summaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/ml/dlib/dlib/matrix/matrix_abstract.h
blob: 0d05ce9817616559b898b9a0d76494a18fada35b (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
// Copyright (C) 2006  Davis E. King (davis@dlib.net)
// License: Boost Software License   See LICENSE.txt for the full license.
#undef DLIB_MATRIx_ABSTRACT_
#ifdef DLIB_MATRIx_ABSTRACT_

#include "matrix_exp_abstract.h"
#include "../serialize.h"
#include "../algs.h"
#include "matrix_data_layout_abstract.h"

namespace dlib
{

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    /*
        Note that these operator prototypes are not correct C++ (the real versions, which 
        you can see in the implementation are really complex and so probably would 
        distract/confuse people if shown here).  Think of this as just a list of the 
        operators available to you and what they do.
    */

    const matrix_exp operator* (
        const matrix_exp& m1,
        const matrix_exp& m2
    );
    /*!
        requires
            - m1.nc() == m2.nr()
            - m1.size() > 0 && m2.size() > 0
              (you can't multiply any sort of empty matrices together)
            - m1 and m2 both contain elements of the same type
        ensures
            - returns the result of doing the matrix multiplication m1*m2.  The resulting
              matrix will have m1.nr() rows and m2.nc() columns.
    !*/

    const matrix_exp operator+ (
        const matrix_exp& m1,
        const matrix_exp& m2
    );
    /*!
        requires
            - m1.nr() == m2.nr()
            - m1.nc() == m2.nc()
            - m1 and m2 both contain elements of the same type
        ensures
            - returns a matrix R such that for all valid r and c:
              R(r,c) == m1(r,c) + m2(r,c)
              (i.e. returns the result of doing a pairwise addition of the matrices m1 and m2.)
              The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as the originals.
    !*/

    const matrix_exp operator- (
        const matrix_exp& m1,
        const matrix_exp& m2
    );
    /*!
        requires
            - m1.nr() == m2.nr()
            - m1.nc() == m2.nc()
            - m1 and m2 both contain elements of the same type
        ensures
            - returns a matrix R such that for all valid r and c:
              R(r,c) == m1(r,c) - m2(r,c)
              (i.e. returns the result of doing a pairwise subtraction of the matrices m1 and m2.)
              The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as the originals.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator* (
        const matrix_exp& m,
        const T& value
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of multiplying all the elements of matrix m by the given 
              scalar value.  The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator* (
        const T& value,
        const matrix_exp& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of multiplying all the elements of matrix m by the given 
              scalar value.  The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    const matrix_exp operator- (
        const matrix_exp& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns -1*m
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator/ (
        const matrix_exp& m,
        const T& value
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of dividing all the elements of matrix m by the given 
              scalar value.  The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator/ (
        const T& value,
        const matrix_exp& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of dividing the given scalar value by all the elements 
              of matrix m.  The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator+ (
        const matrix_exp& m,
        const T& value
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of adding value to all the elements of matrix m.  
              The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator+ (
        const T& value,
        const matrix_exp& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of adding value to all the elements of matrix m.  
              The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator- (
        const matrix_exp& m,
        const T& value
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns the result of subtracting value from all the elements of matrix m.  
              The resulting matrix will have the same dimensions as m.
    !*/

    template <typename T>
    const matrix_exp operator- (
        const T& value,
        const matrix_exp& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - Returns a matrix M such that:
                - M has the same dimensions as m
                - M contains the same type of element as m
                - for all valid r and c:
                    - M(r,c) == value - m(r,c)
    !*/

    bool operator== (
        const matrix_exp& m1,
        const matrix_exp& m2
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - if (m1.nr() == m2.nr() && m1.nc() == m2.nc() &&
              for all valid r and c:  m1(r,c) == m2(r,c) ) then
                - returns true
            - else
                - returns false
    !*/

    bool operator!= (
        const matrix_exp& m1,
        const matrix_exp& m2
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - returns !(m1 == m2)
    !*/

