Re: On splitting headers

From: vesa_karvonen (vesa_karvonen_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-02-06 10:53:13

--- In boost_at_y..., "Brey, Edward D" <EdwardDBrey_at_e...> wrote:
>> From: vesa_karvonen [mailto:vesa_karvonen_at_h...]
>> 
>>This is one of the things that I have been trying to tell people 
>>about. It really doesn't matter whether it takes 1 or 10 seconds to 
>>compile. The problem is when compiling time gets to the minute
>>range. When that happens your productivity drops sharply. You start
>>spending time thinking about how to avoid compiling.
> 
> Ten seconds times fifty compilations brings you to far more than a
> minute.

The difference is that each short compile/test cycle gives you the 
affirmation that you need: the code you just typed was correct.

Even after having written C++ for many years, I still make silly 
little typos and bugs. I don't want to spend an hour recompiling 
after each time I correct a trivial typo or a bug. The compiler is 
infinitely better at checking grammar than I am. It would be useless 
waste of intellectual energy to painstakingly check every bit of code 
I quickly type in. Now I can just compile and then jump to the exact 
spot where I made the mistake. I often recompile every few seconds. I 
find this style of programming much more effective than compiling 
only after completing a major piece of functionality. Nearly 
instantaneous feedback is *the key* to higher productivity and faster 
learning.

Try it, you'll love it!

> Keep in mind that the files in question here are headers for the C++
> standard library and for boost libraries.  Do you really expect or
> desire to be changing them?

Even Boost headers actually do change quite frequently. Putting 
<boost> into a pch is not necessarily only a good idea. I prefer to 
stay current with the libraries I'm using.