Exception specifications in smart_ptr.hpp

From: Beman Dawes (beman_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-07-16 09:34:43

In another thread, Dave Abrahams wrote:

 >Speaking of efficiency, you'd probably do well to leave off
 >the exception-specifications. That will result in a pessimization
 >on many compilers. Since the functions are inline, most compilers
 >will be able to deduce that they can't throw anyway.

In reviewing the log file from the regression test, I noticed the following 
from both Borland 5.4 and 5.5:

Warning W8026 c:/boost/site/libs/smart_ptr/smart_ptr_test.cpp 61: Functions 
with exception specifications are not expanded inline in function main()

smart_ptr.hpp has throw specifiers on a number of time-critical inline 
functions such as dereferencing:

   T& operator*() const throw()  { return *ptr; }

It's a disaster if these aren't inlined.

Should boost programming guidelines ban exception-specifications?

--Beman