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

From: David Brownstein (David_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-07-25 13:30:08

> > 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.
How about _const, since C++ itself uses the keyword "const" and this is
universally understood to mean "constant".

> >> What does _impl mean?
>
> > "implementation". Remember Sutter's "Pimpl"? :)
The "Pimpl idiom" is reasonably well known, see item 30 in "Exceptional
C++". I don't see a problem with using _impl... (it means "implementation,
and a Pimpl is a "pointer to an implementation").

David Brownstein

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul A. Bristow" <boost_at_[hidden]>
To: <boost_at_[hidden]>
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 10:13 AM
Subject: RE: [boost] Formal Review: Template Metaprogramming Library (MPL)

> > 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]
>
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