[boost] Re: Re: Implicit conversions in dynamic_any / extract

From: Remy Blank (remy.blank_REMOVE_THIS_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-11-22 13:24:18

On Fri, 22 Nov 2002 11:10:19 -0500, David Abrahams <dave_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> Remy Blank <remy.blank_REMOVE_THIS_at_[hidden]> writes:
> > I have looked at Boost.Python, and it is very similar to what I had in
> > mind. Would it be possible to make Boost.Python more general to describe
> > C++ class information for runtime use, and have Boost.Python be a
> > subset?
> 
> ?? There's no way that Boost.Python could be a subset of the facility
> we're talking about. It does way, way more than casting around an
> inheritance hierarchy. IOW, it's already way more general.

This is not what I meant. The word "subset" was badly chosen. Sorry
for the confusion.

As I understand, Boost.Python features a class description and object 
management framework, which allows to describe the type of a class, its 
inheritance, the members it contains, and to instantiate, access and 
modify objects of these classes. This can be called an "introspection
and object management facility", can't it? That was the goal of the 
library I am trying to develop.

Looking at Boost.Python, I saw that much (if not all) I needed was 
already there, and much more. So my question was: could the "introspection
and object management" parts be separated from the Python-specific code?

Agreed, my question was badly formulated.

> > I don't have a lot of time on my hands, but if you think this would
> > be a good idea, I would love to give it a try (except that I'm a
> > little scared by Boost.Python's complexity, and I don't know Python
> > (yet)).
> 
> I don't understand. The stuff in inheritance.cpp doesn't touch Python
> at all. It's pure C++.

I haven't yet looked at inheritance.cpp, but your comment confirms that
there is some very generic, not Python-dependent, code in Boost.Python
that provides the functionality needed for an introspection framework.

Anyway, I'll dive into inheritance.cpp and friends, and if positive, I'll
come back with a proposal.

Thanks for your answers!
Best regards.
--Remy

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