New Features in Version 1.2

• The copy constructor and assignment ("=") now peform a deep copy by value. In version 1.0, they copied by reference. This new convention parallels object-oriented standards in C++, and should make Slate++ easier to use with other C++ software. To copy by reference, one should use standard C++ conventions. A tutorial section describing passing Matrix and Vector objects in functions by value and by reference is included.

• Try/catch mechanisms have been put into the slate++ code, to throw exceptions for operations on non-conformant matrices or vectors (i.e., those that have unmatching sizes). Throwing exceptions is good practice for writing robust code, and gives flexibility to the designer in dealing with errors. A small tutorial section has been included on throwing exceptions.

• All element references in Vectors and Matrices use the notation (i,j) and (i). The C-style notations [][] and [] have been eliminated for now. They may be reinstated in later releases.

• Linear algebra routines now use pass-by-reference correctly, using the new convention for the copy constructor.