[rumanator]

> This makes no sense. The STL is the specialized containers

It really isn't. The whole STL is, by design, a template library packed with generic data structures that are designed to have very robust defaults and still be customizable and extensible.

When the defaults are good enough, which is the case in general, the STL will do. If you have a niche requirement (say, games) or feel adventurous, you adopt custom and/or specialized solutions.

This has been the case since the STL's inception. They are the standard, default library. I can't understand how someone is able to miss this fact.