Use string instead of char*

include/utils.hpp

@@ -15,10 +15,11 @@
 #ifndef __UTILS__
 #define __UTILS__
 
-#include <string>
-#include <vector>
+#include <armadillo>
 #include <iomanip>
 #include <sstream>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 /** @def DEBUG(msg)
  *  @brief Writes a debug message
@@ -84,10 +85,24 @@ std::string scientific_format(const std::vector<double>& v,
  *  @param msg The message to be displayed
  * */
 void m_assert(bool expr, 
-              const char* expr_str, 
-              const char* func, 
-              const char* file, 
+              std::string expr_str, 
+              std::string func, 
+              std::string file, 
               int line,
-              const char* msg);
+              std::string msg);
+
+
+/** @brief Test if two armadillo vectors are close to each other.
+ *
+ *  This function takes in 2 vectors and checks if they are approximately
+ *  equal to each other given a tolerance.
+ *
+ *  @param a Vector a
+ *  @param b Vector b
+ *  @param tol The tolerance
+ *
+ *  @return Boolean
+ * */
+bool arma_vector_close_to(arma::vec &a, arma::vec &b, double tol=1e-8);
 
 #endif