RE: [boost] metactrl header [compile time asserts]

From: Reid Sweatman (borderland_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-07-25 11:01:43

> But seriously, the trouble with template metaprogramming
> is that the syntax was never designed for the purpose,
> so it's just terrible to read and write.  So while there
> is no good reason to use macros to turn C++ into Pascal
> when the C++ is perfectly readable, a set of macros that
> let you write readable metaprograms might be quite useful,
> if only the C preprocessor wasn't so brain-dead.

Well, I hate to suggest anything that goes outside the C++ language spec and
available tools, but there are plenty of other readily available things that
make wizard preprocessors; you just have to invoke them in the make before
the compiler.  My favorite is PERL, but I've used AWK and rolled my own
oddities for special purposes.  And while I haven't looked at it yet, I
understand Python would be as good a choice.  I guess a second problem would
be picking a standard <g>.  At least, PERL's free on just about every
platform.  Anyway, I'm guessing the mere fact that it's not a native C++
tool will kill any interest for the suggestion in this list.  Still, thought
I'd toss it out.  I guess the real solution is to get a worthwhile
preprocessor added to the language spec.  Dunno what the odds are, though.

Reid Sweatman