Memory cleanup issue converting QString to char* for use with a 3rd party library, how to solve?

Question

I am using a 3rd party library with Qt that requires char* strings. I am using the following code to convert my QString to a char*

char* toCharArray(const QString &string)
{
    QByteArray bytes = string.toLocal8Bit();
    char* data = new char[bytes.count() + 1];
    strcpy(data, bytes.data());
    return data;
}

// later on...

3rdPartyObject->3rdPartyMethod(toCharArray("someFile"));

What can I do to make sure the char* I return is cleaned up, apart from doing something messy like this?

char* path = toCharArray("someFile");
3rdPartyObject->3rdPartyMethod(path); // The class and method called can differ
delete[] path;

Answer 1

You can use a smart pointer such as boost::shared_ptr or std::auto_ptr so that the memory is automatically deleted when the smart pointer goes out of scope.

Answer 2

Why not just use

QString s;
3rdPartyObject->3rdPartyMethod( s.toLocal8Bit().data() );

The destruction of the temporary QByteArray at the end of the statement will clean up all the resources.