Re: [boost] Re: [ANN] Spirit C++ parser framework.

From: joel de guzman (isis-tech_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-05-29 18:21:55

From: "Csaba Szepesvari" :

> Hi,
> 
> A disturbing question: will Spirit ever compile under VC++ (6.0 SP4)?
> How intensively does it use partial template specialization and alike?
> 
> - Csaba
> 

Hi,

Sorry if this disturbs some of you. But in fairness to
Bruce Florman (who did the port), let me explain what
has transpired. Over the past few days, after I posted 
Spirit over the web, I got a substantial amount of email
requesting for a port to MSVC, among other compilers
and platforms. My usual response was: "I'm sorry but
I don't think that is possible. Spirit rely heavilly on template
partial specialization that is not yet available in MSVC".
Then one day, Bruce sent in his port along with a log
of how he did the port. I think he did a wonderful piece
of engineering. There were compromises, yes, engineering
involves a lot of compromises, but useful, nevertheless.

I am not a fan of MS, nor is Bruce. It's just so happens
that he works in a company that is "inexorably tied to the 
Microsoft compiler" and a library such as Spirit would be
quite useful. 

So please accept my apologies. 

Thank you, all,
Joel de Guzman