Re: [boost] Re: New New Callbacks Uploaded

From: Kevlin Henney (kevlin_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-11-23 14:32:57

In message <8vj950+r5kh_at_[hidden]>, William Kempf <sirwillard_at_my-
deja.com> writes
>> OK, so now that we've established the two sides of the fence, I 
>guess we
>> can sit on either side ;-)
>
>*laughs*  How about choosing neither side?  

So, it's a three way fence? Any carpenters on the list?

>I can see the argument 
>for it being a smart pointer (even though I think this stretches 
>things a tad), but baby, it ain't no function ;).  

Not at all. It is a problem of perception and overly narrow usage (and
therefore, I guess, brainwashing ;->). The problem is that most people
automatically assume that "smart pointer" means "smart object pointer",
whereas if we look at the term we discover that what we have is a
pointer (a level of indirection that supports dereferencing notation
already used for built-ins), that it's fairly smart, and that it deals
with function-like entities. So <blink/><blink/> looks like a smart
function pointer, <sniff/><sniff/> smells like one, etc!

>That's why the 
>term "functor" was created.  

Functor already has a number of common uses, and this is only very
imprecisely one of them. I personally consider it sufficiently remote
from the accepted meaning of functor in many C++ circles as to be
confusing. The more modern terminology based on function objects (which,
uncannily enough, are functional but are not functions) and smart
pointers is a better place to start. It has the benefit that (1) it
accurately describes intent, and (2) more closely builds on existing
terminology.

>On the other side, I never really cared for "callback" either.  Not 
>for the reasons you gave, but just because it implies a single useage 
>that's not forced by the design (i.e. a callback is a general functor 
>which need not be delayed in it's call).

OK, so how about we team up against "callback"?

>So, in the end, I'd hope we pick some as yet not suggested name. :)

And worry about the fractures in the alliance/fence later ;-)

Kevlin
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