int = -1,
                           bool = true);
 
-  static void write (const std::string& = std::string ());
+  static void write (const std::string& = "");
 
-  static void append (const std::string& = std::string ());
+  static void append (const std::string& = "");
 
-  static void truncate_file (const std::string& = std::string (), int = -1);
+  static void truncate_file (const std::string& = "", int = -1);
 
   static string_vector list (int = -1, bool = false);
 
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 
   static void replace_entry (int, const std::string&);
 
-  static void clean_up_and_save (const std::string& = std::string (), int = -1);
+  static void clean_up_and_save (const std::string& = "", int = -1);
 
 private:
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 
   virtual void do_process_histcontrol (const std::string&);
 
-  virtual std::string do_histcontrol (void) const { return std::string (); }
+  virtual std::string do_histcontrol (void) const { return ""; }
 
   virtual void do_initialize (bool, const std::string&, int,
                               const std::string&);
--- a/liboctave/util/kpse.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/kpse.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@
       if (! READABLE (ret, st))
         {
           /* Failed.  */
-          ret = std::string ();
+          ret = "";
         }
 #endif /* ENAMETOOLONG */
 
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@
           perror (name.c_str ());
         }
 
-      ret = std::string ();
+      ret = "";
     }
 
   return ret;
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@
 {
   string_vector ret_list = search (path, name, must_exist, false);
 
-  return ret_list.empty () ? std::string () : ret_list[0];
+  return ret_list.empty () ? "" : ret_list[0];
 }
 
 /* Search all elements of PATH for files named NAME.  Not sure if it's
@@ -1157,7 +1157,7 @@
 {
   string_vector ret_list = find_first_of (path, names, must_exist, false);
 
-  return ret_list.empty () ? std::string () : ret_list[0];
+  return ret_list.empty () ? "" : ret_list[0];
 }
 
 /* Search each element of PATH for each element of NAMES and return a
--- a/liboctave/util/lo-array-gripes.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/lo-array-gripes.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
   }
 
   // Name of variable being indexed.  eye(2)(1,1) gives "<unknown>".
-  void set_var (const std::string& var_arg = std::string ())
+  void set_var (const std::string& var_arg = "")
   {
     var = var_arg;
   }
--- a/liboctave/util/pathsearch.cc	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/pathsearch.cc	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
 std::string
 dir_path::find_first (const std::string& nm)
 {
-  return initialized ? kpse_path_search (p, nm, true) : std::string ();
+  return initialized ? kpse_path_search (p, nm, true) : "";
 }
 
 string_vector
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
 dir_path::find_first_of (const string_vector& names)
 {
   return initialized
-         ? kpse_path_find_first_of (p, names, true) : std::string ();
+         ? kpse_path_find_first_of (p, names, true) : "";
 }
 
 string_vector
--- a/liboctave/util/pathsearch.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/pathsearch.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  dir_path (const std::string& s = std::string (),
-            const std::string& d = std::string ())
+  dir_path (const std::string& s = "",
+            const std::string& d = "")
     : p_orig (s), p_default (d), initialized (false), p (), pv ()
   {
     if (! p_orig.empty ())
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
 
     static std::string path_sep_str (void)
     {
-      return instance_ok () ? instance->xpath_sep_str : std::string ();
+      return instance_ok () ? instance->xpath_sep_str : "";
     }
 
   private:
--- a/liboctave/util/str-vec.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/str-vec.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
     return longest;
   }
 
-  void resize (octave_idx_type n, const std::string& rfv = std::string ())
+  void resize (octave_idx_type n, const std::string& rfv = "")
   {
     Array<std::string>::resize (dim_vector (n, 1), rfv);
   }
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 
   string_vector& append (const string_vector& sv);
 
-  std::string join (const std::string& sep = std::string ()) const;
+  std::string join (const std::string& sep = "") const;
 
   char **c_str_vec (void) const;
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
 
   std::ostream&
   list_in_columns (std::ostream&, int width = 0,
-                   const std::string& prefix = std::string ()) const;
+                   const std::string& prefix = "") const;
 };
 
 #endif
--- a/liboctave/util/url-transfer.h	Wed Dec 30 11:43:29 2015 -0800
+++ b/liboctave/util/url-transfer.h	Wed Dec 30 12:33:33 2015 -0800
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
                              time_t& /* filetime */,
                              bool& /* fileisdir */) { }
 
-  virtual std::string pwd (void) { return std::string (); }
+  virtual std::string pwd (void) { return ""; }
 
   virtual void http_get (const Array<std::string>& /* param */) { }