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    template <
        typename T,
        long num_rows = 0,
        long num_cols = 0,
        typename mem_manager = default_memory_manager,
        typename layout = row_major_layout 
        >
    class matrix : public matrix_exp<matrix<T,num_rows,num_cols,mem_manager,layout> > 
    {
        /*!
            REQUIREMENTS ON num_rows and num_cols
                both must be bigger than or equal to 0

            REQUIREMENTS ON mem_manager
                must be an implementation of memory_manager/memory_manager_kernel_abstract.h or
                must be an implementation of memory_manager_global/memory_manager_global_kernel_abstract.h or
                must be an implementation of memory_manager_stateless/memory_manager_stateless_kernel_abstract.h 
                mem_manager::type can be set to anything.

            REQUIREMENTS ON layout
                Must be either row_major_layout or column_major_layout

            INITIAL VALUE
                - if (num_rows > 0) then
                    - nr() == num_rows
                - else
                    - nr() == 0

                - if (num_cols > 0) then
                    - nc() == num_cols
                - else
                    - nc() == 0

            WHAT THIS OBJECT REPRESENTS
                This object represents a matrix of nr() rows and nc() columns.  This object
                is also a matrix_exp.  Thus it can be used in all of the above
                global operators.

                The number of rows and columns of this object are determined by the template
                arguments num_rows and num_cols.  If num_rows or num_cols are 0 then
                the matrix starts out empty (i.e. nr() == 0 and nc() == 0) and you may change
                its size via the set_size() member function. 
                
                Setting num_rows or num_cols to something other than 0 causes that dimension
                to have a fixed size.  Setting a fixed size at compile time is useful because 
                any errors related to operating on matrices with incompatible dimensions will 
                be detected at compile time.  It also allows the compiler to perform loop 
                unrolling which can result in substantially faster code.

                Also note that the elements of this matrix are laid out in memory by the layout 
                object supplied as a template argument to this class.  The row_major_layout  
                sets elements down contiguously in memory and in row major order.  Additionally, 
                all memory allocations are performed using the memory manager object supplied as 
                a template argument to this class.
        !*/

    public:
        typedef T type;
        typedef mem_manager mem_manager_type;
        typedef layout layout_type;
        const static long NR = num_rows;
        const static long NC = num_cols;
        const static long cost = 1;
        typedef T*          iterator;       
        typedef const T*    const_iterator; 

        matrix (
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #*this is properly initialized
                - #aliases(*this) == true
                - #ref().aliases(*this) == true
        !*/

        explicit matrix (
            long length 
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - NR == 1 || NC == 1 (i.e. this must be a column or row vector)
                - length >= 0 
                - if (NR == 1 && NC > 0) then
                    - length == NC
                - if (NC == 1 && NR > 0) then
                    - length == NR
            ensures
                - #*this is properly initialized
                - #aliases(*this) == true
                - #ref().aliases(*this) == true
                - if (NR == 1) then
                    - #nr() == 1
                    - #nc() == length
                - else
                    - #nr() == length
                    - #nc() == 1
        !*/

        matrix (
            long rows,
            long cols
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - rows == NR || NR == 0
                - cols == NC || NC == 0
                - rows >= 0 && cols >= 0
            ensures
                - #*this is properly initialized
                - #aliases(*this) == true
                - #ref().aliases(*this) == true
                - #nr() == rows
                - #nc() == cols
        !*/

        template <typename EXP>
        matrix (
            const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - matrix_exp<EXP>::type == T
                  (i.e. m contains the same type as *this does)
                - if (NR != 0) then NR == m.nr()
                - if (NC != 0) then NC == m.nc()
            ensures
                - #*this == m
                - #aliases(*this) == true
                - #ref().aliases(*this) == true
        !*/

        template <typename U, size_t len>
        explicit matrix (
            U (&array)[len]
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - NR != 0 && NC != 0 (i.e. you can only use this constructor on statically sized matrices)
                - len == nr()*nc()  (i.e. the array you give here must be the right size)
            ensures
                - for all valid r and c:
                  #(*this)(r,c) == array[r*nc() + c]
                  (i.e. initializes this matrix with the contents of the given array)
                - #aliases(*this) == true
                - #ref().aliases(*this) == true
        !*/
        
