Re: Most needed/desired features in C++

From: hubert_holin (Hubert.Holin_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-02-21 05:07:38

Paris (U.E.), le 21/02/2002

        Bonjour

                One feature which would be usefull is to have a "is_infinity" 
(possibly also "is_positive_infinity" and "is_negative_infinity") 
member function for those types for which ::std::numeric_limits<type>
::has_infinity is true, and a "is_NaN" member function for those types 
for wich either ::std::numeric_limits<type>::has_quiet_NaN or 
::std::numeric_limits<type>::has_signaling_NaN is true.

                This would be greatly convenient and cheap to implement (C 
now has macro for these, member funtions would be safer), and is a 
feature which is expected (and whose absence is thus cause for 
surprise). Strictly speaking, they might not be *necessary* as they can 
be emulated in user code *if* the comparison operators have been 
correctly implemented for NaNs and infinities (user code using 
comparisons with signaling NaN could be bothersome however).

        Merci

                        Hubert Holin
                        Hubert.Holin_at_[hidden]

I am not a mad scientist, I am a mad mathematician.

--- In boost_at_y..., "Herb Sutter" <hsutter_at_a...> wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> Pardon if this has already been discussed on the list, but I'd like your
> feedback on this question: "What are the most needed or desired features in
> C++ for modern library writing in general and Boost in particular?"
> 
> Two usual suspects:
>  - typedef templates
>  - typeof (with gcc semantics?)
> 
> What else should be on the list? For example, is there language support that
> would assist type traits?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Herb