Another problematic multiple inheritance mechanism: Construction and destruction in C++ in the virtual multiple inheritance case

Multiple inheritance consists of allowing inheritance that is not restricted to a treelike structure. It offers many advantages as a design and programmning concept, both in efficiency and expressivity. Although the C++ language supports multiple inheritance, programmers often shun this concept, as it is known to have problematic aspects. Among the numerous difficulties raised by C++ implementation of multiple inheritance, the delicate issues of constructor and destructor invocation are discussed. Some cases are studied in which errors are caused by a faulty construction/destruction of objects when the virtual inheritance mechanism is used. Each case is illustrated with a simple, readily understood example