Re: Boost Documentation Template questions

From: bill_kempf (williamkempf_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-02-11 17:47:11

--- In boost_at_y..., Douglas Gregor <gregod_at_c...> wrote:
> On Monday 11 February 2002 05:12 pm, you wrote:
> > used by the standard) I'd love to see support for DBC in the
> > language.  These two would actually be on the top of my wish list
> > (before threads and socket support) if it weren't for the fact 
that I
> > think they'd have some opposition in the committee.  The fact is,
> > though, those two automation concepts can GREATLY improve the 
quality
> > of code, and DBC at least requires language support, and even
> 
> Minor disagreement here: AFAICT, Design by Contract doesn't 
necessarily need 
> language support. DBC could be supported by a compiler without 
changing the 
> language, merely through a set of conventions. Language support 
only serves 
> to standardize the terminology and "force" vendors to support DBC.

No, DBC does require language support.  DBC relies on inheritance of 
the pre- and post-conditions as well as the invariants, and such 
inheritance requires language support.  I've seen a few attempts 
at "grafting" this into C++ through the use of an intelligent 
preprocessor, but that is fragile and frankly still a form of 
language support.

Otherwise I'd roll a DBC macro package and be happy. ;)

Bill Kempf