--- deliantra/server/include/util.h	2011/12/31 06:18:01	1.116
+++ deliantra/server/include/util.h	2012/01/03 11:23:41	1.117
@@ -326,7 +326,6 @@
       slice_alloc -= n * sizeof (T);
       if (DEBUG_POISON) memset (ptr, DEBUG_POISON, n * sizeof (T));
       g_slice_free1 (n * sizeof (T), (void *)ptr);
-      assert (slice_alloc >= 0);//D
     }
 }
 
@@ -452,6 +451,63 @@
   }
 };
 
+// basically a memory area, but refcounted
+struct refcnt_buf
+{
+  char *data;
+
+  refcnt_buf (size_t size = 0);
+  refcnt_buf (void *data, size_t size);
+
+  refcnt_buf (const refcnt_buf &src)
+  {
+    data = src.data;
+    ++_refcnt ();
+  }
+
+  ~refcnt_buf ();
+
+  refcnt_buf &operator =(const refcnt_buf &src);
+
+  operator char *()
+  {
+    return data;
+  }
+
+  size_t size () const
+  {
+    return _size ();
+  }
+
+protected:
+  enum {
+    overhead = sizeof (unsigned int) * 2
+  };
+
+  unsigned int &_size () const
+  {
+    return ((unsigned int *)data)[-2];
+  }
+
+  unsigned int &_refcnt () const
+  {
+    return ((unsigned int *)data)[-1];
+  }
+
+  void _alloc (unsigned int size)
+  {
+    data = ((char *)salloc<char> (size + overhead)) + overhead;
+    _size   () = size;
+    _refcnt () = 1;
+  }
+
+  void dec ()
+  {
+    if (!--_refcnt ())
+      sfree<char> (data - overhead, size () + overhead);
+  }
+};
+
 INTERFACE_CLASS (attachable)
 struct refcnt_base
 {