[boost] Re: Stdint header?

From: Dietmar Kuehl (dietmar.kuehl_at_[hidden])
Date: 1999-08-03 16:02:40

Hi,
>*  A template approach where the user would write code like:
>
>     int_t<32>::exact   // to obtain the 32-bit integer type
>     int_t<32>::max()   // to obtain the maximum value
>
>*  A typedef and constant approach where the user would write:
>
>     int32              // to obtain the 32-bit integer type
>     INT32_MAX          // to obtain the maximum value

While this is different in C, I think the template approach is the only
viable one in C++! Otherwise, how would I write generic code where the
number of exact bits is specified? Of course, you might argue that there
is no such thing and I would indeed have to think about it for a moment.
However, the template approach creates a weak relation between the types
and the value which might be used by a certain implementation. For the
typedef/constant approach I would have to create it myself.

Just my thoughs,
  Dietmar