        matrix(
            const std::initializer_list<T>& l
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - This matrix is capable of having a size() == l.size().  Therefore, if
                  NR*NC != 0 then l.size() must equal NR*NC.  Alternatively, if NR or NC is
                  != 0 then l.size() must be a multiple of the non-zero NR or NC.
            ensures
                - #size() == l.size()
                - The contents of l are enumerated and read into the matrix in row major order.
                - if (NR != 0) then
                    - #nr() == NR
                    - #nc() == l.size()/NR
                - if (NC != 0) then
                    - #nr() == l.size()/NC
                    - #nc() == NC
                - if (NR*NC==0) then
                    - #nr() == l.size()
                    - #nc() == 1
                - #aliases(*this) == true
                - #ref().aliases(*this) == true
        !*/

        T& operator() (
            long r, 
            long c
        ); 
        /*!
            requires
                - 0 <= r < nr()
                - 0 <= c < nc()
            ensures
                - returns a reference to the value at the given row and column in 
                  this matrix.
        !*/

        const T& operator() (
            long r, 
            long c
        ) const;
        /*!
            requires
                - 0 <= r < nr()
                - 0 <= c < nc()
            ensures
                - returns a const reference to the value at the given row and column in 
                  this matrix.
        !*/

        T& operator() (
            long i
        ); 
        /*!
            requires
                - nc() == 1 || nr() == 1 (i.e. this must be a column or row vector)
                - 0 <= i < size()
            ensures
                - if (nc() == 1) then
                    - returns a reference to (*this)(i,0)
                - else
                    - returns a reference to (*this)(0,i)
        !*/

        const T& operator() (
            long i
        ) const;
        /*!
            requires
                - nc() == 1 || nr() == 1 (i.e. this must be a column or row vector)
                - 0 <= i < size()
            ensures
                - if (nc() == 1) then
                    - returns a reference to (*this)(i,0)
                - else
                    - returns a reference to (*this)(0,i)
        !*/

        operator const type (
        ) const;
        /*!
            requires
                - nr() == 1
                - nc() == 1
            ensures
                - returns (*this)(0,0)
        !*/

        long nr(
        ) const;
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns the number of rows in this matrix
        !*/

        long nc(
        ) const;
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns the number of columns in this matrix
        !*/

        long size (
        ) const;
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns nr()*nc()
        !*/

        void set_size (
            long rows,
            long cols
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - rows == NR || NR == 0
                - cols == NC || NC == 0
                - rows >= 0 && cols >= 0
            ensures
                - #nr() == rows
                - #nc() == cols
        !*/

        void set_size (
            long length
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - NR == 1 || NC == 1 (i.e. this must be a column or row vector)
                - length >= 0 
                - if (NR == 1 && NC > 0) then
                    - length == NC
                - if (NC == 1 && NR > 0) then
                    - length == NR
            ensures
                - if (NR == 1) then
                    - #nr() == 1
                    - #nc() == length
                - else
                    - #nr() == length
                    - #nc() == 1
        !*/

        template <typename U, size_t len>
        matrix& operator= (
            U (&array)[len]
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - len == nr()*nc()  (i.e. the array you give here must be the right size)
            ensures
                - for all valid r and c:
                  #(*this)(r,c) == array[r*nc() + c]
                  (i.e. loads this matrix with the contents of the given array)
                - returns *this
        !*/

        matrix& operator=(
            const std::initializer_list<T>& l
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - This matrix is capable of having a size() == l.size().  Therefore, if
                  NR*NC != 0 then l.size() must equal NR*NC.  Alternatively, if NR or NC is
                  != 0 then l.size() must be a multiple of the non-zero NR or NC.
            ensures
                - Assigns the contents of l to *this by performing: matrix(l).swap(*this)
                - returns *this
        !*/

