Re: [boost] File naming

From: Beman Dawes (bdawes_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-09-18 11:16:59

At 06:57 PM 9/15/2001, Rainer Deyke wrote:
 >----- Original Message -----
 >From: "JJ" <john_at_[hidden]>
 >To: <boost_at_[hidden]>
 >Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 2:46 PM
 >Subject: [boost] File naming
 >
 >
 >> Question: Why are the header files named using .hpp rather than .h or 
no
 >> extension?
 >
 >The purpose of file extensions is to communicate the "type" of the file,
 >both to humans and to computer programs.  The '.h' extension is used for 
C
 >header files, and therefore communicates the wrong thing when used for 
C++
 >header files.  Using no extension communicates nothing and forces you to
 >look at the file contents to determine its type.  Using '.hpp'
 >unambiguously identifies as C++ header file.
 >
 >At least, that's my reasoning for why I use the '.hpp' extension.  I was
 >not involved in choosing a naming convention for Boost.

That's pretty close to the original reasoning, IIRC.  Plus .hpp seems to 
work well in actual practice.

I've added the question with your (edited a bit) response to the FAQ.

--Beman