Re: [boost] Re: limited form of type deduction

From: Joel de Guzman (joel_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-10-11 21:02:36

David Abrahams <dave_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> "Joel de Guzman" <joel_at_[hidden]> writes:
> 
>> Indeed! I hope that will be soon. In the meantime...
>> 
>> <<< OT: I just couldn't believe the longevity of tools such as VC6 for
>> instance. I'm quite sure bind will still support VC6 for a long time still,
>> right? I'm now in a crossroads on whether or not to leave old crippled
>> compilers behind on 
>> new code being developed. I wonder what other people are thinking regarding
>> this? My strategy has always been: develop using fairly conforming compilers
>> and do the port later. But that "port later" thing takes too much energy! >>>
> 
> I've always tried to keep the various platforms I'm targeting in the
> front of my brain, or at least lurking in the shadows, so that I'm
> never very far away from having code which works everywhere.  It takes
> a lot of effort that way, too, but there are certain basic design
> decisions which are dictated by platform limitations -- if you handle

I guess this goes against the "the design should not be driven by the 
implementation" principle. Yet in the real world, engineering is always
a compromise. Sigh!

> them without considering the broken platforms, you often have to go
> back and restructure large parts of the program.  So, I guess: it's up
> to you whether you want to support vc6 or not, but if you're going to
> support it, I suggest you not take the "port later" approach.  As you
> say, it takes too much energy.

In fact, I too try as much as possible to avoid constructs that will not
work on "broken" compilers. For instance, I avoid PTS as much as
possible. However, on some occasions, it's just not possible. Consider
remove_reference, for instance. And, as you said, it takes a lot of effort 
still, even if you keep the various platforms quirks in mind while designing.
Now that VC7.1 is here, isn't it about time that we break free from the
chains (at least for new libraries in the horizon)?

Cheers,
-- 
Joel de Guzman
http://www.boost-consulting.com
http://spirit.sf.net