[boost] Re: standard implementation detail namespace

From: Mitch Adler (mitch_at_[hidden])
Date: 1999-12-21 21:22:58

Paul Moore (gustav_at_[hidden]) on or about 12/19/99 10:25 AM 
wrote:

>Anyone who uses a using-directive takes responsibility for avoiding clashes.
>Documenting names lets us say "I told you so" :-)

I think Documenting isn't good enough in this case.

::boost is an open-ended library.

That is, things can be added.

Therefore, all names may, at some future date, occur in ::boost.

Therefore there is no way to avoid potential collision with names in 
::boost.

In practice, all names will not be used in ::boost, but unless we can 
define the set of names that will be used and document them, it is far 
better to tell people that 'using namespace ::boost' is the road to 
collisions, incompaibility and nightmares.

Mitch

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mitch Adler               "Short, to the point, utterly useless and 
Intelligent Paradigm       totally consistent. What I've come to expect
Mitch_at_[hidden]            from a Vorlon."
Mitch_at_[hidden]     - Captain John Sheridan to Kosh