Hi list,

I'm observing different behavior in boost::optional and boost::variant compared to their std c++17 versions. Using Boost 1.64

The following example fails to compile with -DUSE_BOOST using either gcc 7.3 or clang 6.0

#include <boost/optional.hpp>

#include <boost/variant/variant.hpp>

#include <optional>

#include <variant>

struct A {};

struct B {};

struct C {};

#ifdef USE_BOOST

using V = boost::variant<A,B,C>;

using OV = boost::optional<V>;

#else

using V = std::variant<A,B,C>;

using OV = std::optional<V>;

#endif

OV f(B b)

{

return b;

}

Is this difference in behavior expected for such a simple example?

Is it possible to improve Boost to make this example compile?

Thanks in advance!

PS: the Boost only version works in VS2015, not sure why...

PPS: Try it in godbolt! https://godbolt.org/g/n4Vbr9

gcc 7.3 says

<source>: In function 'OV f(B)':

<source>:20:12: error: could not convert 'b' from 'B' to 'OV {aka boost::optional<boost::variant<A, B, C> >}'

clang 6.0.0 says

<source>:20:12: error: no viable conversion from returned value of type 'B' to function return type 'OV' (aka 'optional<variant<A, B, C> >')

return b;

/opt/compiler-explorer/libs/boost_1_64_0/boost/optional/optional.hpp:796:5: note: candidate constructor not viable: no known conversion from 'B' to 'boost::none_t' for 1st argument

optional( none_t none_ ) BOOST_NOEXCEPT : base(none_) {}

/opt/compiler-explorer/libs/boost_1_64_0/boost/optional/optional.hpp:800:5: note: candidate constructor not viable: no known conversion from 'B' to 'boost::optional<boost::variant<A, B, C> >::argument_type' (aka 'const boost::variant<A, B, C> &') for 1st argument

optional ( argument_type val ) : base(val) {}

/opt/compiler-explorer/libs/boost_1_64_0/boost/optional/optional.hpp:805:5: note: candidate constructor not viable: no known conversion from 'B' to 'boost::optional<boost::variant<A, B, C> >::rval_reference_type' (aka 'boost::variant<A, B, C> &&') for 1st argument

optional ( rval_reference_type val ) : base( boost::forward<T>(val) )

/opt/compiler-explorer/libs/boost_1_64_0/boost/optional/optional.hpp:877:5: note: candidate constructor not viable: no known conversion from 'B' to 'const boost::optional<boost::variant<A, B, C> > &' for 1st argument

optional ( optional const& rhs ) : base( static_cast<base const&>(rhs) ) {}

/opt/compiler-explorer/libs/boost_1_64_0/boost/optional/optional.hpp:882:2: note: candidate constructor not viable: no known conversion from 'B' to 'boost::optional<boost::variant<A, B, C> > &&' for 1st argument

optional ( optional && rhs )