16.65.cpp

#include<iostream>
#include<string>
#include<sstream> 

template <typename T> std::string debug_rep(const T &t);
template <typename T> std::string debug_rep(T * p);
std::string debug_rep(const std::string &s);
//std::string debug_rep(char *p);
//std::string debug_rep(const char *p);

template <typename T>
std::string debug_rep(const T &t)
{
	std::ostringstream ret;
	ret << t;
	return ret.str();
}

template <typename T>
std::string debug_rep(T * p)
{
	std::ostringstream ret;
	ret << "pointer: " << p;
	if(p)
		ret << " " << debug_rep(*p);
	else
		ret << " null pointer";
	return ret.str(); 
}

std::string debug_rep(const std::string &s)
{
	return '"' + s + '"';
}

template <>
std::string debug_rep(char * p)
{
	return debug_rep(std::string(p));
}

template <>
std::string debug_rep(const char * p)
{
	return debug_rep(std::string(p));
}

int main()
{
	std::string s("hi");
	std::string * sp = &s;
	std::cout << debug_rep(s) << std::endl;
	std::cout << debug_rep(&s) << std::endl;
	std::cout << debug_rep(sp) << std::endl;
	std::cout << debug_rep("hi world!") << std::endl;
	return 0;
}