RE: [boost] Serialization Review

From: Robert Ramey (ramey_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-11-01 23:10:34

>Roman Yakovenko wrote

>Good morning. This is very good library. I wrote and support library
>with 60 objects that must be serialized. I have one question: 
>Why text_[i,o]archive may use any stream like object, but b[i,o]archive 
>use only std::[i,o]stream. Is there is some reason? Also I didn't find
>the
>answer to my question in documentation.

>Roman

text_[i,o]archive is a template that uses as stream type as an argument.
It is used to generate ioarchive and oarchive (char archives) as well
as woarchive and wiarchive (wchar_t archives).  These are concrete
classes that use stream like objects.

Actually your question touches on a more interesting point that has
here to for gone uncommented upon.

The base classes basic_oarchive, and basic_iarchive make not assumptions that the input/output are stream like objects.  Hence, the serialization
library could well be useful for such things as passing complex data sets
accross the net directly.  Their basic function is to flatten/unflatten
a complex object structure so that it can be represented as a series
of bytes that can be stored/transmitted/ what ever across time and/or
space.

Thank you for testing/using this library as well as for your endorsement. Note that a newer version
will be posted before the final review which will add some features and correct some errors. (note:
I presume you meen 60 classes rather than 60 objects)

Robert Ramey