RE: [boost] Formal Review: Template Metaprogramming Library (MPL)

From: Paul A. Bristow (boost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-07-25 12:13:29

> Paul A. Bristow wrote & Aleksey replied

> > 1 I find iter_fold a most unhelpful and obscure name.
> > Would iter_operate be better?
> I would prefer to keep 'fold' as a part of the name.

Can you please explain how the word 'fold' applies.  I am still mystified by
this!

> It would ruin the essential shortness of many names such as 'int_c'. I am
> afraid one or another suffix notation is unavoidable here.

Is shortness really that much more important than clarity?
I think that MPL has a major problem with users minds boggling,
and _c is an unnecessary extra thing you need to know that isn't obvious.

>> What does _impl mean?

> "implementation". Remember Sutter's "Pimpl"? :)

It vaguely rings bells, but it doesn't gives many clues -
even if you are a native English speaker
(which I  _really_ am - unlike many ex-colonial Boosters  ;-)

> > Why is forward abbreviated to fwd but backward spelt out?
> Where?
File names only I now see.  Sorry - not important.
>
> > 4  All the documentation would benefit greatly from MANY more
> > examples.
> Just to clarify, do you mean the examples like at the end of the reference
> page of every component, or something else?

Examples are good - but still not enough of them.
To avoid making the reference sections too long,
perhaps use hyperlinks to point into an examples area?

Paul

Dr Paul A Bristow, hetp Chromatography
Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AB  UK
[phone]  Mobile [phone]
mailto:pbristow_at_[hidden]