        template <typename EXP>
        matrix& operator= (
            const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - matrix_exp<EXP>::type == T
                  (i.e. m contains the same type as *this does)
                - if (NR != 0) then NR == m.nr()
                - if (NC != 0) then NC == m.nc()
            ensures
                - copies the given matrix expression m to *this
                - returns *this
        !*/

        template <typename EXP>
        matrix& operator += (
            const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - matrix_exp<EXP>::type == T
                - One of the following is true:
                    - nr() == m.nr() && nc() == m.nc()
                    - size() == 0
                  (i.e. this matrix must have matching dimensions or it must be empty)
            ensures
                - if (nr() == m.nr() && nc() == m.nc()) then
                    - #(*this) == *this + m
                - else
                    - #(*this) == m
                      (i.e. if the dimensions don't match then this function performs a 
                      normal assignment)
                - returns *this
        !*/

        template <typename EXP>
        matrix& operator -= (
            const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - matrix_exp<EXP>::type == T
                - One of the following is true:
                    - nr() == m.nr() && nc() == m.nc()
                    - size() == 0
                  (i.e. this matrix must have matching dimensions or it must be empty)
            ensures
                - if (nr() == m.nr() && nc() == m.nc()) then
                    - #(*this) == *this - m
                - else
                    - #(*this) == -m
                - returns *this
        !*/

        template <typename EXP>
        matrix& operator *= (
            const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
        );
        /*!
            requires
                - matrix_exp<EXP>::type == T
                  (i.e. m must contain the same type of element as *this)
                - nc() == m.nr()
                - size() > 0 && m.size() > 0
                  (you can't multiply any sort of empty matrices together)
            ensures
                - #(*this) == *this * m
                - returns *this
        !*/

        matrix& operator *= (
            const T& a
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #(*this) == *this * a
                - returns *this
        !*/

        matrix& operator /= (
            const T& a
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #(*this) == *this / a
                - returns *this
        !*/

        matrix& operator += (
            const T& a
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #(*this) == *this + a
                - returns *this
        !*/

        matrix& operator -= (
            const T& a
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #(*this) == *this - a
                - returns *this
        !*/

        const literal_assign_helper operator = (
            const T& val
        );
        /*!
            This function is somewhat different than all the others defined in this file.
            The purpose of this function is to enable you to easily initialize a matrix object.
            For example:
                matrix<double> m(2,3);
                m = 1,2,3,
                    4,5,6;

            The above code creates a matrix m with 2 rows and 3 columns and sets it so that
            it contains the matrix | 1 2 3 |
                                   | 4 5 6 |

            You can also use this function to assign to all elements of a matrix.  So
            saying m = 3; would assign all elements of m equal to 3.

            Note that to use this method of assignment it is required that you supply 
            exactly m.size() or 1 values so that the matrix is fully initialized.  Supplying 
            fewer or more than that is an error that will cause a dlib::fatal_error to be 
            thrown.

            Note also that using an expression of the form m = scalar; when m.size() == 0
            is legal but has no effect on m.
        !*/

        void swap (
            matrix& item
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - swaps *this and item
        !*/

        iterator begin(
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns a random access iterator pointing to the first element in this
                  matrix.
                - The iterator will iterate over the elements of the matrix in row major
                  order if layout is row_major_layout or in column major order if layout is
                  column_major_layout.
        !*/

        iterator end(
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns a random access iterator pointing to one past the end of the last
                  element in this matrix.
        !*/

        const_iterator begin(
        ) const;
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns a random access iterator pointing to the first element in this
                  matrix.  
                - The iterator will iterate over the elements of the matrix in row major
                  order if layout is row_major_layout or in column major order if layout is
                  column_major_layout.
        !*/

        const_iterator end(
        ) const;
        /*!
            ensures
                - returns a random access iterator pointing to one past the end of the last
                  element in this matrix.
        !*/
    };

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    /*!A matrix_colmajor 
        This is just a typedef of the matrix object that uses column major layout. 
    !*/
    typedef matrix<double,0,0,default_memory_manager,column_major_layout> matrix_colmajor;

