RE: [boost] Re: [boost.optional && boost.variant] Why can't we a llowreferences?

From: Rozental, Gennadiy (gennadiy.rozental_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-08-27 12:20:29

> IOWs, optional<T&> be have to represent an explicit special 
> case. Thus, is there any real-world reason you need 
> optional<T&>? At least you can always use reference_wrapper 
> explicitely, as in optional< reference_wrapper<T> >.

The only case I see is for generic programming. If I have template that uses
optional<T>, I do not see a reason to implement special case if I want to
support references. The fact that optional reference is the same as pointer
wouldn't bother me.
 
> HTH
> 
> Fernando Cacciola

Gennadiy.