Re: [boost] [proto][design]why unary_expr,binary_expr; but no nullary_expr?

From: Eric Niebler (eric_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-04-27 17:30:44

Larry Evans wrote:
> Although there's unary_expr<Tag,*>, binary_expr<tag.*,*>
> in traits.hpp there's no nullary_expr<Tag>.  I realize
> this would be a replacement to the current terminal template
> but with a user specified tag.  After all,
> if a user specified tag for n-ary (where n>0) expressions
> *is* desirable, why is a user specified tag for 0-ary
> expressions *not* desirable?  
<snip>

Mostly because I couldn't think of a use case at the time. There's 
nothing in Proto's design that would prohibit a 0-ary expression from 
having a tag type other than tag::terminal, but I bet there are some 
places in the code that make that assumption. They would all need to be 
hunted down and fixed. Probably not too hard. If you felt like 
submitting a patch (hint hint), then be sure to use branches/proto/v4 as 
a starting point.

-- 
Eric Niebler
Boost Consulting
www.boost-consulting.com