[boost] Re: Automated Specializations? Choosing Integers? Maybe generic meta-programming

From: Dave Abrahams (abrahams_at_[hidden])
Date: 1999-11-29 21:22:53

> So how about it?  I think we will have to eventually at least get our feet
> wet with compile-time meta-programming in the Boost library.  There are
> several situations where it is very useful; the one that prompted this post
> is the one to automate specializations.  By using the Platform concept, we
> can write one specialization for every builtin type, and only have to change
> the corresponding platform class when compilers offer more extended types
> (__int128 is coming!)
>
> The controversial subjects here are the use of meta-programming and
> compile-time asserts.  Meta-programming has already been brought up here,
> with the consensus that we did not wish to pursue it for Boost at this time.
> Compile-time asserts have been thrown around a _lot_, with no known solution
> to the problems raised.  The compile-time assert I include here is the one I
> use in my personal programming; it works with BCB4, but maybe nothing else.
> . .

Personally, I would like to see more well-documented, peer reviewed examples
of this sort of work publicly available. So I support at least discussing
this proposal.

-Dave