Re: [boost] More "any" remarks

From: Kevlin Henney (kevlin_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-11-13 05:12:48

In message <005701c04cf0$a7009870$fa00a8c0_at_phocine>, Ed Brey
<brey_at_[hidden]> writes
>This discussion seems to be pointing to a need for a top-level "library
>invariants" page that would list guarantees that are made for all boost
>libraries.  Then each library would not need to repeat this information in
>its page.  In this case, the invariant is that all libraries are exception
>safe.  The page could describe the meaning of this and provide a definition
>of the minimum weak guarantee that all boost libraries offer.  It can also
>define the stronger guarantees so that individual libraries that offer
>stronger guarantees can specify so in just a few words linked back to a full
>definition of the guarantee.
>
>If we don't have a centralized source on exception guarantees, the
>alternatives are (1) potential duplicate descriptions of exception safety in
>various libraries, (2) confusing end users who are not familiar with
>exception safety, or (3) cross-referencing a description of exceptions
>safety such as http://www.research.att.com/~bs/3rd_safe.pdf.
>
>Nothing is coming to mind at the moment as far as other library invariants
>go, but I suspect that they exist.  The "library invariant" concept is
>similar to the existing Library Requirements and Guidelines, but with
>different focus.  The Requirements are aimed at library developers, whereas
>I'm proposing something directly geared towards end users in the form of
>documentation common to all libraries.

This is an excellent suggestion. When we have these in place I will
rework that part of my documentation.

Kevlin
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