AltString.cc

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>


struct Strings : std::vector<std::string> {

    std::vector<std::string> tokens;
    // unfortunately you have to override all of the constructors
    Strings(std::vector<std::string> input_tokens) : tokens(std::move(input_tokens)) {}

    Strings(size_t size) {tokens.reserve(size);}

    Strings(size_t size, std::string token) {
        tokens.reserve(size);
        for(auto it = 0; it<size; ++it) {
            tokens.at(it) = token;
        }
    }

    std::string
    join(const std::string& delim ) {
        auto output = std::string();

        for(const auto & it : tokens) {
            output += it + delim;
        }
        output.pop_back();
        return output;
    }
};

int main() {

    auto tokens = Strings({"1", "2", "3", "4"});

    std::cout << tokens.join("|") << std::endl;
    return 0;
}