Re: [boost] [Review] bind

From: Douglas Gregor (gregod_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-08-17 22:58:05

On Friday 17 August 2001 07:17, you wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Douglas Gregor <gregod_at_[hidden]>
> To: <boost_at_[hidden]>
> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 6:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [boost] [Review] bind
>
> > On Friday 17 August 2001 05:19, you wrote:
> > > Aside from the conflicts with functional -which I'm not sure how could
>
> be
>
> > > solved-, I vote for inclusion.
> > >
> > > I second the argument of replacing the _N notation for boost::argN.
> >
> > I'll vote against boost::argN, because I think that the _N notation is
> > wonderfully terse and that it stands out well with syntax highlighting
> > available.
> > In any case, it isn't a latent error: if one uses 1 instead of _1
> > or vice-versa, it will result in a compiler error.
>
> The crucial potential conflict I see is not that you can forget to type the
> underscore, but that other identifiers or nasty macros might collide.
> In these cases syntax highlighting won't help, and compiler errors might be
> just too confusing.

I would guess that users are afraid to use leading underscores because 
they're read/heard somewhere that they aren't always allowed, but don't know 
the exact rules. I checked the systems I have access to (Linux, FreeBSD, 
Irix, AIX, Solaris) and no headers anywhere had _1, _2, etc. as identifiers 
or macros. I think the concern over _1, _2, etc. showing up as macros is 
unfounded, but obviously I can only offer proof by example.

[snip visitor description]
> >   - all function objects must be able to accomodate a visitor
> >   - shouldn't place this requirement on all function objects (otherwise
> > it would annoy users).
> >
> > All solutions so far that decouple bind libraries from the signals
> > library have been deemed too brittle :(.
>
> I see.
> It appears that a coupling mechanism is so important that even a hack is
> better than nothing.
> In that case, then, let's leave it the way it is.
>
> Fernando Cacciola
> Sierra s.r.l.
> fcacciola_at_[hidden]
> www.gosierra.com

It's at the very least a step above only offering binding in a limited form 
and including it in the signals library but no, I'm not overly happy with it. 
If only we had reflection...

        Doug