    /*!A fmatrix_colmajor 
        This is just a typedef of the matrix object that uses column major layout. 
    !*/
    typedef matrix<float,0,0,default_memory_manager,column_major_layout> fmatrix_colmajor;

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
template <
        typename T,
        long NR,
        long NC,
        typename mm,
        typename l
        >
    void swap(
        matrix<T,NR,NC,mm,l>& a,
        matrix<T,NR,NC,mm,l>& b
    ) { a.swap(b); }
    /*!
        Provides a global swap function
    !*/

    template <
        typename T,
        long NR,
        long NC,
        typename mm,
        typename l
        >
    void serialize (
        const matrix<T,NR,NC,mm,l>& item, 
        std::ostream& out
    );   
    /*!
        Provides serialization support.  Note that the serialization formats used by the
        dlib::matrix and dlib::array2d objects are compatible.  That means you can load the
        serialized data from one into another and it will work properly.
    !*/

    template <
        typename T,
        long NR,
        long NC,
        typename mm,
        typename l
        >
    void deserialize (
        matrix<T,NR,NC,mm,l>& item, 
        std::istream& in
    );   
    /*!
        Provides deserialization support 
    !*/

    template <
        typename EXP
        >
    std::ostream& operator<< (
        std::ostream& out,
        const matrix_exp<EXP>& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - writes m to the given out stream in a form suitable for human consumption.
            - returns out
    !*/

    template <
        typename T, 
        long NR, 
        long NC,
        typename MM,
        typename L
        >
    std::istream& operator>> (
        std::istream& in,
        matrix<T,NR,NC,MM,L>& m
    );
    /*!
        ensures
            - Tries to read a matrix from the given input stream and store it into #m.
            - The format expected is the text format output by the above operator<<().
              That is, the format should be a grid of text such as:
                2 3 4
                5 2 6 
            - The separation between numbers can be any number of whitespace characters or
              commas.      
            - The matrix data is assumed to end upon the first blank line or end-of-file,
              whichever comes first.  This means you can create an input stream with
              multiple matrices in it by separating them with empty lines.
            - returns in. 
            - If there was a formatting error or something which prevents the input data
              from being parsed into a matrix then #in.fail() == true.
    !*/

    /*!A csv
        This object is used to define an io manipulator for matrix expressions.  In
        particular, you can write statements like:
            cout << csv << yourmatrix;
        and have it print the matrix with commas separating each element.
    !*/
    some_undefined_iomnaip_type csv;

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    template <typename EXP>
    class const_temp_matrix : public matrix_exp<const_temp_matrix<EXP> >, noncopyable 
    {
        /*!
            REQUIREMENTS ON EXP
                - must be an object that inherits publicly from matrix_exp.

            WHAT THIS OBJECT REPRESENTS
                This object represents a copy of a matrix expression.  The twist
                is that it only actually makes a copy of its input matrix expression
                if that matrix expression is costly to evaluate.  If it has
                low cost then this object just stores a reference.  

                This class is useful in cases where you write a function that
                takes a matrix_exp object as input and you want to do some
                intensive computation that looks at each element of that matrix_exp
                many times.  If the input matrix_exp has a high cost then you want
                to store it into a temporary matrix.  But if it has low cost then
                it is faster if you just use a reference to it.  The const_temp_matrix
                makes doing this easy.
        !*/
    public:

        const_temp_matrix (
            const matrix_exp<EXP>& item
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #*this == item
                - if (EXP::cost <= 1) then
                    - this const_temp_matrix stores a reference to the item matrix
                - else
                    - this const_temp_matrix creates a temporary matrix and copies 
                      item into it
        !*/

        const_temp_matrix (
            const EXP& item
        );
        /*!
            ensures
                - #*this == item
                - if (EXP::cost <= 1) then
                    - this const_temp_matrix stores a reference to the item matrix
                - else
                    - this const_temp_matrix creates a temporary matrix and copies 
                      item into it
        !*/
    };

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

}

#endif // DLIB_MATRIx_ABSTRACT_