[boost] Re: Misc library documentation issues

From: Kevlin Henney (Kevlin.Henney_at_[hidden])
Date: 1999-07-13 12:17:09

Valentin wrote:

So:

1) you are introducing a function which, for some reason,
can only deal with counted objects

   For instance, a framework that adopts reference counting as its norm.

2) then you are using this function with non counted objects

   Eg the user of a framework who is already supporting the style of
   another framework in their code that does not fit with your framework,
   because one uses counted objects and the other uses raw pointers.

This seems absolutly contradicting, and certainly note
somethign standard or tat should be supported by standard
(industry standard components (boost)).

   So you are saying that programmers are not allowed to mix frameworks,
   and they must use something that is a mark of good and consistent design
   (such as the standard library ;->)? I think the case for the defence
   rests!

If the programmer cannot understand the difference between
T* and shared_ptr<T>, fire him. Same solution if he
systematically writes shared_ptr<T> when he means T*.

   So you are saying that the committee and most library and framework
   developers should be fired? It does not take long to find similar
   examples elsewhere.

   However, this is clearly not the issue: if you are programming for
   yourself and you make this mistake then the problem and solution are
   definitely with you. But if you program for others, a closed design is
   of little help.

Simple solutions (well, maybe note from the legal point
of view) for simple problems.

   Precisely. Open enough for flexibility; closed enough for confidence.

   Kevlin

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